The progressive changes of the copepod community from the eastern Adriatic coast caused by eutrophication

In 1976–1985 period, some changes have been found during long‐term monitoring of physical, chemical and biological parameters in front of the largest harbours of the eastern Adriatic coast. For that reason, the control has been continued in 1985–1988 period.

This paper presents some recent results about copepods‐dominant mesozooplankton group—as they respond very quickly (both by composition and biomass) to the changes of the environment they inhabit. Besides the increased copepod density, further increasing of maximal values of Acartia clausi was found at the whole investigated area in 1987 and 1988, caused by progressive eutrophication of the eastern Adriatic coastal waters.