Fevzi Kirkim

Decapod crustaceans new to the fauna of Cyprus

Cyprus is surrounded by the waters of the Levantine Sea, eastern Mediterranean, characterized by a higher temperature and salinity as compared to the rest of the Mediterranean Sea (Galil, 1992; Kocatas et al., 2001). The first study on the decapod crustacean fauna of the island was carried out by Heller (1863), and only 12 species had been reported by the late 19th century (see Unger & Kotschy, 1865; Plateau, 1884; Adensamer, 1898). Until recently, 150 species of decapods (44 Natantia, 11 Macrura Reptantia, 24 Anomura, 71 Brachyura) were known to occur along the Cyprus coasts (Lewinsohn & Holthuis, 1986; Kocatas et al., 2001). The study on which our present report is based, was conducted along the northern coast of Cyprus in the period 18.x.2003-03.xi.2003. Specimens were obtained by means of a Van Veen grab, a dredge, and a trawl employed over sandy-silt bottoms at depths between 11 and 225 m (fig. 1). The specimens, including those photographed, are preserved in 4% formaldehyde and deposited in the Museum of the Faculty of Fisheries, Ege University, Bornova-Izmir. With this report, the number species of Decapoda known to occur on the Cyprus coasts has increased to 152: Sicyonia carinata (Brunnich, 1768) and Upogebia mediterranea Noel, 1992 are new records for the decapod fauna of Cyprus. The nomenclature for these species follows Marine Species (2007).

Macrobenthic fauna associated with the invasive alien species Brachidontes pharaonis (Mollusca: Bivalvia) in the Levantine Sea (Turkey)

The invasive alien mytilid species, Brachidontes pharaonis , forms a biogenic habitat in the mediolittoral and upper-infralittoral zones of the Levantine Sea, hosting a number of alien and native species. Examinations of samples taken from dense, continuous mussel beds at seven stations along the coast of northern Levantine Sea yielded 187 macro-benthic invertebrate species belonging to 11 taxonomic groups. Polychaeta accounted for 46% and 37% of the total number of species and individuals, respectively. The top three dominant species in the mussel beds were Stenothoe gallensis, Spirobranchus kraussi and Mytilaster minimus . The species with the highest frequency values on the mussel beds were Pseudonereis anomala, Phascolosoma stephensoni and Elasmopus pocillimanus . The highest density and biomass of the associated fauna were estimated as 42,550 ind m −2 and 1503 wwt g m −2 , respectively. The species number in samples varied between 14 and 47 species. The environmental variables best explaining variations in zoobenthic community structures were salinity, dissolved oxygen and total inorganic nitrogen in the water column. The biotic indices, TUBI and ALEX, classified the ecological status of one or two stations as moderate or poor, based on the relative abundances of ecological and zoogeographic groups, respectively. A total of 21 alien species were found to be associated with the mussel bed, of which Syllis ergeni is being newly considered as a new established alien species for the Mediterranean Sea. The maximum density of associated alien species was calculated as 30,300 ind m −2 . The alien species assemblages were greatly affected by salinity and total inorganic nitrogen.

New Records of Two Species of Gnathiid Isopods,Paragnathia Formica (Hesse, 1864) and Gnathia Maxillaris (Montagu, 1804) (Isopoda, Gnathiidae) from the Black Sea

During fieldwork on the southeastern Black Sea coast, in October 2009, two gnathiid isopods were found in their free-living stage, Paragnathia formica (Hesse, 1864) and Gnathia maxillaris (Montagu, 1804). These species are herein reported from the Black Sea for the first time.

Isopod fauna associated with Spirobranchus triqueter (Linnaeus, 1758) (Annelida, Polychaeta) in the Sea of Marmara

Among material collected in colonies of Spirobranchus triqueter (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Sea of Marmara in 2013, 825 individuals belonging to 13 species of isopods were found. Of these, Janira maculosa Leach, 1814 is represented by the highest number of specimens (45% of the total number of specimens). All species are being reported to be associated with the serpulid colony of S. triqueter herein for the first time.