Nature and sedimentation of suspended particulate matter during density stratification in shallow coastal waters (Gulf of Trieste, northern Adriatic)

Abstract

Suspended particulate matter in the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic) during seawater density stratification in summertime consists of about 5% total hydrolyzable carbohydrates, 2% proteins and 1.0% lipids. The bulk of particulate organic matter (POM) remains uncharacterized and is probably composed mainly of terrigenous refractory material. The composition of diatomaceous macroaggregations observed in the whole northern Adriatic in the summers of 1988 and 1989 differed from that of summer POM. Rapid sedimentation of macroaggregates in mid-August 1989 scavenged the POM from the water column during disruption of density stratification. Sedimentation was reflected in higher total sedimented organic matter (ca 25%) but lower protein, water-soluble carbohydrate and lipid contents. -from Authors