Süleyman Balık

Freshwater fish in Anatolia, Turkey

The southern, western and north-western regions of Anatolia have abundant freshwater resources in the form of rivers, lakes and lagoons. In the past, these aquatic habitats were unpolluted and had very rich fish populations, but some water courses have started to become polluted in the last 20 years. This is because Turkey is a country that is developing very fast, both industrially and in agricultural terms. As a result of the large numbers of major towns and various types of factory, some species have been particularly affected by industrial pollution and generally the populations of fish living in these habitats have greatly diminished in recent years. The waste waters from these sites are discharged via rivers and lakes into the Sea of Marmara, the Aegean and the Mediterranean Seas. Some factories are equipped with filtration systems or purification plants, but at present most have no form of effluent treatment. Twenty species and ten subspecies of fish are described that are endemic to Turkey and neighbouring countries. One endemic species (Tor canis) is now extinct in Turkish waters, and three species (Alosa fallax nilotica, Aphanius fasciatus and Blennius fluviatilis) are endemic to the northern Mediterranean. It is essential as a first priority that conservation measures are taken to protect certain species and subspecies.

The zooplankton of some mountain lakes in the Taurus Range (Turkey)

Abstract The zooplankton of 16 mountain lakes in the Taurus Range was studied during 1996 and 1997, and a total of 116 zooplankton taxa, comprising 69 rotifers, 33 cladocerans, 12 copepods, one anostracan, and one chonchostracan was identified. Four rotifers (Brachionus polyacanthus, Asplanchnopus hyalinus, Lecane haliclysta, Dissotrocha aculeata medio-aculeata) and one copepod (Arctodiaptomus (Rh.) alpinus) are new for Turkish inland waters, and they are illustrated.

A new locality for the freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbyi Lankester, 1880 in Turkey

Abstract The freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbyi was found regularly at Topçam Reservoir, Aydın province, Turkey, between June 1999 and June 2000. It is thought that the species has been unintentionally introduced into the reservoir together with fishes. This is one of the first records for Turkey.

Recent changes in the fish fauna of Lake Bafa, Aegean region of Turkey

Abstract The current status of fishes found in Lake Bafa in the Aegean region of Turkey is described. The conspicuous augmentation of salinity in the last decade has resulted in the extinction of stenohaline freshwater species (Acanthobrama mirabilis, Chondrostoma nasus, Barbus pectoralis, Proterorhinus marmoratus and Silurus glanis) and has promoted the establishment of euryhaline fishes. Two species of marine origin, Gobius niger and Syngnathus abaster, are new additions to the ichthyofauna of Lake Bafa.

The freshwater leeches (Annelida: Hirudinea) of the Gediz catchment area (Izmir region)

Very little literature is available on the freshwater leeches of the Aegean region of Turkey. GELDIAY & TAREEN (1972) studied the benthic fauna of Gölcük Lake (Bozda ) and found five leech species (Helobdella stagnalis, Piscicola geometrica, Hirudo medicinalis, Erpobdella octoculata and Erpobdella testacea). KAZANCI et al. (1992) mentioned the presence of Haementaria costata and Dina lineata in the Köyce iz-Dalyan area. USTAO LU et al. (1998) reported six leech species (Haementaria costata, Hemiclepsis marginata, H. stagnalis, Glossiphonia complanata, Haemopis sanguisuga and E. octoculata) from Tahtal Dam Lake, and BALIK et al. (1999) studied rivers of the Northern Aegean region and reported two leech species (H. stagnalis and E. octaculata). KASPAREK et al. (2000) studied the distribution

Littoral Oligochaeta (Lumbriculidae and Enchytraeidae) communities of some mountain lakes in the Eastern Black Sea Range (Turkey)

