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Variability of aerosol black carbon concentration in the area of Brijuni national park
No full textCrni ugljik (BC) čini vidljivu komponentu lebdećih čestica u zraku te se smatra primarnom onečišćujućom tvari. Kako bi se utvrdile sezonske i dnevne promjenjivosti koncentracija BC na području Nacionalnog parka Brijuni, od srpnja 2021. do veljače 2022. godine po prvi puta su provedena mjerenja koncentracija BC u realnom vremenu pomoću etalometra dok je raspodjela njegovih izvora procijenjena pomoću Carbonaceous Aerosol Analysis Tool programa. Srednja koncentracija BC tijekom ljeta, 330,98 ± 205,42 ng m–3, jedna je od nižih izmjerenih na Mediteranu. Tijekom istraživanja dominirao je BC koji nastaje nepotpunim izgaranjem fosilnih goriva (BCff) s najvećim koncentracijama u jesen te tijekom turističke sezone. Tijekom jeseni opažena je najveća dnevna promjenjivost koncentracija BC koji nastaje gorenjem biomase (BCbb) s izraženim vrijednostima u jutarnjim i popodnevnim satima. Cilj rada je osigurati prve informacije o prirodnim i antropogenim izvorima BC u zraku kojima je izložen ekosustav Nacionalnog parka Brijuni radi provođenja učinkovitog nadzora kvalitete zraka ovog zaštićenog područja.Black carbon (BC) as visible fraction of the atmospheric aerosols is recognized as the primary pollutant. In order to determine the seasonal and diurnal variability of BC concentrations and its source apportionment at the Brijuni National Park, a field campaign was conducted from July 2021. to February 2022. This study includes first real-time measurments of BC concentrations using an aethalometer while the source apportionment data was processed by Carbonaceous Aerosol Analysis Tool program. The measured mean BC concentration of 330,98 ± 205,42 ng m–3 was one of the lowest observed in the Mediterranean region. Black carbon from fossil fuel (BCff) dominated during the study period with maximum in autumn and by the upcoming tourist season. During autumn, diurnal variabilty of BC concentrations from biomass burning (BCbb) was observed with intensive morning and evening concentration peaks. The aim is to provide first data on natural and anthropogenic sources of BC at the Brijuni National Park in order to conduct effective air quality control in this protected area
Purification and crystallization of the protein complex SPRTN:p97
No full textDNA-ovisna metaloproteaza Spartan (SPRTN) održava genomski integritet sudjelujući u
popravku križnih veza DNA i proteina (engl. DNA-protein crosslink, DPC), čestog tipa
oštećenja DNA. Citotoksičnost DPC-ova pripisuje se ometanju staničnih procesa koji uključuju
DNA (replikacija, transkripcija i popravak) te predstavljaju prepreku u održavanju genomske
stabilnosti. Pokazano je da SPRTN sudjeluje u vezanju AAA+ ATP-aze p97, čija je najpoznatija
uloga odmotavanje ubikvitinitanih proteina. Rješavanje kristalne strukture kompleksa
SPRTN:p97 i njegova strukturna karakterizacija omogućila bi dublje razumijevanje uloge p97
u popravku DPC oštećenja. Stoga su humani SPRTN i p97 te njihovi skraćeni konstrukti,
prekomjerno eksprimirani i pročišćeni kromatografskim metodama. Metodom povlačenja
proteina okarakterizirana je interakcija navedenog kompleksa. Kako bi se pokušalo odrediti
stehiometriju nastalog kompleksa napravljena je elektroforeza na poliakrilamidnom gelu u
nativnim uvjetima. Kompleks proteina SPRTN i p97 kristaliziran je metodom difuzije para u
svrhu rješavanja njihove kristalne strukture. Inicijalni kristalizacijski uvjeti su detaljno
optimizirani kako bi se pripremili monokristali zadovoljavajuće veličine i kvalitete, što bi u
konačnici omogučilo rješavanje kristalne strukture kompleksa SPRTN:p97.The DNA-dependent metalloprotease Spartan (SPRTN) functions in maintaining genomic
integrity by participating in the repair of DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs), a common type of
DNA damage. The cytotoxicity of DPCs is attributed to the disruption of cellular processes
involving DNA (e.g. replication, transcription and repair) and poses a challenge in the
maintenance of genomic stability. It was shown that SPRTN participates in the binding of the
AAA+ ATPase p97, well known for its function in unwinding of ubiquitinated proteins. Solving
the crystal structure of the SPRTN:p97 complex and its functional characterization would allow
