Zeki Ergen

Sabelliform polychaetes, mostly from Turkey's Aegean coast

Sixteen Aegean sabellids, nineteen serpulids and nine spirorbids are recorded, with some ecological details. The recent immigrant Spirorbis marioni Caullery and Mesnil occurs abundantly in most ports, but the long established Hydroides dianthus Verrill seems still to be confined to Izmir Bay. Taxonomic treatment of Sabellinae includes: a table for diagnosis of most Mediterranean genera; notes on ‘Sabella’ cerasina Grube; the first adequate descriptions of Bispira mariae Lo Bianco, Bispira viola (Grube) and Demonax tenuicollaris (Grube); and notes on an undescribed species of Branchiomma and on the differences between Branchiomma bombyx (Dalyell) and Branchiomma lucullanum (Delle Chiaje). Branchiomma boholense (Grube) and Branchiomma luctuosum (Grube) are recorded from elsewhere in the Mediterranean.

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.

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.

Occurrence of the lessepsian species Leonnates persicus (Polychaeta: Nereididae) in Izmir Bay, Aegean Sea

The recent establishment of the lessepsian species Leonnates persicus (Annelida: Polychaeta: Nereididae) in Izmir Bay (Aegean Sea) was investigated. A total of four specimens were collected at three stations in December 2001, with two specimens having eggs within their coelomic cavities and parapodia. A re-description of the species together with its ecological and distributional aspects are provided.

Spionidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean)

Abstract The present paper deals with spionid species (Spionidae) collected from various depths (4–183 m) and biotopes at 100 stations along the eastern part of the Aegean Sea in June–September 2000. A total of 35 species and 16 genera were identified, of which two species (Laonice norgensis and Spiophanes algidus) are new to the Mediterranean fauna, two species (Laonice bahusiensis and Polydora agassizi) are new to the eastern Mediterranean fauna, three species (Prionospio (Prionospio) saccifera, P. (P.) depauperata and Spiophanes afer) are new to the fauna of the Aegean Sea and four species are new to the fauna of Turkey. Prionospio (Prionospio) fallax and P. (P.) steenstrupi were represented by the highest dominance values, and Laonice cirrata and P. (M.) cf. multibranchiata by the highest frequency index values. The maximum number of species (28) were found on muddy bottom at 5–25 m. Nine species [Laonice norgensis, Paraprionospio coora, Polydora cornuta, Prionospio (Prionospio) depauperata, P. (P.) saccifera, P. (Minuspio) pulchra, Pseudopolydora paucibranchiata, Spiophanes algidus and Streblospio gynobranchiata] can be classified as alien.

Ecological features of the lessepsian migrant Leonnates persicus (Polychaeta: Nereididae) from the Levant coast of Turkey

The seasonal distribution of Leonnates persicus was studied along depth transects (10-200 m) of three stations located in the Levant Sea during February-November 2000. Leonnates persicus particularly dominated the slightly gravelly sand bottom of stations between 10 and 150 m. Its distributional pattern showed a seasonal trend: it inhabited depths between 40 and 150 m in February and May when surface temperature was below 21°C, whereas it preferred shallower waters (10-60 m) during the warm season (>29°C in August). The density of the species in the area varied between 10 and 130 ind m -2 , with a maximum at 25-30 m off Erdemli in August.

POLYCHAETA OF ANTALYA BAY (MEDITERRANEAN COAST OF TURKEY)

ABSTRACT In a first survey of Polychaeta from Antalya Bay benthos samples of Polychaeta were collected along 5 sites at depths from 0 to 25 m. We identified 129 polychaete taxa belonging to 30 families, of which 120 were new records for the Turkish region of the Levant Basin. Four were Lessepsian migrants: the ranges of Pseudeurythoe acarunculata and Eurythoe complanata are extended from Lebanon and Israel, respectively, to Turkey; Pseudonereis anomala, is now common along the rocky littoral Levant Turkish shore. Lysidice collaris, previously known from Israel and Cyprus, is present along both the Levant and Aegean Turkish coasts, and is newly reported in both regions.

On the Nereididae (Polychaeta: Annelida) fauna of the Bay of İzmir

Abstract This study, dealing with the taxonomic features of Nereididae species, was conducted at 7 stations located in İzmir Bay and its adjacent areas. The benthic samples examined yielded 7 genera and 15 species; of these Micronereis variegata Claparède, 1863 is recorded for the first time in Turkish waters. The morphological characteristics of the specimens collected in various biotopes are discussed and a taxonomic key to the species is provided.

Polyplacophora (Mollusca) from the Aegean coast of Turkey

Abstract This study has been conducted in order to determine the Polyplacophoran species occurring along the Aegean coasts of Turkey. As a result of collecting carried out in different habitats at 21 selected locations, 11 species were identified: Lepidopleurus cajetanus, L. scabridus, Ischnochiton rissoi, Callochiton septemvalvis euplaeae, Lepidochitona cinerea, L. corrugata, L. monterosatoi, Chiton corallinus, Ch. olivaceus, Acanthochitona crinita, and A. fascicularis. Of these species, Lepidopleurus scabridus is reported for the first time from Turkey, and Chiton corallinus is new for the Aegean fauna of Turkey.