Vol.28 – 2022 – Sayfa 2 – Journal of the Black Sea / Mediterranean Environment

Preliminary results from the Finike Seamounts foraminifer assemblages, Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Nazik Öğretmen, Süheyla Kanbur, Onur Gönülal

ORCID IDs: N.Ö. 0000-0003-0117-1058; S.K. 0000-0002-5208-4379; O.G. 0000-0002-5559-3953

Eurasia Institute of Earth Sciences, Ecology and Evolution Department, Istanbul Technical University, 34469 Maslak-Sarıyer, Istanbul, TÜRKİYE
Süleyman Demirel University, Süleyman Demirel Cd., 32260 Merkez, Isparta, TÜRKİYE
Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Istanbul University, Onaltı Mart Şehitleri Cad. No: 2, 34134 Fatih, Istanbul, TÜRKİYE
Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV), P.O. Box: 10, Beykoz, Istanbul, TÜRKİYE

Abstract

The Finike Seamounts, located in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, are a Special Environmental Protection Area and offer new information on the foraminifers. In this study, two surface samples from two stations located at 1800m and 2200 m water depth were studied for their foraminifer assemblages. Although abundant in planktic foraminifers, the Finike Seamounts display a very poor, small in size but diverse benthic foraminifer assemblage as a common feature encountered in seamount ecosystems. In total 22 planktic foraminifer species belonging to one suborder, two superfamilies, four families, and 13 genera were identified. Among these identified species, interestingly, any keeled globorotalid forms were not encountered. Regarding benthic foraminifers, in total 38 species belonging to six suborders, 15 superfamilies, 23 families, and 27 genera were identified. The presence of miliolids among benthic foraminifers points to a possible sediment supply from the infralittoral depths.

Keywords: Planktic foraminifers, benthic foraminifers, taxonomy, ecosystem, Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Finike Seamounts

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Cetacean sightings in the Finike Seamounts area and adjacent waters during the surveys in 2021

Ayhan Dede, Ayaka Amaha Öztürk, Arda M. Tonay, Uğur Özsandıkçı, Onur Gönülal, Bayram Öztürk

ORCID IDs: A.D. 0000-0002-7712-615X; A.A.Ö. 0000-0003-2281-7372; A.M.T. 0000-0003-2718-9328; U.Ö 0000-0002-7246-5494; O.G. 0000-0002-5559-3953;
B.Ö. 0000-0001-7844-2448

Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Istanbul University, Onaltı Mart Şehitleri Cad. No: 2, 34134, Fatih, Istanbul, TÜRKİYE
Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV), P.O. Box: 10, Beykoz, Istanbul, TÜRKİYE
Faculty of Fisheries, Sinop University, Sinop, TÜRKİYE

Abstract

The Finike Seamounts (Anaximander) was declared as the “Finike Seamounts Special Environmental Protection Area (SEPA)” by Republic of Türkiye in 2013. In order to determine the presence of cetaceans living in the region and its adjacent waters, visual observations were carried out with the standard line transect method as well as passive acoustic recordings at 21 stations in two boat surveys in spring and autumn 2021. A total of 1621 nautical miles were covered in both surveys. Sperm whales were detected visually and acoustically. Other deep-diving species, Cuvier’s beaked whale, was observed once, as well as delphinid species, such as the striped dolphins (two groups) and bottlenose dolphins (7 groups). Delphinids were also detected acoustically in 8 stations. Although the surveys were made only in two seasons in one year, it was shown that the cetaceans use the surveyed area and their presence must be taken into consideration in the management of the Finike Seamounts SEPA.

Keywords: Eastern Mediterranean Sea, SEPA, dolphin, whale, Anaximander

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Findings on pelagic macro crustacean species of the Finike Seamounts Special Environment Protection Area (SEPA), the eastern Mediterranean Sea

Onur Gönülal

ORCID ID: O.G. 0000-0002-5559-3953

Abstract

The ecology of seamounts in the Mediterranean Sea is poorly investigated. This paper aims to make contribution to the knowledge of the deep-sea pelagic fauna of the Finike Seamounts Special Environmental Protection Area (SEPA). Eight species of the pelagic crustaceans were recorded during the spring and fall surveys in 2021. The most abundant species was Euphausia krohnii, followed by Robustosergia robusta and Allosergestes sargassi, in this study. The other five species, Nematoscelis atlantica, Stylocheiron longicorne, Thysanopoda aequalis, Amalopenaeus elegans and Lucifer typus, were found in lower abundance.

