Ozcan Ozen

Age and growth of Capoeta erhani (Actinopterygii: Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from the Menzelet Reservoir, Turkey

Age information is the most important biological variable for estimating growth rates of fishes (Homauni et al. 2011). Determination of the age and growth parameters of fish populations is a very important issue for fisheries management. Fish age is usually estimated using the periodicity of the formation of increments in scales, otoliths, fin rays, and vertebrae (Campana 2001). Otoliths, however, are the structures that are the most preferred by fisheries scientists because of the precision of age estimates (Maceina and Sammons 2006, Čikeš Keč and Zorica 2013). The genus Capoeta Valenciennes, 1842 is distributed in southern China, northern India, Turkmenistan, Lake Aral, the Middle East, and Anatolia. These fishes inhabit gravel and stony zones of fast flowing rivers (Türkmen et al. 2002), but some species may also be found in lakes and springs (Turan et al. 2008). In the inland waters of Turkey there are five species and six subspecies of the genus Capoeta (see Türkmen et al. 2002, Elp and Sen 2009). Capoeta erhani Turan, Kottelat et Ekmekçi, 2008 was described from the Ceyhan River, Turkey (Turan et al. 2008). This species has an economic importance in commercial and recreational fisheries for the local people around the ACTA ICHTHYOLOGICA ET PISCATORIA (2014) 44 (2): 105–110 DOI: 10.3750/AIP2014.44.2.03

First record of marlin sucker, Remora Osteochir (Cuvier, 1829), from the northeastern Aegean Sea, Turkey

Single specimen of marlin sucker Remora osteochir (Cuvier, 1829) was captured during a commercial lift net operation in Ece Limani, Aegean Sea, Turkey. This is the first documented record of the species from northeastern Aegean Sea, Turkey. A short description of some morphological features of the specimen is provided, probable host of the specimen and species’ range in the Mediterranean are discussed.

First record of Gobius couchi Miller & El-Tawil, 1974 from the Aegean Sea (Pisces: Gobiidae)

Gulf Sand Gecko, Stenodactylus khobarensis (Haas, 1957): An individual was found at the fringes of JEO on 26 April 2007, and later on 14 May 2008 two were found in the northern desert near Al-Ratqa Police Station (30°01’N, 47°33’E), sharing their habitat with Stenodactylus slevini Wermuth, 1965, which is abundant there. One was also found at Subiya (29 35’N, 48 07’E) on 30 May 2008, sharing the sandy habitat with the Desert Gecko, Stenodactylus doriae Blanford, 1874. Measurements: snout to vent length 54 mm, tail (tip to vent) 39 mm. It had a distinctly protuberant nostril (Fig. 4, right), postmental scales distinctly enlarged (Fig. 4 left), belly scales larger than dorsal scales, no preanal pores present, rostral scale reaching the nostril but first upper labial not, toes cylindrical in shape and two cloacal tubercle rows present. Its described range is the Arabian Peninsula, along the western and southern coasts of the Arabian Gulf including Bahrain and central Oman (LEVITON et al. 1992), so this record extends its range to the northern part of the Arabian Gulf. It may well occur north to southern Iraq and to southwestern Khuzestan/Ahvaz Province in Iran.

NEW RECORD OF ELONGATE LANTERNFISH, NOTOSCOPELUS ELONGATUS (COSTA, 1844), FROM THE COASTAL WATERS OF AEGEAN SEA, TURKEY, WITH NOTES ON SPECIES' MORPHOLOGY AND DISTRIBUTION

Background. Marine ichthyofauna of the Mediterranean Sea is represented by 712 species, 117 of which are deepwater fishes. During the last decade, this ichthyofauna has been considerably enriched, either by Suez Canal- or Strait of Gibraltar migrations or simply by mariculture escapees. This study is intended to discussed morphol - ogy of one of such non-indigenous fish species and its distribution. Materials and Methods. Three specimens of elongate lanternfish, Notoscopelus elongatus (Costa, 1844), were captured during a commercial lift net operation in Ece Limani, Aegean Sea, Turkey. The fish were described and illustrated, following commonly accepted procedures. Results. This is the first documented new record of the species from Aegean Sea, Turkey. The described meris - tic and morphometric features of elongate lanternfish, Notoscopelus elongatus , are consistent with the data pro - vided by descriptors of its previous findings (with minor exceptions). The most interesting morphological feature of the presently described material is the presence in the smaller specimen (TL 103 mm) of 4 precaudal pho - tophores (Prc) on the left body side (in contrast to 3 usual ones). Conclusion. This work will undoubtedly enhance our knowledge on newly introduced species on lanterfishes in the Mediterranean and in Aegean Sea in particular.

