1Chapter 4 Seasonal and Interannual Variability of Planktonic Microbes in a Mesotidal Coastal Lagoon (Ria Formosa, SE Portugal): Impact of Climatic Changes and Local Human Influences

Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... 336 14.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 336 14.2 The Ria Formosa Coastal Lagoon: An Overview ................................................................ 339

14.2.1 Climatic and Hydrologic Setting .............................................................................. 339 14.2.2 Oceanographic Setting ............................................................................................. 339 14.2.3 Lagoon Morphology and Hydrodynamics ................................................................ 339 14.2.4 Biological Assemblages ............................................................................................340

14.3 Approach and Dataset ...........................................................................................................340 14.4 Recent Climate and Local Anthropogenic Changes ............................................................ 343