Melih Ertan Çinar

Ecoregion-Based Conservation Planning in the Mediterranean: Dealing with Large-Scale Heterogeneity

Spatial priorities for the conservation of three key Mediterranean habitats, i.e. seagrass Posidonia oceanica meadows, coralligenous formations, and marine caves, were determined through a systematic planning approach. Available information on the distribution of these habitats across the entire Mediterranean Sea was compiled to produce basin-scale distribution maps. Conservation targets for each habitat type were set according to European Union guidelines. Surrogates were used to estimate the spatial variation of opportunity cost for commercial, non-commercial fishing, and aquaculture. Marxan conservation planning software was used to evaluate the comparative utility of two planning scenarios: (a) a whole-basin scenario, referring to selection of priority areas across the whole Mediterranean Sea, and (b) an ecoregional scenario, in which priority areas were selected within eight predefined ecoregions. Although both scenarios required approximately the same total area to be protected in order to achieve conservation targets, the opportunity cost differed between them. The whole-basin scenario yielded a lower opportunity cost, but the Alboran Sea ecoregion was not represented and priority areas were predominantly located in the Ionian, Aegean, and Adriatic Seas. In comparison, the ecoregional scenario resulted in a higher representation of ecoregions and a more even distribution of priority areas, albeit with a higher opportunity cost. We suggest that planning at the ecoregional level ensures better representativeness of the selected conservation features and adequate protection of species, functional, and genetic diversity across the basin. While there are several initiatives that identify priority areas in the Mediterranean Sea, our approach is novel as it combines three issues: (a) it is based on the distribution of habitats and not species, which was rarely the case in previous efforts, (b) it considers spatial variability of cost throughout this socioeconomically heterogeneous basin, and (c) it adopts ecoregions as the most appropriate level for large-scale planning.

Alien polychaete species (Annelida: Polychaeta) on the southern coast of Turkey (Levantine Sea, eastern Mediterranean), with 13 new records for the Mediterranean Sea

The examination of benthic material collected from different depths and habitats along the southern coast of Turkey (Levantine Sea, eastern Mediterranean) in September and October 2005 revealed 30 alien polychaete species belonging to 15 families. Thirteen species (Pisione guanche, Linopherus canariensis, Onuphis eremita oculata, Lumbrineris perkinsi, Dorvillea similis, Timarete caribous, Pherusa parmata, Pherusa saldanha, Streblosoma comatus, Polycirrus twisti, Laonome triangularis, Branchiomma bairdi and Janua steueri) are new to the Mediterranean fauna, 24 species are new to the Turkish fauna and 27 species are new to the Levantine coast of Turkey. The specimens collected from the Levantine coast of Turkey and northern Cyprus that were previously identified as Linopherus acarunculata and Branchiomma boholense are reidentified as L. canariensis and B. bairdi, respectively. In the light of present knowledge, the previous reports of Lumbrineris inflata and Streblosoma hesslei from the Mediterranean (Italian coast) could refer to the species L. perkinsi and S. comatus, respectively. The species new to the Mediterranean Sea are redescribed and discussed.

Alien species of spionid polychaetes (Streblospio gynobranchiata and Polydora cornuta) in Izmir Bay, eastern Mediterranean

The present study reports the occurrence of two exotic species of polychaetes in Izmir Bay, the eastern Mediterranean: Streblospio gynobranchiata, newly reported for the Mediterranean, and Polydora cornuta. Their establishment in the area is most probably transport by ballast water since these two species greatly dominated polluted muddy bottoms near and in Alsancak Harbour. The maximum density and biomass of S. gynobranchiata in the area were 34,270 ind m -2 and 9.4 g wwtm -2 , and those of P. cornuta were 3170 ind m -2 and 2.1 g wwt m -2 , respectively. These two species accounted for more than 60% of total faunal populations in the majority of samples collected in winter. Both species are capable of reproducing in the area both in summer and winter. The morphological, ecological and distributional characteristics of these species as well as their impacts on the prevailing ecosystem are analysed and discussed.

Alien polychaete species worldwide: current status and their impacts

This paper reviews the alien polychaete species in the worlds oceans and their impacts on the marine ecosystems and humans. A total of 292 polychaete species belonging to 164 genera and 39 families have been transported around the worlds oceans with human-mediated assistance. Almost 15% of total number of known polychaete genera and 3.4% of total number of species are included in this phenomenon. A total of 180 species have become established in the worlds oceans and 31 species (casual species) have a potential to establish viable populations in a new location. The most speciose genera are Hydroides (16 species) and Polydora (16 species), both accounting for 10% of the total number of alien species. The families Spionidae (53 species) and Serpulidae (46 species) have the highest number of alien species. The Mediterranean Sea (134 species), and the coasts of the Hawaii Islands (47 species) and the USA Pacific (34 species) have been intensively invaded by alien polychaetes. The origins of alien species vary among regions. Alien polychaete species in the Mediterranean Sea mostly originated from the Red Sea and Indo-Pacific areas. Benthic habitats of the areas between 40°N and 40°S were colonized by polychaetes mostly originating from other tropical and subtropical regions. The Suez Canal and shipping are the major vectors for species introductions. Some species imported and exported as fishing baits have become established at non-native localities. The invasive polychaete species have greatly altered habitat structures in some areas, restructured the food webs, and created important economic problems.

