Presence of dispersed diesel fuel in the water column of the Boka kotorska bay: A case study

We detected, characterized and visualized the presence of dispersed oil in the seawater due to the recent accidental sinking of the ship and oil spill in the Boka Kotorska bay (south Adriatic sea). Diesel fuel was dispersed in the form of micro and nano droplets in the whole water column as determined by conventional light microscopy and electrochemical and atomic force microscopy imaging. Revealed presence of dispersed diesel fuel poses a serious threat to plankton community dynamics and could enter the food web in this semiclosed bay. Consequently, monitoring of dispersed fuel micro- and nanodroplets is recommended due to the intensive boat trafficking and shipyard activity in the Boka Kotorska bay.