Utilization of A Bioluminescent Pattern in the Encircling Gillnet Fisheries

To investigate the relationship between bioluminescent patterns and targeted fish species that cause this pattern, encircling gillnet sampling was conducted in shallow water (< 12 m) on moonless nights between February 2007 and December 2008 in the northern Aegean Sea, Turkey. The bioluminescent patterns of the targeted species Atlantic bonito, Sarda sarda, bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix, and salema, Sarpa salpa were distinctive enough to identify the species. Although not a target species, round sardinella, Sardinella aurita, also exhibited a unique bioluminescent pattern to differentiate schools of that species from the other species. Bioluminescence “signature” of fish species was found to be an important tool in locating and identifying targeted fish species in the small scale encircling gillnet fisheries.

Sustainability of Effective Use of Water Sources in Turkey

Water is the most essential natural resource for sustainable development of human society as well as the most vital source for viability of human and natural systems. However, natural water resources had been threaten by increase of temperature due to global warming and improper usage, causing health problems both for human and aquatic environment. On the other hand, global water consumption has increased because of growth in population and increase of the per capita water use. To make adjustments to the water utilization, the need is allocating limited water resources and increasing local water use efficiency. Sustainability is a relative concept that must be applied in an environment undergoing multiple changes that are occurring over different temporal and spatial scales. Contrary to the popular belief, Turkey is not a water-rich country. Turkey depends on its water resource systems for survival and welfare. Therefore, new studies have been forced in the rehabilitation and sustainable usage of water sources recently in the world. In this paper, information about their current state and future projections is given based on many published data.

Daily growth rates and hatch date distributions of common two-banded seabream, Diplodus vulgaris inhabiting the Çanakkale shallow waters of Turkey

Otolith microstructure analysis was used to determine daily age, growth rate and hatching periods of young of the year (YOY) common two-banded seabream, Diplodus vulgaris, collected at two sites by using beach seine from Canakkale shallow waters between January and December 2007. Total length of the YOY D. vulgaris was between 12 and 86 mm and the daily ages ranged between 42 and 313 days. Somatic growth rate estimated by fitting a linear regression to the age–length data set was calculated as 0.273 mm day. According to the length–age regression analysis, maximum daily growth rates were found 0.277 mm day in the lowest sea temperature period and minimum values of 0.274 mm day were observed in the declining sea temperature period. Analysis of covariance indicated that there were no significant differences in the linear growth equations for the two cohorts (F 1⁄4 0.4008, P 1⁄4 0.527). Hatching period of the YOY was estimated to occur between October and March with relatively higher frequency in January. This study has shown that YOY D. vulgaris is a winter spawner in the Canakkale shallow waters.

Age, growth and otolith morphometry of Capoeta angorae (Cyprinidae) collected from Menzelet Reservoir and Fırnız Stream (Turkey).

Menzelet Baraji ve Firniz Cayi’ndan Agustos 2011 ve Kasim 2012 tarihleri arasinda elektro-soker ile yakalanan Capoeta angorae bireylerinin yas, buyume oranlari ve otolit (asteriskus) morfometrik olcumleri belirlenmistir. Toplam boy (L) araligi 7.5 ile 27.0 cm arasinda olan C. angorae bireylerinden elde edilen toplam 175 adet otolit analizlerde kullanilmistir. Toplam erkek : disi orani (E : D = 1.52 : 1.00) erkekler lehine egimlidir. Student’s t-test cinsiyetler arasinda boy farkliliginin istatistiksel olarak onemli oldugunu gostermektedir (P 0.05)

FEEDING HABITS OF THE MARBLED GOBY, POMATOSCHISTUS MARMORATUS (ACTINOPTERYGII: PERCIFORMES: GOBIIDAE), IN THE ÇANAKKALE STRAIT, NORTHERN AEGEAN SEA, TURKEY

Pomatoschistus marmoratus (Risso, 1810) is a small demersal fish and one of the dominant species inhabiting shallow waters of the Mediterranean. Information, however, on their feeding habits are still scarce. In this study, the stomach contents of P. marmoratus were investigated in order to determine feeding habits accord - ing to seasons and sizes. The fish were collected monthly from 3 stations between October 2008 and August 2009, using a beach seine, from the shallow waters of the Canakkale Strait, Turkey. A total of 383 P. marmora - tus , ranging from 13 to 69 mm TL, were analysed. The most important prey items in the stomach contents were copepods and amphipods. The numerical abundance of each food item in the stomach contents varied significant - ly with season. The diet of juvenile P. marmoratus consisted mainly of copepods. The occurrence of largest prey items such as amphipods and bivalves appeared relatively higher in adults. However, no significant differences were found between the feeding habits of juveniles and adults .

The diet of Clinitrachus argentatus (Blennioidei: Clinidae) in the northern Aegean and Marmara Seas.

Differences in the diet composition of small (28-42 mm total length, L(T)) and large (43-75 mm L(T)) individuals of the cline Clinitrachus argentatus (Clinidae) were evident. Smaller individuals preyed mainly on copepods, whereas larger individuals ate mainly amphipods, isopods, brachyurans and polychaetes.