a deeper understanding of the p97 role in DPC damage repair. Therefore, human SPRTN and
p97, as well as several of their deletion mutants were overexpressed and purified by standard
chromatography techniques. Subsequently, complex formation between SPRTN and p97 was
tested and characterized via pull-down assays. To estimate the stoichiometry of the complex,
native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was applied. SPRTN and p97 complex was subjected
to crystallization by vapor diffusion method. Initial crystallization conditions were further
optimized with the aim to obtain larger and higher quality diffracting crystals. Taken together,
this set the stage for obtaining the structure of the SPRTN:p97 complex
Investigating students' understanding of the concept of lists and list programming code in the Python programming language
No full textPredmet informatike relativno je nov u školama i kao takav nije u potpunosti ustaljen. Način provođenja nastave, a i sam sadržaj informatike mijenja svakom novom spoznajom o potrebama i poteškoćama učenika. Nažalost, istraživanja vezanih za poteškoće s kojima se susreću srednjoškolski učenici vrlo je malo, a još je manje istraživanja o poteškoćama učenika za specifične dijelove gradiva. Upravo taj nedostatak istraživanja pokušava se popuniti ovim radom. U ovom su radu prikazani rezultati istraživanja provedenoga na 304 učenika drugog razreda srednje škole s ciljem otkrivanja poteškoća s kojima se učenici susreću pri radu s listama u programskom jeziku Pythonu. Iz rezultata testa sastavljenog od 22 zadatka višestrukog odabira uočene su specifične poteškoće s kojima se ispitani učenici susreću. Rezultati ovog istraživanja pokazuju da učenici imaju poteškoće poput nepoznavanja indeksacije liste, poteškoće pri množenju liste cijelim brojem te velikim dijelom imaju problema prilikom korištenja nekih od ugrađenih specijalnih funkcija vezanih za liste. Osim poteškoća usko vezanih za liste istaknule su se neke poteškoće iz prethodno obrađenog srednjoškolskog sadržaja (petlje i grananja). To može služiti kao dobar poticaj za provođenje budućih istraživanja. Rezultati ovog istraživanja mogu služiti kao smjernice sadašnjim i budućim nastavnicima informatike u poboljšanju i unapređenju nastave informatike u njihovim učionicama.Computer science is a relatively new subject in schools and as such is not fully established.
The way of conducting classes, as well as the content of computer science itself, changes
with every new knowledge about the needs and difficulties that the students are faced with.
Unfortunately, there is very little research related to the difficulties faced by high school
students, and there is even lessresearch on students' difficulties in specific parts of the course
material. It is precisely this lack of research that this thesis tries to modestly fill. This thesis
presents the results of research conducted on 304 second-grade gymnasium students with
the aim of discovering the difficulties students encounter when working with lists in the
Python programming language. From the results of the test composed of 22 multiple-choice
items, some students' difficulties were observed. The results of this research show that
students have difficulties with understanding how lists are indexed, they showed difficulties
with multiplying a list by an integer, and to a large extent, they have problems with using
some of the built-in special functionsrelated to lists. In addition to difficulties closely related
to lists, some difficulties related to previously learned material such as loops and branching
were noticed, which can serve as a good incentive for conducting future research. The results
of this research can be used as a guideline for current and future computer science teachers
in improving and advancing the teaching in their classrooms
Knowledge of the sustainable development goals and concepts among students attending the course Sustainable Development in Teaching Natural Sciences
No full textCilj ovog rada je među polaznicima kolegija Održivi razvoj u nastavi prirodoslovlja u sklopu
integriranog preddiplomskog i diplomskog studija Biologija i kemija, nastavnički smjer, na Biološkom
odsjeku Prirodoslovno-matematičkog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu analizirati studentima poznate
činjenice i interese studenata vezano uz 22 teme održivog razvoja, o kojima se poučavalo tijekom
