Coccolithophore diversity in open waters of the middle Adriatic Sea in pre- and post-winter periods

During the entire study period, eight coccolithophore species were observed in two life stages (HET and HOL phase): Acanthoica quattrospina, Calcidiscus leptoporus, Coronosphaera mediterranea, Syracosphaera anthos, Syracosphaera pulchra, Syracosphaera bannockii, Syracosphaera histrica and Syracosphaera molischii. Among these, A. quattrospina, S. histrica, S. molischii and S. pulchra appeared in a rare combination HET/HOL phase. The BIO-ENV analysis indicated that the heterococcolithophore community is best related to pH value, while the holococcolithophore community is significantly affected by more than one environmental variable.