Distribution of Phytoplankton in Montenegrin Open Waters

The available data collected over many years of research in the offshore area around Montenegro show variability in terms of phytoplankton composition and dynamics. The Montenegrin coast is located in the South Adriatic Sea between Albania and Croatia and extends over about 90 km in a straight line. The entire length of the coast, including small islands, is about 300 km. The South Adriatic open sea area has been considered highly oligotrophic. Based on the data presented for the open sea area of Montenegro, phytoplankton abundances mainly varied from 103 to 104 cells/L, while peaks during research reached values of up to 105 cells/L. Diatoms are the phytoplankton group that mainly dominate in the phytoplankton community. These dominant phytoplankton species are typical of nutrient-rich areas and they are very good indicators of ecosystem conditions. Dinoflagellates are the second important group of microplankton, frequently found in the open sea area of Montenegro. Considering the abundances of phytoplankton organisms and the frequency of the dominant species, it can be concluded that the offshore area of Montenegro is still moderately trophic.