Carbohydrates in the karstic estuary of the River Zrmanja

The distribution of the dissolved and the particulate carbohydrates in the River Zrmanja estuary was investigated for the first time. Investigations were performed at five stations during a four-year period. In order to reflect stratified character of the estuary sampling was performed at different depths. For that reason, depth was treated as a covariance in linear regression model or, in other words, in a random coefficients model (also known as a hierarchical or multilevel model). The dissolved carbohydrate fraction was dominant over particulate fraction and concentrations were decreasing with increasing depth. The highest concentrations levels were found in the summer.