Seasonal dynamics of soft bottom zoobenthic communities in polluted and unpolluted areas of Izmir Bay (Aegean Sea)

The polluted and unpolluted parts of Izmir Bay (Aegean Sea) were sampled seasonally in 1995 and 1996 in order to delineate effects of pollution on the spatial-temporal distributions of soft bottom benthic animals. A total of 298 species, represented by 6014 individuals, belonging to 10 major groups were determined, of which Polychaetes accounted for almost 51% of the total number of species (153 species) and 82% of the total number of individuals (4942 specimens). Crustaceans and molluscs were next dominant after the Polychaeta. By utilising the result of the cluster analysis, four main species assemblages were recognised in the area, each containing different dominant species. The heavily polluted inner bay, which was mainly dominated by the opportunistic polychaetes,Capitella capitata, Polydora spp. andOphiodromus pallidus, reached azoic conditions in summer and autumn. As the results of the present study compare with those of previous studies held in the bay, it can be concluded that pollution in the bay tends to increase and adversely affects distributions of zoobenthic animals particularly in the inner part of Izmir Bay.

Zoobenthos-inhabiting Sarcotragus muscarum (Porifera: Demospongiae) from the Aegean Sea

The cavities and outer surfaces of 20 individuals of the sponge Sarcotragus muscarum collected from the Turkish Aegean coast during July–September 1993 contained a total of 148 zoobenthic species with 5299 individuals belonging to seven taxonomic groups. Among these, Polychaeta accounted for 60% of the total number of species, while Crustacea comprised 71% of the total number of individuals and 40% of the wet weight of biomass. The amphipod and decapod crustaceans Tritaeta gibbosa and Synalpheus gambarelloides, and the bivalve Hiatella arctica, were the most abundant species on the sponge samples both in terms of number of individuals and biomass values. The community structure inside the sponges was greatly influenced by the nature of the substratum around the sponge, and by the overwhelming population of the Lessepsian echinoderm Ophiactis savignyi. Number of species, biomass and diversity index values were found to be positively related to the sponge volume. Mean density and biomass of the associated taxa are 0.22 ind cm−3 and 11.63 mg cm−3, respectively.

Spatio-temporal distributions of zoobenthos in Mersin Bay (Levantine Sea, eastern Mediterranean) and the importance of alien species in benthic communities

Abstract Spatio-temporal variations of soft-bottom zoobenthic communites in Mersin Bay were examined at seven stations between February and October 2009. A total of 337 species were encountered, of which Polychaeta had the highest number of species (136 species), and Mollusca possessed the highest number of individuals (65% of total specimens) and biomass (59% of total biomass). The highest benthos density (max. 9760 ind. m−2) and biomass (max. 133 g m−2) were found at shallow-water stations, whereas the highest diversity index values were calculated at the deepest station. The molluscs Cerithidium diplax, Corbula gibba and Bittium reticulatum dominated the area. Changes of zoobenthic communities were spatial rather than temporal and were strongly correlated with depth and the sediment structures. A total of 40 alien species were found in the area, of which 15 species were possibly transported to the area by ships and the others were Lessepsian migrants. The most domiant alien species in the area were C. diplax, Finella pupoides, Notomastus mossambicus and Amphiodia obtecta. Alien species formed dense populations at shallow water stations, and accounted for 12% of total number of species and 31% of total number of individuals in the area. The community parameters estimated for alien species significantly differed among stations but not among sampling periods. The main factors negatively affecting the number of alien species and individuals were depth, the clay percentage and total organic carbon concentration in sediment. The number of native species and individuals in the area show moderate positive correlations with those of aliens.

Annelids (Polychaeta and Oligochaeta) from the Sea of Marmara, with descriptions of five new species

This paper deals with annelids (Oligochaeta and Polychaeta) collected in the Sea of Marmara between 2006 and 2010 at depths from 0 to 66 m. A total of five oligochaete and 198 polychaete species were found. Five polychaete species, namely Prosphaerosyllis marmarae sp. nov., Levinsenia demiri sp. nov., Levinsenia kosswigi sp. nov., Levinsenia marmarensis sp. nov. and Levinsenia tribranchiata sp. nov. are new to science, and five oligochaete and 84 polychaete species are new to the fauna of the Sea of Marmara. A list of species found in the region and their maximum densities are presented at depth intervals. The present material includes six alien polychaete species, Paraprionospio coora, Polydora cornuta, Prionospio (Minuspio) pulchra, Pseudopolydora paucibranchiata, Chaetozone corona and Metasychis gotoi, of which the latter four species were new records for the region.

Microcosmus exasperatus (Ascidiacea: Pyuridae), current distribution in the Mediterranean Sea

This work was partly supported by the Scientific Research Projects of Ege University (Project number: 03 SUF 005).

Polychaetes (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the Aegean and Levantine coasts of Turkey, with descriptions of two new species.

In this paper, soft-bottom polychaete species collected in August and September 2011 in the Aegean and Levantine Seas (4–325 m) are presented. A total of 358 species belonging to 48 families were found. Two species, Leonnates aylaoberi sp. nov. and Levinsenia materi sp. nov., are new to science and 14 species are new records for the marine fauna of Turkey. Syllidae and Spionidae were represented by a high number of species. The highest polychaete density was estimated as 5660 ind.m−2 in the area. The most dominant species in the area were Lumbrineris geldiayi, Owenia fusiformis and Sigambra tentaculata. A total of 21 alien polychaete species were encountered in the area, of which Streblospio gynobranchiata formed a dense population in the Aegean Sea (Izmir Bay), and Prionospio depauperata and Prionospio saccifera in the Levantine Sea. Four hot spot areas for the settlement of alien species were determined in the area. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4ECEC9B2-1604-4768-B152-BBEAE257249F