Octocoral diversity of Balıkçı Island, the Marmara Sea

Abstract

Abstract We investigated the octocoral diversity of Balıkçı Island in the Marmara Sea. Three sites were sampled by diving, from 20 to 45 m deep. Nine species were found, two of which are first records for Turkish fauna: Alcyonium coralloides and Paralcyonium spinulosum. Scientific identification of Alcyonium acaule in the Turkish seas was also done for the first time in this study.

Keywords

• Key words: Octocoral, soft coral, gorgonian, diversity, Marmara Sea.

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