Murat Sezgin

Evaluation of the Black Sea Land Based Sources of Pollution the Coastal Region of Turkey

The Black Sea receives large quantities of unregulated and uncontrolled fresh water with drawl for irrigation purposes, hydro and thermal power generation and the use of coastal areas for permanent human settlements; shipping; and untreated domestic, industrial and agricultural wastes drain into the sea via the rivers or directly. In spite of this, research on the heavy metal pollution in marine biota of the Black Sea is limited. This review prepared to be informed of the urban sewage pollution loads and heavy metal concentrations of Turkish coasts of Black Sea. The urban sewages and heavy metals currently effective in Turkey coasts of the Black Sea so as to bring up the levels of land based sources of pollution with rivers and streams in the sea. The Black Sea has a special importance because of its being a sea that receives two large rivers, Kizilirmak and Yesilirmak and in this investigation we can show that Yesilirmak has higher amount of discharge then other rivers. This investigation was carried out with indicate to determine the aid of land-based sources and marine activities to the Black Sea, bringing up its present state. Total chrome and cadmium concentrations are higher then other heavy metals streams and rivers because of high amount of industrial discharges. The data presented in investigation on the heavy metal contamination of marine organisms were different depending on pollution sources, element and species. According to the evaluation of inventories, the results are rising year by year.

Patterns and mechanisms of dispersal in a keystone seagrass species.

Mechanisms and vectors of long-distance dispersal remain unknown for many coastal benthic species, including plants. Indications for the possibility for long-distance dispersal come from dispersal modelling and from genetic assessments, but have rarely been assessed with both methods. To this end, we assessed dispersal of the seagrass Zostera noltei, an important foundation species of the coastal zone. We investigate whether small scale seed dispersal and long-distance propagule dispersal do play a role for meta-population dynamics, using both genetic assessments based on eight microsatellite markers and physical modelling of ocean currents. Such assessments enhance our understanding of the biology and population dynamics of an important coastal foundation species. They are relevant for large scale conservation strategies as they give insights in the maintenance of genetic diversity and connectivity that may enhance resilience and resistance to stresses associated with seagrass loss.

New record of a Lessepsian amphipod from the Levantine coast of Turkey: Elasmopus pectenicrus (Bate, 1862)

The Levantine Sea is exceptionally vulnerable to biological invasions, where the principal vector of introduction is a passage through the Suez Canal. The rate of Lessepsian migration has increased in recent decades, and a majority of the Lessepsian species has significant ecological and economic impacts on the easternmost part of the Mediterranean (Çınar et al., 2005). The Mediterranean Lessepsian amphipods consist of a small number of species, i.e., eight, which, however, is a higher number than that previously known (Por, 1978): Cymadusa filosa Savigny, 1816, Bemlos leptocheirus (Walker, 1909), Unciolella lunata Chevreux, 1911, Gammaropsis togoensis (Schellenberg, 1925), Photis lamellifera Schellenberg, 1928, Elasmopus pectenicrus (Bate, 1862), Maera hamigera Haswell, 1880, and Stenothoe gallensis Walker, 1904 (cf. Bellan-Santini, 1998). These species comprise only 1.7% of the known Mediterranean amphipod fauna. Stenothoe gallensis and Maera hamigera were previously reported from the Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea coast of Turkey by Kocataş & Katağan (1978) and Kocataş et al. (2002), respectively. Two specimens of the amphipod, Elasmopus pectenicrus, were collected during excursions carried out in Iskenderun Bay, Turkey (36°35′′13′N 36°11′′48′E) in September 2005 at a depth of 0.1 m (fig. 1, asterisk). E. pectenicrus was identified following Karaman (1982) and the specimens are deposited in the Department of Hydrobiology (Ondokuz Mayis University, Sinop). A review of inventory studies relevant to the species indicates that E. pectenicrus constitutes a new record for the Turkish fauna. In order to properly document these new records, one of the

A brief look at the free-living Nematoda of the oxic/anoxic interface with a new genus record (Trefusia) for the Black Sea

Abstract In order to provide the first comparative source of nematofaunal data at the oxic/anoxic interface off the Sinop Peninsula, the southern Black Sea, a survey of meiofauna and nematode fauna was conducted in August 2011 aboard the exploration vessel (E/V) Nautilus with ROV during the Black Sea Expedition NA012. Higher meiofaunal taxa and nematode composition were investigated. Free-living marine nematodes were the most abundant group at each site. A total of 84 species were found, belonging to 23 families. The suboxic zone was dominated by the nematode Trefusia aff. longicauda (42%). This is the first record of the genus Trefusia De Man, 1893 for the Black Sea. Although many factors are likely to influence the changes in the meiofaunal abundance and the composition of nematode assemblages, we suggest that oxygen reduction indeed affected the meiofaunal abundance and the nematode composition, however, a particular preference of several taxa for extreme conditions may be suggested.

Diversity and bathymetric distribution of decapod crustaceans attracted to baited traps from the middle slope of the northern Aegean Sea

We sampled the decapod crustaceans inhabiting the depth zone between 500 and 1500 m off Gokceada Island (northern Aegean Sea) from May 2010 to November 2011. The deep-slope decapod fauna of the northern Aegean Sea was sampled with baited traps. A total of 23 species of decapods have been identified at 32 stations. The results were analysed in terms of composition and distribution of benthic and benthopelagic bait-attracted species between regions. In addition, they were compared between stations in relation to the depth gradient. The results are discussed in relation to previous studies carried out in the eastern and western Mediterranean. Also, the use of traps is commented for different regions and the effects of the sampler on benthic species are discussed. The most common species was the penaeid shrimp, Parapenaeus longirostris in samples taken between 500 and 600 m. It is followed by Polycheles typhlops and the pandalid shrimp Plesionika martia martia. These species constitute more than 50% of all decapods. Differences among the strata at 500-1500 m depth were tentatively explained using the Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H′). The highest H′ value was found for the 800-1000 m depth strata. The lowest number of species was observed between 1000 and 1500 m, which lowered the diversity index values (H′). The results of similarity percentage analysis (SIMPER) showed a change in the decapod fauna below 1000 m depth. The present results are preliminary; further data collection and analysis will be required to evaluate the role of palaeoecolgical conditions and trophic factors, and how these could be supposed to interact.