nastave na kolegiju. Također, cilj je utvrditi moguće pomanjkanje spoznaja i interesa studenata u vezi
određenih tema održivog razvoja. Za potrebe ovog diplomskog rada, analizirani su odgovori koje su
studenti upisivali u tzv. KWL-tablice (od engl. Know - što znam, Want to know - što želim znati, Learn
- što sam novo naučio/-la), tijekom pohađanja pojedinih seminara u sklopu kolegija. Odgovori su
specifično kodirani za potrebe kvalitativne i kvantitativne analize. Temeljem odgovora u ispunjenim
KWL-tablicama, studenti iskazuju dobro poznavanje okolišnih tema održivog razvoja, ali ističu da žele
doznati više statističkih podataka vezano uz okolišne teme/izazove održivog razvoja, kako bi imali što
realniju sliku o određenim problemima. Što se tiče društvenih tema održivog razvoja, studenti pokazuju
dobro poznavanje problematike, međutim nedostaju im znanja o načinima rješavanja problema vezanih
uz društvenu komponentu održivog razvoja te također iskazuju da žele doznati više statističkih podataka
vezano uz društvene teme/izazove održivog razvoja. Odgovori studenata pokazuju da su studenti
najmanje bili upoznati s fenomenima El Niño / La Niña te o zelenoj i plavoj ekonomiji s kojima se
upoznaju na kolegiju.The aim of this thesis is to analyze the facts known to the students and their interests in relation to 22
topics of sustainable development taught in the course Sustainable Development in Teaching Natural
Sciences, which is part of the integrated undergraduate and graduate programme Biology and Chemistry
Education, at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb. In addition, the
possible lack of knowledge and interest of students in certain topics of sustainable development have
been investigated. For the purpose of this thesis, the responses written by the students in the so-called
KWL tables (K - what I know, W - what I want to know, L - what I have learned) were analyzed during
their participation in certain seminars within the course. The responses were specifically coded for the
purposes of qualitative and quantitative analysis. Based on the responses in the completed KWL tables,
students show a good understanding of environmental issues of sustainable development, but emphasize
that they would like to learn more statistical data about environmental issues/challenges of sustainable
development in order to get a more realistic picture of certain problems. Regarding the social issues of
sustainable development, students show a good understanding of the topic, but they lack knowledge
about ways to solve problems related to the social component of sustainable development, and they also
indicate that they would like to know more about statistical data on social issues/challenges of
sustainable development. The students' responses show that they are the least familiar with the El Niño
/ La Niña phenomena and the green and blue economies that they learn about in the course
Intra- i interspecijska varijabilnost morfologije probavila kod gušterica Podarcis siculus i Podarcis melisellensis
No full textUpon translocation of five pairs of Podarcis siculus from islet Pod Kopište to islet Pod Mrčaru in
1971 newly established Pod Mrčaru population underwent significant ecological in the course of
only 35 years. The shift towards omnivory resulted in morphological changes, the appearance of
cecal valves, and a prolonged digestive tract. This thesis studies occurrence of cecal valves in
insular and mainland populations of Podarcis siculus and Podarcis melisellensis. Both species
have high within-population variability of hind gut morphology. However, the among-population
differences in frequencies of specific hind gut morphotypes was much more prominent in P.
siculus. Cecal valves were almost specific for P. siculus, which also exhibited longer digestive
tract. The occurrence of cecal valves was not particularly more prevalent in insular population, was
not sex dependent, was not correlated with the presence of nematodes in the hind gut, and did not
exhibit strong heredity. Overall, my result point to ecologically driven appearance of cecal valves
in P. siculus and, contrary to previous opinions, its wide spread occurrence across different
populations and habitatsNakon translokacije pet parova Podarcis siculus guštera sa otočića Pod Kopište na otočić Pod
Mrčaru 1971. godine, novouspostavljena populacija na otočiću Pod Mrčaru pokazala je značajne
