Cem Çevik

Micro- and mesoplastics in Northeast Levantine coast of Turkey: The preliminary results from surface samples

The determination of the microplastic distribution will be beneficial as a measure of the potential effects on the environment. The Mediterranean Sea had a high risk of pollution as it was enclosed by highly populated and industrialized countries. Here, we determined the level of micro- and mesoplastic pollution in Iskenderun and Mersin Bays, located in the Northeastern Levantine coast of Turkey. The average level of both micro- and mesoplastic was determined to be 0.376 item/m2 at seven stations. The highest level was determined in Mersin Bay at the mouth of the Seyhan river (Station no. 7, with 906 items), and the lowest level was found in Station no. 4 in Iskenderun Bay (78 items). As a result of this study, it was determined that the microplastic pollution level in the Mediterranean coast of Turkey was similar to the other regions of the Mediterranean Sea.

Fouling assemblage of benthic plastic debris collected from Mersin Bay, NE Levantine coast of Turkey

The Mediterranean is an ecosystem that faces more and more microplastic pollution every day. This causes the whole of the Mediterranean to face the negative effects of plastic pollution. This study examines the state of plastic debris and fouling organisms found on it in one of the areas most affected by plastic pollution, Mersin Bay. As a result, a total of 3.88kg plastic (mean=0,97kg; n=120; 2670item/km2; 86,3kg/km2) was collected and based on the ATR-FTIR analysis, it was determined that this total contained 9 types of plastics. 17 different fouling species belonging to 6 phylum (Annelida, Arthropoda, Bryozoa, Chordata, Cnidaria, Mollusca) 7 class and 11 order were discovered on plastics. Spirobranchus triqueter, Hydroides sp. and Neopycnodonte cochlear were the most abundant species. In the end, the example of Mersin Bay shows that plastic debris as a substrate can contain a very high diversity of life just like natural substrates.

Macrobenthic assemblages of newly introduced Caulerpa taxifolia from the Eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey.

Caulerpa taxifolia is one of the most important and best-studied alien species in the Mediterranean Sea. The present study reveals the macrobenthic assemblages associated with C. taxifolia from the region. We found 26 species from Polychaeta, 31 species from Crustacea, 22 species from Mollusca and 5 species from Echinodermata. In conclusion, C. taxifolia in İskenderun Bay can be considered an ecosystem engineer that modifies local habitats and also enhances biodiversity.

How microplastics quantities increase with flood events? An example from Mersin Bay NE Levantine coast of Turkey

Floods caused by heavy rain carry significant amounts of pollutants into marine environments. This study evaluates the effect of multiple floods that occurred in the northeastern Mediterranean region in Turkey between December 2016 and January 2017 on the microplastic pollution in the Mersin Bay. Sampling was repeated in four different stations both before and after the flood period, and it was determined that in the four stations, there was an average of 539,189 MPs/km2 before the flood, and 7,699,716 MPs/km2 afterwards, representing a 14-fold increase. Fourteen different polymer types were detected in an ATR FT-IR analysis, eight of which were not found in samples collected before the floods. The most common polymer type was identified as polyethylene both pre- and post-flood. The mean particle size, which was 2.37 mm in the pre-flood period, decreased to 1.13 mm in the post-flood period. A hydrodynamic modeling study was implemented to hindcast the current structure and the spatial and temporal distributions of microplastics within the study area. In conclusion, heavy rain and severe floods can dramatically increase the microplastic levels in the sea.

A second observation ofDendrodoris fumata(Rüppell & Leuckart, 1830) from the Mediterranean Sea (Nudibranchia: Dendrodorididae)

The nudibranch Dendrodoris fumata (Rüppell & Leuckart, 1830) was originally described from the Red Sea, and has been observed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region, from East Africa up to the Galapagos Islands and the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Costa Rica (ZENETOS et al. 2011, VALDES et al. 1996). BARASH & DANIN (1986) found it in the vicinity of Dor, Israel, in 1980. However, they misidentified it as Dendrodoris nigra (ZENETOS et al. 2011). BRODIE et al. (1997) have provided a comprehensive analysis of the differences between D. nigra and D. fumata. In a recent review of marine alien species in the Mediterranean, ZENETOS et al. (2005) classify the occurrence D. fumata as casual, as only one record is known. We found a single living specimen of D. fumata in Yumurtal k, Adana (36°46’N, 35°47’E) in shallow (15 cm) and calm water on 15 March 2010, more than 30 years after the first observation of it in the Mediterranean Sea. The temperature, salinity and oxygen saturation of the region were 17°C, 38.5 psu and 7.8 mg/L, respectively. The length of the specimen was measured as 25 mm. The specimen has been deposited in the museum of the Çukurova University, Faculty of Fisheries, Turkey (CSFM-GAS/09–08). When the specimen was examined, the following characteristics were observed which fit the description as given on the CIESM web page (ZENETOS et al. 2011): Body dorsoventrally flattened, soft and slimy. It had a characteristic mantle: it was broad, smooth-thin and wavy (Figs 1-2). However, the wavy edges were not remarkable. Head very small and containing a small pore-like mouth. The rhinophores seemed bulbous, lamellated and contained thick stalks (Fig. 2). Branchial plumes were located at the end of the dorsum and it was interrupted by the anal papilla. The gills of D. fumata were finely subdivided as shown in Fig. 1. The colour of the specimen was brownish in contrast to the specimen that was first recorded from the Mediterranean Sea. The colour of the specimen from Israel was reported as being grey (ZENETOS et al. 2011). The possible vector for this introduction can be

New Record of the Big-Scale Sand Smelt Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810 (Atherinidae) in the Seyhan Dam Reservoir (Seyhan River Basin, Turkey)

Fifteen specimens of the big-scale sand smelt, Atherina boyeri were caught by a single trawl haul with a net mesh size of 3 mm on February 2017 from the Seyhan Dam Reservoir (South Anatolia, Adana/Turkey). In this study the big-scale sand smelt, A. boyeri, was recorded for the first time in the Seyhan Dam Reservoir. In addition, some morphometric and meristic measurements of A. boyeri were given and these values were compared to populations in two different lakes. Furthermore, the possible ecological effects of A. boyeri on Seyhan Dam Reservoir were briefly discussed.

A REVIEW ON GROWTH OF SOME DIPLODUS SPECIES DISTRIBUTED WORLDWIDE

Estimation of the growth parameters of fish are vital to understand their biology. For this purpose we collected studies that performed up to 2017 regarding the growth of species belonging to the Diplodus genus. Data were gathered from sources like Web of Science (webofknowledge.com), Scopus (scopus.com), Google Scholar (scholar.google.com), Researchgate (researchgate.com) and Academia (academia.edu). 79 datasets from 52 different studies belongs to 10 species were compiled. Reviewed studies were published between 1982 - 2017 and were performed in 26 different regions. It was determined that the most frequently studied species was D. vulgaris (n=23). Among growth parameters, it was determined that there is a negative relationship between K and L ∞ , and K and t max , there is a positive relationship between L ∞ and L max . It was also found that there is a negative relationship between K and L ∞ vs latitude.