Relationships of benthic amphipod communities with environmental variables in the shallow waters of the Dardanelles

The structure of the benthic amphipod assemblage and its relationship with soft-bottom characteristics (particle size, organic matter, etc.) of the coastal waters at the depths of 0–5 m at the Dardanelles, including the Turkish Straits System, was studied. A SCUBA diver took benthos and sediment samples seasonally using a quadrate system of 30×30 cm as three transects from the 8 different stations between July 2008 and April 2009. A total of 3007 individuals belonging to 50 species was reported. Among these, Corophium acutum Chevreux, 1908 had the highest dominance value (Di%=22.18) and the lowest dominance value belonged to Dexamine thea Boeck, 1861 (Di%=0.03). The highest positive correlation (rs=0.57, p<0.05) was observed between the gravel content (%) and the abundance (ind. m−2). The highest sand rate (99.59%) in the sediment was found at the Eceabat site. The lowest rate was at the Kepez Harbour station with a value of 73.01%. The highest H′ value (1.53) was recorded at the Eceabat site, and the lowest H′ value (H′=0.95) was recorded at the Gallipoli sampling station.

First record of Abludomelita aculeata (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from the eastern Mediterranean

The amphipod Abludomelita aculeata , previously known from the western Mediterranean and the Lusitanian region of the eastern Atlantic, is reported for the first time from the eastern Mediterranean. The record is based on two adult males collected off Izmir, Turkey.

A new record of Peltocoxa gibbosa (Schiecke, 1977) (Amphipoda) from the eastern Mediterranean

A total of three specimens of the amphipod, Peltocoxa gibbosa (Schiecke, 1977) was sampled from a depth of 31 m off Bodrum (two specimens) and a depth of 8 m off Dikili (one specimen) at the Aegean Sea coast of Turkey. The specimens examined are in accordance with the original description of Peltocoxa gibbosa and, consequently, no further description is required. Drawings of this material are given in fig. 1.

Within-year spatio-temporal variation in meiofaunal abundance and community structure, Sinop Bay, the Southern Black Sea

Abstract The first comprehensive meiobenthos study was carried out in Turkey, the Southern Black Sea (Sinop) from August 2009 to July 2010.Sediment samples were collected monthly at eight stations at 3 m and 10 m water depths located on four transects. A metal push core sampler (surface area 12.56 cm2 and length 10 cm was used to obtain the material. Meiofaunal abundance and composition were examined. The results revealed that the meiofaunal community consists of twenty five higher taxonomic groups. Four groups dominated the community; Nematoda, Harpacticoida, Foraminifera and Polyuchaeta. Spatial and temporal meiofaunal abundance fluctuated among stations and over time.

Presence of Stereoderma kirschbergi (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) on Sinop Peninsula coast, Turkey: first record from Turkish Black Sea

Holothurian species play important roles in marine ecosytems, such as assisting in the composition of organic matter in sediment and releasing nutrients to the ecological food chain. Moreover, they are commercially important to the economy and medicine. There are approximately 25 families, 200 genera and 1400 species worldwide (Rowe & Gates, 1995). The genus Stereoderma Ayres, 1851 is the smallest group among the class Holothuroidea (Echinodermata), comprising two species occurring in European waters: Stereoderma incerta Cherbonnier, 1969 and Stereoderma kirschbergi (Heller, 1868). Between 2005 and 2006, we surveyed and collected the marine organisms on the Sinop Peninsula coast of the Black Sea by SCUBA diving. Holothuroid specimens had been collected from inside of the sea snail Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846) at a depth of 30 m (Figure 1). The samples were examined under the microscope and photographed (Figure 2). The specimens were deposited in the reference collection of Sinop Fisheries Faculty, Ondokuz Mayis University, Turkey. According to Zenkevitch (1963), the holothuroid fauna of the Black Sea comprises only seven species. Several records of S. kirschbergi are available from the Sea of Marmara and various sectors of the Black Sea (except the Anatolian coast) (Cherhbonnier, 1960; Zenkevitch, 1963; Tortonese, 1965; Caspers, 1968). In 1868 Camil Heller described five new Holothuroidea for the eastern Adriatic Sea. Later, some of Heller’s specimens were rediscovered and C. kirschbergi are redescribed and their current taxonomic status revised as S. kirschbergi by Panning (1949). Tortonese (1965) found many specimens of S. (=Cucumaria) kirschbergi in the Bosphorus. Mentioned material was collected on mud (77 m) and sandy-mud (55 m) bottoms and it was found inside mollusc shells with an abundance of 18 specimens m-2. Caspers (1968) also reported the species associated with brittle stars Amphipholis squamata (Delle Chiaje, 1829) and Amphiura chiajei Forbes, 1843 in the same region. Panning (1949) stated that the typical habitat of the species is mainly amongst algae or mussel beds, at depths of 50–80 m. It is generally distributed in the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea. This species is similar to the common Panningia hyndmani W. Thompson, 1840, Pawsonia saxicola (Brady & Robertson, 1871) and Figure 1. Investigation area with the sampling point.