ekološke promjene nakon svega 35 godina. Prijelaz prema omnivornoj prehrani rezultirao je u
morfološkim promjenama, pojavi cekalnih valvi i produljenom probavnom traktu. Ovaj diplomski
rad proučava pojavu cekalnih valvi u otočnim i kopnenim populacijama guštera Podarcis siculus i
Podarcis melisellensis. Obje vrste pokazuju visoku unutarpopulacijsku varijabilnost morfologije
cekuma. Međutim, razlike između populacija u frekvenciji specifičnih morfotipova cekuma bile su
izraženije kod vrste P. siculus. Cekalni valvi su bili gotovo specifični za vrstu P. siculus, koja
također ima i duži probavni trakt. Pojava cekalnih valvi nije bila izraženija kod otočnih populacija,
nije ovisila o spolu, nije bila povezana s prisutnošću oblića u cekumu i nije pokazala visoku
nasljednost. Dakle, moji rezultati ukazuju na ekološki uvjetovanu pojavu cekalnih valvi kod vrste
P. siculus i, suprotno prethodnim mišljenjima, njihovu široku rasprostranjenost među različitim
populacijama i staništima
Nanomorphological characterization of microalgal cells and reconstructed membrane vesicles
No full textU ovom je diplomskom radu provedena nanomorfološka karakterizacija triju staničnih vrsta mikroalga i rekonstruiranih membranskih vezikula. Rekonstruirane membranske vezikule pripremljene su hipoosmotskim šokom stanica različite kompleksnosti stanične barijere. Stanice mikroalga i rekonstruirane vezikule karakterizirane su u smislu veličine, oblika i strukture primjenom mikroskopije atomskih sila. Oslikane stanice bile su pojedinačne, mikrometarske veličine, elipsoidnog ili sfernog oblika uz karakteristične flagele i biokalcitne strukture na površini. Oslikane vezikule bile su mikrometarske veličine, pojedinačne, sfernog ili ovalnog oblika gotovo prazne ili pune. Strukturne karakteristike rekonstruiranih vezikula i ljušturica ovise o kompleksnosti stanične barijere. Rezultati su pokazali da se vezikule mogu reverzibilno rekonstruirati hidratizacijom liofiliziranog vezikularnog materijala što može osigurati produljeno čuvanje materijala. Rezultati ovog rada mogu doprinijeti daljnjem razvoju biotehnološkog potencijala mikroalga iz vodenog ekosustava za pripremu rekonstruiranih membranskih vezikula kao potencijalnog transportnog sustava aktivnih komponenti.In this thesis, nanomorphological characterization of three microalgal cell species and reconstructed membrane vesicles was carried out. Reconstructed membrane vesicles were prepared by hypoosmotic shock of cells with different cell barrier complexity. Microalgal cells and reconstructed vesicles were characterized in terms of size, shape and structure using atomic force microscopy. The imaged cells were single, micrometer in size, ellipsoidal or spherical in shape with characteristic flagella and biocalcite structures on the surface. The imaged vesicles were micrometer-sized, single, spherical or oval in shape, almost empty or full. The structural features of the reconstructed vesicles and theca depend on the complexity of the cellular barrier. The results showed that vesicles can be reversibly reconstructed by hydration of lyophilized vesicular material, which can ensure prolonged storage of the material. The results of this work can contribute to the further development of the biotechnological potential of microalgae from the aquatic ecosystem for the preparation of reconstructed membrane vesicles as a potential transport system of active components
Forest fires as a driver of change in grasshopper and cricket (Orthoptera) assemblages of Northern Velebit
No full textS klimatskim promjenama šumski ekosustavi postaju sve izloženiji utjecaju požara.
Šumski požari stvaraju progale, što dovodi do promjena u okolišnim uvjetima te utječe na sastav
i strukturu zajednica. Ciljevi ovog istraživanja su: 1) ustanoviti utjecaj šumskog požara na
biocenološke parametre zajednica ravnokrilaca (brojnost jedinki, bogatstvo vrsta i indeksi
raznolikosti/ujednačenosti), 2) utvrditi utjecaj okolišnih parametara na sastav vrsta i 3)
usporediti efikasnost dviju metoda uzorkovanja u detekciji odgovora zajednica. Istraživanje je
provedeno na južnim obroncima Velebita u dva staništa: opožarena šuma primorske bukve i
neopožarena šuma (kontrola), a zajednice ravnokrilaca su uzorkovane metodom lovnih posuda
i metodom kečera. Biocenološki parametri dobiveni metodom kečera imali su statistički
značajno više vrijednosti na opožarenim nego na kontrolnim postajama, vjerojatno zbog
