engleski

Monitoring of algal rims within the scope of the project REQUENCRIM

Algal rims, primarily formed by red coralline alga Lithophyllum byssoides, are considered to be precise sea level indicators. We have recently started with the study of algal rims along the eastern Adriatic coast using isotope methods and our first results in the Central Adriatic on the islands of Vis, Ravnik and Biševo showed that algal rims morphology could be related to the distinguished periods of climate changes during last two millennia. In the framework of the project Reconstruction of the Quaternary environment in Croatia using isotope methods (REQUENCRIM) we focus on palaeoenvironment and palaeoclimate research of algal rims in order to establish the chronology of relative sea level changes along the Croatian coast and the link between the morphological structure, climate change and sea level change for the late Holocene. Our research showed that although the alga grows today, it does not form rims any more. Within the project we started to monitor existing rims on the island of Vis with the aim to determine how recent sea level change impact living algae (Lithophyllum byssoides). In the contribution methodology and results of the first year monitoring of algal rims will be presented. The status of the prospected living thalli of Lithophyllum byssoides (living, partly eroded, completely eroded/non-existing) was determined twice (in September 2014 and July 2015). Understanding the potential effects of climate change, raising temperature and sea level on Lithophyllum byssoides will help us to explain the relationship between the increased sea level rise and the changes of algal rim morphology. The monitoring of algal rims has been funded within the Croatian Science Foundation project no. 1623 "Reconstruction of the Quaternary environment in Croatia using isotope methods".

algal rims; REQUENCRIM

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