Keywords: Finike Seamounts, Euphausiacea, pelagic crustacea

References

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Contribution to the knowledge on the zooplankton fauna of the Finike Seamounts, the eastern Mediterranean Sea

Kerem Bakır, H. Vedat Aker

ORCID IDs: K.B. 0000-0002-3739-8396; H.V.A. 0000-0001-8101-644K

Department of Marine-Inland Waters Sciences and Technology, Fisheries Faculty, Ege University, İzmir, TÜRKİYE

Abstract

In this study, the zooplankton diversity in the Finike Seamounts, which has been declared as a Special Environmental Protection Area, was investigated. In total, 42 species were identified, of which Pontella atlantica, Euchaeta spinosa, Phronima sedentaria, Oxycephalus piscator, Vibilia propinqua and Streetsia challengeri were new records for the Turkish coast. The numbers of species identified in shallower coastal water was higher than those in the deeper offshore waters.

Keywords: Seamounts, Türkiye, zooplankton, Mediterranean

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Some observations on the ichthyofauna of the Finike (Anaximander) Seamounts, the eastern Mediterranean

Cem Dalyan, Nur Bikem Kesici, Sinan Mavruk, Ahsen Yüksek

ORCID IDs: C.D. 0000-0002-7386-5641; N.B.K. 0000-0002-9636-1649; S.M. 0000-0003-1958-0634; A.Y. 0000-0001-7949-3001

Division of Hydrobiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Istanbul University, Istanbul, TÜRKİYE
Department of Marine Biology, Fisheries Faculty, Cukurova University, Adana, TÜRKİYE
Department of Physical Oceanography and Marine Biology, Institute of Marine Sciences and Management, İstanbul, TÜRKİYE

Abstract

Deep sea ecosystems are home to many unique habitats. Considering the Mediterranean Sea, extreme environments are clustered mainly in the eastern basin such as the Nile Deep Sea Fan, Finike (Anaximander) and Eratosthenes Seamounts, Olimpi mud volcano field, Calabrian Arc and Marmara deep fault systems. This study was conducted in the Finike Seamounts, to assess the ichthyofauna of the area with a depth of down to 2200 m. Samples of larval, juvenile and adult phases indicated the presence of 20 fish species belonging to 13 families in and around the Finike Seamounts area. The collected individuals consisted of 422 adults, 6 juveniles and 31 larvae. Most of the individuals belonged to Cyclothone braueri, all of them being adults.

Keywords: Eastern Mediterranean, deep sea, seamount, fish, larvae

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Editor’s Note to the issue dedicated to the Finike Seamounts (Anaximander) Special Environmental Protection Area, the eastern Mediterranean Sea

Bayram Öztürk
Editor

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7844-2448

Abstract

The Finike Seamounts (Anaximander) area was designated as the Special Environmental Protection Area (SEPA) in 2013 by the Turkish government to protect its unique biodiversity components such as rich benthic communities, vulnerable deep sea species and highly migratory species. As the area is not totally inside the territorial waters of Türkiye, this initiative can facilitate and be beneficial for transboundary cooperation in terms of conservation for highly mobile and vulnerable species such as sea turtles, bluefin tuna, seabirds, and cetaceans. Besides, it can be included in the Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI) list under the Barcelona Convention in order to promote bilateral cooperation with the neighbouring countries. Designation as one of the Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) under the Convention of Biological Diversity is also another option for marine conservation in this region. Finally, the Finike Seamounts SEPA needs a long-term scientific monitoring study to understand both the benthic and pelagic components of its biodiversity. The surveys in 2021 initiated such a study and the papers published in this issue of the journal (Vol.28 No.2) as the results of 2021 surveys provide the baseline data of the Finike Seamounts SEPA to be referred and evaluated for the coming years.

Keywords: Finike Seamounts (Anaximander), marine biodiversity, marine conservation, Special Environmental Protection Area

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Onboard surveys results for the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the Finike (Anaximander) Seamounts region and adjacent waters

Onboard surveys results for the loggerhead turtle **(Caretta caretta) and the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the Finike (Anaximander) Seamounts region and adjacent waters**

Doğan Sözbilen, Arda M. Tonay, Ayaka Amaha Öztürk ,Uğur Özsandıkçı, Ayhan Dede, Yakup Kaska

ORCID IDs: D.S. 0000-0002-2267-1636; A.M.T. 0000-0003-2718-9328; A.A.Ö. 0000-0003-2281-7372; U.Ö 0000-0002-7246-5494; A.D. 0000-0002-7712-615X; Y.K. 0000-0001-5169-8216