Abstract Six surveys were carried out during July and August 2005–2007 in order to determine the Oligochaeta fauna of high-altitude lakes located in the Eastern Black Sea Range. With the highest peak, Kaçkar Dagi (elevation 3937 metres), and mountain plateaus at about 3000 metres in elevation, are the highest part of the Eastern Black Sea Range. This range is one of the most important glacial region in Turkey. Some physico-chemical features and Oligochaeta fauna of 39 lakes were determined for the first time, where no previous faunistic studies took place. As a result of the study, a total of 10 taxa was identified, comprising 3 species from Lumbriculidae [(Stylodrilus parvus (Hrabë & Černosvitov, 1927), Stylodrilus heringianus Claparede, 1862, and Lumbriculus variegatus (Müller, 1774)], 7 taxa from Enchytraeidae [(Cognettia sphagnetorum (Vejdovsky, 1878), Cognettia glandulosa (Michaelsen, 1889), Mesenchytraeus armatus (Levinsen, 1884), Mesenchytraeus sp., Henlea ventriculosa (d’Udekem, 1854), Henlea perpusilla Friend, 1911, and Henlea sp.)]. All the taxa represent new records for the region. Stylodrilus heringianus is recorded for the first time in Turkey.

Two new records for the non-marine ostracod fauna of Turkey: Humphcypris subterranea (Hartmann, 1964) and Herpetocypris brevicaudata Kaufmann, 1900

Abstract The two freshwater ostracods, Humphcypris subterranea (Hartmann, 1964) and Herpe-tocypris brevicaudata Kaufmann, 1900, are reported from a stream near Köyceğiz in southwestern Anatolia. These are the first records for Turkey. The ecological parameters of the collection sites are given and the taxonomic status of the species is discussed.

An amphipod species new for the Turkish fauna: Pontogammarus aestuarius (Derzhavin, 1924)

Abstract Pontogammarus aestuarius (Derzhavin, 1924), a Ponto-Caspian amphipod species, was found in 2002 in Taşkısığı Lake, situated on the NW coast of Anatolia. Its morphological characteristics are described and the extremities of the male illustrated. Ecological notes on the habitat of the species are given.

A new record for the freshwater ostracod fauna of Turkey: Hungarocypris madaraszi (Örley, 1886) (Crustacea: Ostracoda)

Abstract A bisexual population of Hungarocypris madaraszi (Örley, 1886) was found in a dead arm of the Küçük Menderes River near Torbalı (İzmir). The species is a new record for the freshwater ostracod fauna of Turkey.

Threatened fishes of the world: Pseudophoxinus egridiri (Karaman, 1972) (Cyprinidae)

Common name: Egirdir akca cicek baligi (Tr), Orient minnow (En), Egridir pfrille (Al), Veron d’oriantal (Fr), Amarante di oriente (It), Daska Turko (Is) (Artuz, 2005). Conservation status: Critically Endangered CR B1 ab (i,ii,iv,v) + 2 ab (i,ii,iv,v) (Crivelli and Erk’akan 2006). Identification: D III 8, A III 7, Lateral line scales 43–54, pored lateral line scales 2, pharyngeal teeth 5-4, gill-rakers 7–9 (10), total number of vertebra 35–36 (rarely 34 or 37) (Bogutskaya 1992). Distribution: P. egridiri is restricted to the tributaries of Lake Egirdir in Central Anatolia, Turkey. Abundance: Rare populations in Lake Egirdir (Kuru et al. 2001). Habitat and ecology: It occurs in temperate lentic biotopes and streams with plentiful vegetation. Feeds especially on insect larvae (Geldiay and Balik 2007). Reproduction: There is no information on the reproduction of this species. Threats: Introduction of some exotic fishes [in 1955 Sander lucioperca, in 1970 Gambusia affinis, in 1994 Carassius auratus, in 1996 Tinca tinca, in 1999 Knipowitschia caucasica, in 2002 Atherina boyeri (Kesici et al. 2006)] to the lake in addition to habitat loss, eutrophication and pollution, (Fricke et al. 2007). Conservations action: No conservation actions have been implemented. Conservation recommendations: Detailed information on biology and ecology of this species is required. After introduction of Sander lucioperca, P. egridiri disappeared from the area. However the species has been recorded from some of the streams connected to the lake. Predation by S. lucioperca must be controlled and limited the permit survival of the species. Remarks: This species is endemic with a restricted distribution in Turkey.