Is the Kornati National Park still an acceptable reference area for environmental studies?Ilenič, Anja (Avtor) Lojen, Sonja (Avtor) Župan, Ivan (Avtor) Šarić, Tomislav (Avtor) Šikić, Zoran (Avtor) Vrhovnik, Petra (Avtor) Dolenec, Matej (Avtor) Kornati National Parkmarine sedimentbanded dye-murex Hexaplex trunculusstable isotopescarbon and nitrogenThe Kornati National Park (Croatia) is considered an environment with minimal anthropogenic input. The purpose of this study was to determine the isotopic characteristics of the sediment and muscle tissues of the banded dye-murex Hexaplex trunculus. We selected locations in the park according to their estimated risk of anthropogenic pollution (large, lower, and minimal). Isotopic analyses of the sedimentary organic carbon (δ$^{13}$C$_{org}$ values) showed that the sedimentary organic matter in locations with P. oceanica meadows (Piškera, Vrulje) was enriched in $^{13}$C compared to that of locations with the influx of terrestrial organic matter. The δ$^{13}$C and δ$^{15}$N values of the muscle tissues of H. trunuclus were the highest in the two locations with the highest possible anthropogenic impact (−14.47‰ and −15.66‰ for δ$^{13}$C$_{org}$, +8.87‰ and +10.4‰ for δ$^{15}$N). The high δ values may indicate the presence of the pigment indirubin (C$_{16}$H$_{10}$O$_2$N$_2$) and other derivatives that cause the purple coloration but are also elevated because of the discharge of untreated sewage from a nearby marina and village.20182021-10-12 08:19:17Članek v reviji132083UDK: 55ISSN pri članku: 2076-3263DOI: 10.3390/geosciences8110385COBISS_ID: 1431390sl