The benthos of the northern part of the Velebit Channel (Adriatic Sea, Croatia)

Abstract

Infralittoral and circalittoral hard bottom communities in the northern part of the Velebit Channel were investigated.The benthos was collected along six transects: three on Prvi} Island ([ilo, Samonjin and Stra`ica) and three facing them along the Velebit mountain coast (Grmac, @rnovnica and Kola).Three benthic biocoenoses were noted: the biocoenosis of photophilic algae, precoralligenous facies and a climax of coralligenous biocoenosis, and the biocoenosis of semi-dark caves.A total of 431 taxa were recorded: 60 taxa of algae and 371 taxa of fauna.Along the three coastal transects under Mt Velebit numerous submarine freshwater springs (vruljas) are present.The results were compared using two statistical methods: the application of the Srensen index of similarity and cluster analysis.The most topographically and geomorphologically similar transects were [ilo and Samonjin, while Stra`ica and @rnovnica were the most distant.