What's in the Neuston- the Biology of the Western Mediterranean and the South Adriatic Sea.

Neuston, the content of the Sea surface Microlayer, defined as the top 1 cm of the sea surface is the interface between water and air. The Sea surface microlayer (SSML) may play an important role in biogeochemical processes. The SSML plays host to a wide-ranging biological diversity and is threatened by microplastic debris. More research is being undertaken to identify the effect of plastic debris than focusing on the biological and diversity element of the Neuston.

In this paper, the Authors focus on the community composition, abundance and biodiversity of the Western Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea. Using a neuston net Samples of the neuston were taken from 59 stations around the South Adriatic Sea and the West Mediterranean on a cruise in 2013. A second cruise in 2015 undertaken in the South Adriatic to assess changes in distribution in time. With 21 stations being sampled on this occasion, 13 of which were in the same location as 2013. The individuals were identified using a compound light microscope and classified to family level for determination of the community composition.

In 2013 and 2015, In total 112 taxa belonging to 19 Phyla were sampled across all stations in the western Mediterranean and the South Adriatic Sea. In 2013 101 taxa were found, with the most abundant phylum being Arthropoda consisting of 60 taxa. With 57 taxa related to the Crustacea. Only 5 truly neuston taxa were present Porpitidae, Velellidae, Janthinidae, Pontellidae and Idotheidae. Pontellidae and Idotheidae were the two most abundant eu-neustonian taxa found in 36 and 31 stations respectively.

Using diversity analyses, there was higher diversity and taxonomic richness in the Southern Adriatic Sea than the Mediterranean however, there was higher Abundances in the Western Mediterranean. Negligible differences were uncovered between 2013 and 2015 samples in the South Adriatic sea despite sampling in different seasons and spaces.

The results presented were in accordance with previous studies of the neuston in terms of community composition with a higher abundance of mero neuston (105 taxa) than eu- and epi- neuston (5 and 2 taxa respectively). Spatial distribution was present In the South Adriatic but not in the Western Mediterranean. Due to the lack of studies in the Adriatic Sea comparisons could not be made between work.

The demonstration of Biological diversity in the neuston shows domination of Crustacea (Copepoda in every sample taken) and very little representation of purely neuston dwelling organisms. Suggesting that organisms only spend limited periods of their lives in the Neuston.

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Liparoto, A., Mancinelli, G., & Belmonte, G. (2017). Spatial variation in biodiversity patterns of neuston in the Western Mediterranean and Southern Adriatic Seas. Journal of Sea Research, 129, 12-21.

Accsess https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1385110116301769