Vol.26 – 2020

A new non-destructive method for the assessment of the ecological status of coastal waters by using marine macrophytes

Ergün Taşkın

Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Muradiye, Yunusemre, 45140, Manisa, TURKEY

ORCID ID: 0000-0003-0531-4546

Abstract

The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD 2000/60/EC) declared the benthic macrophytes (macroalgae and angiosperms) as biological quality elements to assess the ecological status of coastal and transitional waters. In the present paper, Benthic Ecological Assessment Rapid Index (BEARI) is proposed as a new non-destructive method to assess the ecological quality of coastal waters. The data was obtained by photographic sampling at 9 different sites in the Sea of Marmara (3 sites) and the coasts of Aegean Sea (6 sites) of Turkey. Macrophytes were classified into two benthic ecological groups: BEGI (late-successional taxa) and BEGII (tolerant and opportunistic taxa). By this new non-destructive method, it was found out that 3 sites had “high” ecological quality, 3 sites “good” quality, 1 site “moderate” quality, and 2 sites “bad” quality. The relationship between the pressure index MA-LUSI and new index (BEARI) was also tested and a strong negative correlation was found.

Keywords: Angiosperms, BEARI, ecological status, MA-LUSI, marine algae

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Preliminary results of cetacean sightings in the eastern Mediterranean Sea of Turkey

Aylin Akkaya, Patrick Lyne, Xenia Schulz, Tim Awbery, Svenja Capitain, Blanca Ferriz Rosell, Belen Yıldırım, Cansu İlkılınç, Julieta Vigliano Relva, Harry Clark, Liam van Walsum, Jonathan Gordon

DMAD-Marine Mammals Research Association, Antalya, TURKEY
Doğal Hayatı Koruma Vakfı WWF-Turkey, Istanbul, TURKEY
Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St. Andrews, Scotland, UNITED KINGDOM

ORCID IDs: A.A. 0000-0002-0414-770X; P.L. 0000-0002-8326-5180; X.S. 0000-0002-6925-2252; T.A. 0000-0003-4338-8351; S.C. 0000-0003-0815-2394; B.F.R. 0000-0002-1461-7787; B.Y. 0000-0002-4768-0213; C.İ. 0000-0001-5024-2751; J.V.R. 0000-0003-0631-840X; H.C. 0000-0002-5609-9164; L.V.W. 0000-0002-3650-9947; J.G. 0000-0002-5474-9899

Abstract

Lack of baseline knowledge is often the principal conservation barrier, especially if the species of concern shows steady decline. The primary goal of the current project is to fill the knowledge gaps in understudied cetacean populations through dedicated visual and acoustic surveys in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea of Turkey. The surveys were conducted over six seasons, following 4384.76 km in 49 days between April 2018 and July 2019. Cetaceans were detected on 39 days (146 sightings), with the highest sightings belonging to delphinids (bottlenose, common and unidentified dolphins) followed by sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) and a single acoustic detection of a beaked whale. Fethiye Canyon held the highest cetacean concentration and thus is identified as an “important habitat”. Reported encounter rates were higher than previous studies, with 2.78 and 0.55 groups/100 km for delphinids and sperm whales, respectively. Despite the lack of significant variation in cetacean presence due to season and diurnal effects, there was a noticeable increase in summer sightings for sperm whales, where they were encountered as solitary individuals and social units with calves. The current research presented the first seasonal survey results of the Turkish Mediterranean and underlines the importance of local research efforts for valid conclusions in an understudied environment that holds not only unrecognized cetacean habitats but also a wide range of human pressures.

Keywords: Sperm whales, delphinids, acoustic, encounter rates, distribution, eastern Mediterranean Sea

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Chemical composition of the essential oil of sea fennel seed (Crithmum maritimum L.) from Turkey

 Funda Turan, M. Kemal Sangun, Ayşegül Ergenler

Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, Iskenderun Technical University, Iskenderun, Hatay, TURKEY
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Arts, University of Hatay Mustafa Kemal, Hatay, TURKEY

 ORCID IDs: F.T. 0000-0002-0257-6009; M.K.S. 0000-0001-5023-3935; A.E. 0000-0001-9186-3909

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the essential oil composition of the sea fennel, Crithmum maritimum seed collected from Arsuz, Hatay (Turkey). The components of the essential oil were identified through GC/MS. The identity of 23 compounds of the essential oil was confirmed and their relative proportion was determined. The yield of essential oil was found 0.6%. Monoterpenic hydrocarbons: sabinene (43.29%), p-cymene (13.27%), α-phellandrene (13.16%), α-pinene (10.58%) and γ-terpinene (10.56%) were major compounds in essential oil of sea fennel seed. Sabinene has the highest percentage composition in the C. maritimum seed essential oil (43.29%). It is suggested that the sea fennel seed can be used as a trading source for commercial cultivation and potential medicinal uses of C.maritimum in Turkey.

Keywords: Sea fennel, Crithmum maritimum, essential oils, GC/MS

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Observations on the flowering and fruit developments in Halophila stipulacea (Hydrocharitaceae) in the Aegean Sea (Turkey)

Berrin Dural, Emine Şükran Okudan, Nilsun Demir, Ayhan Şenkardeşler, Hüseyin Erduğan, Veysel Aysel

Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Ege University, 35100, Izmir, TURKEY
Department of Basic Aquatic Science, Faculty of Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries, Akdeniz University, Antalya, TURKEY
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Ankara University, 06110 Ankara, TURKEY
Biology Department, Faculty of Science and Arts, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, TURKEY
Department Biology, Faculty of Science, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, TURKEY

ORCID IDs: B.D. 0000-0002-9379-7922; E.Ş.O. 0000-0001-5309-7238; N.D. 0000-0002-3895-7655; A.Ş. 0000-0001-6294-0389; H.E. 0000 0002 7047 6640; V.A. 0000-0003-3668-7046

Abstract

The flowering and fruiting of Halophila stipulacea (Forsskål) Ascherson were followed on the Turkish coasts of the Aegean Sea, and both male and female flowers were recorded at the same location for the first time. Male and female flowers were found between mid-April and late September. In shallow coastal water, male flowers were fewer than female flowers, while in deep zones, female flowers were fewer than male flowers. The female flowers of H. stipulacea had three styles, but four styles of flowers were also found exceptionally. At the research stations, the plants and flowers showed a lower limit of 30 m depth and an upper limit of between 1 and 8 m. The upper limit of female plants was 4 m, and that of male plants was 6 m. Besides, flowering was recorded generally in very dense populations.

Keywords: Flower development, flowering, fruiting, pollen grain, pollination, seagrass

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