povećane otvorenosti i heterogenosti staništa. Isti trend zabilježen je i metodom lovnih posuda,
osim brojnosti jedinki, koja se nije statistički značajno razlikovala između staništa. Većina vrsta
pokazala je preferenciju prema opožarenim postajama pod utjecajem više temperature tla/zraka,
veće otvorenosti sklopa krošanja te zastupljenosti prizemnog sloja vegetacije, za obje metode
uzorkovanja. Metode pokazuju otprilike jednaku efikasnost detekcije odgovora zajednica iako
je potrebno naglasiti kako je poželjno koristiti kombinaciju metoda budući da detektiraju
različite komponente zajednica ravnokrilaca.With climate change, forest ecosystems are increasingly exposed to wildfires. Forest
wildfires create clearings, altering environmental conditions and thus impacting community
composition and structure. The aims of this study were: 1) to assess how a forest wildfire
impacts Orthoptera assemblage metrics (abundance, species richness, diversity/evenness
indices), 2) determine the influence of environmental factors on species composition, and 3)
compare the efficiency of two sampling methods in detecting assemblage responses. The
research was conducted on the southern slopes of the Velebit Mountain in two habitats: burnt
beech forest and unburnt forest (control), with Orthoptera assemblages sampled using pitfall
traps and sweep net. Sweep net-derived assemblage parameters had significantly higher values
in burnt than in control sites, likely due to increased habitat openness and heterogeneity. Pitfall
traps showed a similar trend except for Orthoptera abundance, which did not differ significantly
between the habitats. Most species favored burnt sites, influenced by higher soil/air
temperatures, greater canopy openness and herb cover, for both sampling methods. Both
methods detected community responses with similar efficiency, but it is important to emphasise
that using a combination of methods is recommended as they sample different Orthoptera
community components
Identification and delimitation of species within the genus Elmis (Coleoptera: Elmidae) using DNA barcoding
No full textRod Elmis Latreille, 1802 pripada porodici vodenih kornjaša slapoljuba (Elmidae, Coleoptera). Slapoljubi
su osjetljivi na okolišne promjene te se koriste kao bioindikatori kvalitete tekućica, no njihova znatna
morfološka varijabilnost često otežava standardnu identifikaciju vrsta. DNA barkodiranje metoda je koja
upotrebom podjedinice I mitohondrijalnog gena za citokrom oksidazu (COI) omogućava brzu identifikaciju
vrsta i detekciju kriptičnih vrsta. Glavni cilj ovog diplomskog rada je identifikacija i delimitacija vrsta roda
Elmis DNA barkodiranjem, za uzorke prikupljene u zapadno-palearktičkom području. Uzorcima je
izdvojena ukupna genomska DNA, umnožen je i sekvenciran COI gen, konstruirana su filogenetska stabla,
provedene su metode molekularne identifikacije i delimitacije vrsta, te procjena vremena odvajanja na
temelju molekularnog sata. Za većinu uzoraka je potvrđena morfološka identifikacija, a nekoliko uzoraka
vjerojatno pripada još neopisanim vrstama. Delimitirano je ukupno 14 odvojenih taksonomskih jedinica
(MOTU-a), od kojih šest predstavlja nove MOTU-e za bazu BOLD. Vremenski kalibrirano stablo pokazalo
je da se većina sestrinskih vrsta odvojila u periodu od srednjeg pliocena do ranog pleistocena, a grupe vrsta
u miocenu. Rezultati ukazuju na postojanje još neopisanih vrsta kao i mogućih kompleksa vrsta, te upućuju
na potrebu detaljne taksonomske revizije roda Elmis.The genus Elmis Latreille, 1802 belongs to the family of riffle beetles (Elmidae, Coleoptera). Elmidae are
sensitive to environmental changes and are used as bioindicators of water quality, but their considerable
morphological variability often makes standard species identification difficult. DNA barcoding is a method
which enables rapid identification of species and detection of cryptic species via analysis of the sequence
of mitochondrial gene for cytochrome oxidase, subunit I (COI). The main goal of this thesis is the
identification and delimitation of species of the genus Elmis by DNA barcoding, for samples collected in
the Western Palearctic area. Total genomic DNA was extracted from the samples, the COI gene was
amplified and sequenced, phylogenetic trees were constructed, methods of molecular identification and
species delimitation were performed, and separation time was estimated based on the molecular clock.
