AqADAPT: Physicochemical parameters and Vibrio spp. abundance in water samples gathered in the Adriatic Sea

Vibrio spp. are naturally occurring aquatic bacteria, highly adaptive and freely associated with a variety of biotic and abiotic surfaces including water, sediment, fish, shellfish, algae, and zooplankton. Although Vibrio spp. comprise a minor portion of the total microbial population, they are one of the key constituents of aquatic heterotrophic bacterial groups. More than 140 described species from the genus Vibrio can have a strong biotic impact, and consequently pose severe health risks (e.g. Vibrio cholerae) and economic losses (vibriosis infection). The dataset AqADAPT contains Vibrio spp. abundance and measurements of physicochemical parameters of seawater (temperature, salinity, total dissolved solids, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, transparency, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total particulate matter, particulate organic matter, particulate inorganic matter, nitrogen dioxide, nitrate and ammonia) gathered from the Adriatic Sea. Water sampling was conducted with the Niskin bottle at different depths (0.5m, 6m, 12m and the sea bottom) near floating cage fish farms (Cres and Vrgada) and corresponding control locations. In situ measurements were determined using YSI ProDSS Multiparameter Digital Water Quality Meter. Vibrio spp. abundance from water samples was determined by counting the total number of visible colonies that exhibited relief from the plate surface from the Thiosulphate Citrate Bile Salt Sucrose (TCBS) (Difco™, BD) agar plates. The sampling period covers seasonal measurements between 2019 and 2021.