Horizontal Distribution of Deep Sea Microplankton: A New Point of View for Marine Biogeography

An investigation on microplankton composition and spatial distribution has been carried out around Italian seas. The analysis of 53 samples, collected in 2017 at two depths 27 different stations, led to a scenario horizontal microplankton. Dinophyta Ciliophora were chosen as representatives the whole community. A total 60 genera identified. Cluster data regarding taxa presence abundance us recognize that similarities between surface stations more evident than those deep ones. Furthermore, we conducted an inter-annual comparison with available from South Adriatic Sea (2013, 2015). higher dissimilarity sea samples was also confirmed relatively smaller geographic area. deep-sea does not correspond habitat diversification, terms abiotic parameters. It suggested negligible biological connectivity deep, for micro-organisms able perform wide migrations, could produce such diversification.