Morphological identification has been confirmed for most samples, while a few samples probably belong
to yet undescribed species. A total of 14 separate taxonomic units (MOTUs) were delimited, six of which
represent new MOTUs for the BOLD database. The time-calibrated tree showed that most of the sister
species separated in the period from the middle Pliocene to the early Pleistocene, while species groups
separated in the Miocene. The results indicate the existence of as yet undescribed species as well as possible
species complexes, and indicate the need for a detailed taxonomic revision of the genus Elmis
Porphyrinic and adamantane porous organic polymers with azo linkages
No full textU okviru ovog diplomskog rada provedena je sinteza i karakterizacija novih porfirinskih iadamantanskih poroznih organskih polimera s azo poveznicama. Kao polazne građevne jedinke za sintezu azo polimera korišteni su tetranitro i tetraamino derivati s porfirinskom i/ili adamantanskom središnjom jedinicom. Azo polimeri pripravljeni su redukcijom tetranitro monomera, oksidacijom tetraamino monomera ili reakcijom kondenzacije tetranitro monomera i komercijalno dostupnih aromatskih diamino i triamino monomera u bazičnim uvjetima. Sintetizirani polimeri okarakterizirani su IR spektroskopijom, spektroskopijom NMR u čvrstom stanju, difrakcijom rendgenskog zračenja na polikristalnom uzorku, termogravimetrijskom analizom i mjerenjem adsorpcijsko-desorpcijskih izotermi dušika. Azo polimerima s velikom specifičnom površinom određen je i kapacitet vezanja ugljikovog dioksida (CO2) pomoću termogravimetrijske analize u struji CO2. Prikupljeni rezultati ukazuju da odabir metode sinteze i polaznih građevnih jedinki uvelike utječe na funkcionalna svojstva sintetiziranih azo polimera.In this diploma thesis synthesis and characterization of new porphyrin and adamantane porous organic polymers with azo linkages were conducted. Tetranitro and tetraamino derivatives with porphyrin and/or adamantane central units were used as starting building blocks for the synthesis of azo polymers. Azo polymers were prepared by the reduction of tetranitro monomers, oxidation of tetraamino monomers, or condensation reactions between tetranitro monomers and commercially available aromatic diamine and triamine monomers under basic conditions. The synthesized polymers were characterized by IR spectroscopy, solid-state NMR spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and nitrogen adsorption- desorption measurements. Azo polymers with high specific surface area were also evaluated for their carbon dioxide (CO2) binding capacity through thermogravimetric analysis in a CO2 stream. The collected results indicated that the choice of synthesis method and starting building blocks significantly influences the functional properties of the synthesized azo polymers
BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL RESPONSES OF SEA SURFACE LAYER TO ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION
No full textOva interdisciplinarna studija provedena je s ciljem boljeg razumijevanja učinaka atmosferskog taloženja (AT) na kompleksne strukturne i fiziološke odgovore primarno fitoplanktona te posljedično na promjene kemijskih svojstava površinskog sloja mora i obogaćenje površinskog mikrosloja organskom tvari (OT) na granici faza more-atmosfera. Rad obuhvaća ispitivanja: i) promjenjivosti koncentracija, izvora i taložnih tokova atmosferskih sastavnica te utjecaja AT na plankton i kemiju površinskih slojeva mora na obalnom području srednjeg Jadrana; ii) utjecaja taloženja atmosferskog onečišćenja različitih izvora na planktonsku populaciju te promjenu kemijskih svojstava površinskih slojeva mora kroz prvi inkubacijski eksperiment ovakve vrste na Jadranskom moru; iii) mehanizama kojima sastavnice antropogenog AT utječu na fitoplankton na razini vrsta kroz laboratorijska ispitivanja na fitoplanktonskim monokulturama. Dobiveni rezultati ukazuju da AT, unosom hranjivih i toksičnih tvari, mijenja sastav površinskih slojeva mora čime snažno utječe na kompetitivnost, stopu rasta te strukturu obitavajućih planktonskih zajednica. Takve promjene rezultiraju kvalitativnim i kvantitativnim promjenama biogene OT na morskoj površini, koja akumulacijom na granici faza modificira procese izmjene između mora i atmosfere, što može imati značajne posljedice na biogeokemijsko kruženje tvari te klimu općenito.The main aim of this interdisciplinary study is to gain insight into the effects of atmospheric deposition (AD) on complex structural and physiological responses, primarily of phytoplankton communities, and consequently on the chemical properties of sea surface layers, and the organic matter (OM) enrichment in the sea surface microlayer at the sea-atmosphere interface. Several aspects were examined: i) the variability of concentrations, sources, and deposition fluxes of atmospheric constituents and the impact of AD on the plankton population, and the chemistry of the sea surface layers in the central Adriatic coastal area; ii) the impact of ambient AD from diverse sources on the plankton population, and the change in the chemical properties of the sea surface layers through the first incubation experiment of this kind in the Adriatic Sea; iii) the mechanisms by which the specific anthropogenic AD constituents affect phytoplankton at the level of individual species, through laboratory tests on phytoplankton monocultures. The results obtained indicate that AD alters the composition of the sea surface through the addition of nutrients and toxic components, which strongly affects the competitiveness, growth rate, and thus the structure of the inhabiting plankton communities. Such changes ultimately lead to qualitative and quantitative variations in biogenic OM within the sea surface, whose enhanced enrichment at the natural phase boundary alters ocean-atmosphere exchange processes. The results of this thesis imply that the effects of AD on the sea surface could have strong implications for biogeochemical processes and climate in general