Application of empirical model to predict background metal concentration in mixed carbonate-alumosilicate sediment (Adriatic Sea, Croatia).

A 96m long sediment core (S10-33) from the Mali Ston Channel (Adriatic Sea) showed large natural variation in carbonate share (between 1% and 95%) and concentration of elements. These variations indicate rather significant changes in fine-grained sediment that was deposited in this area during Younger Pleistocene and Holocene. Unaffected by anthropogenic influence, sediment in the core was used to determine background concentration of trace elements in sediment with various carbonate content. Here we propose a method of the normalization of trace elements to carbonate share, in order to assess natural/background concentration of metals in sediments consisting of carbonates and alumosilicates in various proportions. Six characteristic metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) that were normalized to carbonate share showed very good correlation, with much higher background concentrations in alumosilicate than in carbonate end member. Simple formulas were proposed to easily determine background concentration of these elements, in coastal and shelf depositional environments with mixed carbonate-alumosilicate sediments.

Impact of fish farming on foraminiferal community, Drvenik Veliki Island, Adriatic Sea, Croatia.

This study examined the impact of fish farming on foraminiferal communities in the Adriatic coastal zone. Samples were taken directly beneath the farm, near the edge of the farm, and at a reference station away from the farm. The foraminiferal community near the farm is characterized by Epistominella exigua, Globocassidulina subglobosa, Haynesina germanica and the genera Elphidium, Bulimina and Brizalina. These foraminiferal species are less abundant seaward. Asterigerinata mamilla, Neoconorbina terquemi and genus Cibicides are almost absent below the cages. Total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) in the sediments decrease with distance from the cages. The abundances of E. exigua, G. subglobosa, H. germanica and the genera Elphidium, Bulimina and Brizalina are correlated with TP and TN, indicating their dependence on nutrient input. The absence of A. mamilla, N. terquemi and the genus Cibicides below the cages is a due to a degraded Posidonia community. According to our study, foraminiferal community composition can be used as indicator of organic enrichment caused by fish farm activities.