Sea Turtle Research, Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (DEKAMER), Pamukkale University, Denizli, TÜRKİYE
Department of Veterinary, Acıpayam Vocational School, Pamukkale University, Denizli, TÜRKİYE
Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Istanbul University, Onaltı Mart Şehitleri Cad. No: 2, 34134, Fatih, Istanbul, TÜRKİYE
Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV), P.O. Box: 10, Beykoz, Istanbul, TÜRKİYE
Faculty of Fisheries, Sinop University, Sinop, TÜRKİYE
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Pamukkale University, Denizli, TÜRKİYE

Abstract

Identification of key habitats of migratory marine megafauna species is of great importance, especially for the conservation of threatened species. In this study, the occurrence and distribution of sea turtles in coastal and offshore areas were investigated for the first time by offshore onboard observations in the Finike Seamounts (Anaximander) Specially Protection Area and its adjacent waters. The study was carried out in spring and autumn in 2021 and two sea turtle species known to breed in Türkiye, the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) were observed. Of the total of 11 individuals observed, five of them were identified as the loggerhead turtle and two were identified as the green turtle. The species of four individuals could not be determined. The detection of individuals both during and after the breeding period for both species indicates that the Finike Seamounts Specially Protection Area and adjacent waters host sea turtle species throughout the year. The results of the study show that coastal and offshore observations should be continued systematically in order to make conservation measures specific to the region and to determine the abundance of both species in the region.

Keywords: Offshore habitats, eastern Mediterranean Sea, marine turtles, in-water observation, migratory species

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Preliminary study on ornithofauna of Finike (Anaximander) Seamounts region and adjacent waters in the eastern Mediterranean Sea

Ortaç Onmuş, Arda M. Tonay, Ayaka Amaha Öztürk, Uğur Özsandıkçı, Ayhan Dede

ORCID IDs: O.O. 0000-0002-3819-0626; A.M.T. 0000-0003-2718-9328; A.A.Ö. 0000-0003-2281-7372; U.Ö 0000-0002-7246-5494; A.D. 0000-0002-7712-615X

Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, Natural History Museum, Research and Application Centre, Ege University, Izmir, TÜRKİYE
Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Istanbul University, Onaltı Mart Şehitleri Cad. No: 2, 34134, Fatih, Istanbul, TÜRKİYE
Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV), P.O. Box: 10, Beykoz, Istanbul, TÜRKİYE
Faculty of Fisheries, Sinop University, Sinop, TÜRKİYE

Abstract

This is the first study regarding offshore seabird sightings in Turkish waters. The survey was carried out in Finike Seamounts (Anaximander) region and adjacent waters for 10 days in spring and seven days in autumn of 2021. Bird distributions were determined by visual observations that were carried out onboard R/V YUNUS-S with the standard line transect method. In total, 19 bird species belonging to seven Ordos and 11 Families were recorded. The first three dominant groups of species were Scopoli’s shearwater (Calonectris diomedea, n: 92, 47%), and common tern (Sterna hirundo, n: 22, 11%), and common swift (Apus apus, n: 15, 8%). In the Turkish coastal and offshore region of the Mediterranean, migratory movements and distribution of bird species, mainly Ardeidae (Ciconiiformes) and Laridae, Sternidae, and Scolopacidae (Charadriiformes), were observed in spring and autumn. In this paper, the observed and anticipated migration routes were described for those species. Detailed and long-term studies over larger areas are recommended at offshore regions in Türkiye.

Keywords: Seabirds, pelagic birds, eastern Mediterranean Sea, offshore observations, Ornitofauna, bird migration

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A short note on pelagic fishes in the Finike Seamounts and adjacent waters, the eastern Mediterranean Sea

Çetin Keskin, Arda M. Tonay, Ayhan Dede, Uğur Özsandıkçı

ORCID ID: Ç.K. 0000-0002-2434-0355; A.M.T. 0000-0003-2718-9328; A.D. 0000-0002-7712-615X; 7384; U.Ö 0000-0002-7246-5494

Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Istanbul University, Onaltı Mart Şehitleri Cad. No: 2, 34134 Vezneciler Fatih Istanbul, TÜRKİYE
Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV), P.O. Box: 10, Beykoz, Istanbul, TÜRKİYE
Faculty of Fisheries, Sinop University, Sinop, TÜRKIYE

Abstract

This article reports pelagic fish species recorded during the survey of cetaceans in the Finike Seamounts region and the adjacent waters in 2021. The Mediterranean flyingfish Cheilopogon heterurus (Rafinesque, 1810) and Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758) were observed and recorded during their flight/leap movements on the water surface. The scientific sharing of these data is important in terms of emphasizing the richness of the pelagic life of the Finike Seamounts region and underlines the importance of declaring the region as a Special Environmental Protection Area (SEPA).

Keywords: Cheilopogon heterurus, Tunnus thynnus, offshore observations, Finike Seamounts SEPA, Anaximander Mountains

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