Comparison of benthic diatom community structures on natural and artificial substrates in marine lake (Adriatic Sea)

Abstract

In this study, the diatoms of three alternative habitats (epilithon, epiphyton and artificial substrate) were compared to understand the differences in composition on artificial and natural substrates. For this purpose, the samples were collected weekly between 11th August and 2nd September 2016 at a sampling site in a shallow marine lake, Mrtvo More (Dead Sea) on Lokrum Island near Dubrovnik (South Adriatic, Croatia).