Temporal distribution of phytoplankton species composition and main environmental variables in Santa Giusta Lagoon (central-western Sardinia) = Distribuzione temporale della composizione specifica del fitoplancton e dei principali parametri ambientali nello stagno di Santa Giusta (Sardegna centro-occidentale)

Water samples and environmental data were examined at four stations at biweekly or monthly intervals, depending on the period, from February 1990 to December 1999. Phytop/ankton composition was estimated in these samples. The abiotic parameters revealed a difference in environmental conditions between the outer area of the lagoon and those closer to the coast. Phytoplankton structure was quite consistent among different areas of the lagoon. Absolute abundance was very different among classes, with Chlorophyceae much more abundant than Bacillariophyceae. Haptophyceae and Chrysophyceae were the least represented classes. Density of classes reached peaks in different periods of the year, suggesting a recurrent pattern in taxa succession.