Ecological Gradients of Epimegafaunal Distribution along The Sectors of Gulf of İzmir, Aegean Sea

Year 2021, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 130 - 158, 29.12.2021

Erhan Mutlu

https://doi.org/10.46384/jmsf.985685

Cited By: 1

Abstract

During 2009-2010 epifaunal materials were collected seasonally with a beam trawl from seven fixed stations in the infralittoral of Gulf of Izmir to study spatiotemporal distribution of megabenthic fauna and their ecology. A total 153 megafaunal species were identified belonging to nine phyla, comprised mostly of 54 molluscans, 43 chordates (mostly fish), 20 arthropods, and 18 echinoderms. Nine alien species were recorded. Four species (two fish species, one gastropod and one Asteroidea species) were constant species and 16 species were common species in the study area. Lesueurigobius friesii, Buglossidium luteum, Turritellinella tricarinata and Astropecten irregularis were the most frequently occurred, and Lesueurigobius friesii, Varicorbula gibba, Anomia ephippium, Turritellinella tricarinata and Dentalium sp were the most abundantly occurred species. Excluding the evenness index, faunistic characteristics tended to increase as a factor of depth. Seasonal density (abundance and biomass) was minimal in April and maximal in February, followed by November having 2-fold higher abundance than that inJuly. Faunal assemblages were correlated with regions of the gulf and habitat type. Buglossidium luteum overspread the entire gulf excluding the inner gulf. Varicorbula gibba and Fulvia fragilis, a pollution indicator predominated the inner gulf. Hydrographical parameters and depth were associated to dictate faunal assemblages with difference among the sectors and habitats.

Keywords

Megabenthic fauna, spatiotemporal distribution, ecology, Aegean Sea, İzmir Gulf

Supporting Institution

TUBİTAK

Project Number

SINHA 107G066

Thanks

The present study was carried out to estimate qualification and quantification of the benthic macrophytes conducted by me as task manager within framework of a project (grant no: SINHA 107G066) funded by TUBITAK. I thank Barış Akçalı for his help onboard sampling, and Erdem Sayın for providing the study with water physical parameters obtained with the CTD.

İzmir Körfezi’nin (Ege Denizi) Farklı Sektörleri Boyunca Bulunan Epimegafaunanın Dağılımının Ekolojik Yönelimi

Abstract

Dağılımlarını ve ekolojilerini çalışmak için 2009-2010 yılları içerisinde İzmir Körfezinin infralittoral zonunda yer alan 7 ayrı ve sabit tutulan derinliklerden epifaunal materyalleri kirişli trol ile mevsimsel toplanmıştır. 9 filuma ait toplam 153 tür bulunmuştur ve bunların bir çoğu 54 tür Mollusca, 43 Chordata (çoğu balık türü), 20 Arthropoda ve 18 to Echinodermata filumlarına ait bulunmuştur. 9 tür yabancı tür olarak tespit edilmiştir. Dört tür (2 balık, 1 gastropod ve 1 Asteroidea türü) bölge için kalıcı ve 16 tür yaygın tür olarak tahmin edilmiştir. Lesueurigobius friesii, Buglossidium luteum, Turritellinella tricarinata ve Astropecten irregularis bölgede en sık, ve Lesueurigobius friesii, Varicorbula gibba, Anomia ephippium, Turritellinella tricarinata and Dentalium sp en bol bulunan türlerdir. Düzenlilik indeksi hariç, diğer faunistik karakterler deniz tabani derinliği ile artış eğilimdedir. Mevsimsel bolluk ve biyokütle Nisan ayında minimum ve Şubatta maksimum iken, bunu Temmuz ayındaki değerlerden iki katı değere sahip Kasım ayı takip etmiştir. Fauna topluluğu, körfezin bölgeleri ve habitatları ile ilişkili bulunmuştur. Buglossidium luteum iç bölge hariç körfezin her yerine yayılmıştır. Organik kirlilik göstergesi olan Varicorbula gibba ve Fulvia fragilis iç körfezde oldukça baskındır. Körfezin farklı bölgeleri ve dip yapısı yanında, hidrografik ve dip derinliği farklı faunal topluğun oluşumuna neden olmaktadır.

Keywords

Megabentik fauna, Mekansal ve zamansal dağılım, Ekoloji, Ege Denizi, İzmir Körfezi

Project Number

SINHA 107G066

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