Vol.31 – 2025 – No.1 – Journal of the Black Sea / Mediterranean Environment

CAMACHOAGLAJA AFRİCANA PRUVOT-FOL, 1953 (GASTROPODA, HETEROBRANCHİA, CEPHALASPİDEA) İN LİBYA: FİRST RECORDS AND NOTES ON İTS MATİNG BEHAVİOUR

Camachoaglaja africana Pruvot-Fol, 1953 (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia, Cephalaspidea) in Libya: first records and notes on its mating behaviour

Jamila Rizgalla

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5699-5321

Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, LIBYA

Abstract

Camachoaglaja africana is a small sea slug found in Macaronesia, Atlantic coasts of North Africa and the Mediterranean Sea. This mollusc can be found in shallow waters up to 30 meters deep. During field surveys conducted to assess sea slug biodiversity in Libyan waters, C. africana was discovered in three different locations along the western coast of Libya. The mating season and behaviour of this species were also documented in this study. The present record expands the known distribution of C. africana to include Libya and the African Mediterranean coast.

Keywords: Spawning, hermaphrodite, North Africa, Heterobranchia

Pages: 25-36

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Confirmed presence of Cladophora catenata in the Marmara Sea, Türkiye

**Confirmed presence of Cladophora catenata in the Marmara Sea, Türkiye**

Öznur Yazılan, Ergün Taşkın

ORCID IDs: Ö.Y. 0009-0009-4935-0742; E.T. 0000-0003-0531-4546

Department of Biology, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Manisa, TÜRKİYE

Abstract

Cladophora catenata (Linnaeus) Kützing is a filamentous green alga with a highly disjunct distribution in tropical seas (Hoek 1982), and its presence in Türkiye has remained unverified until now. In this study, we report the first confirmed occurrence of C. catenata in the Marmara Sea, expanding its known distribution beyond tropical and subtropical waters. Specimens were collected from the coast of Üsküdar (41°1′13.68″N, 29°0′25.56″E) (İstanbul, Marmara Sea, Türkiye) in July 2024 at a 0.5 m depth and identified based on morphological characteristics. Our findings contribute to the knowledge of marine algal biodiversity in Türkiye and emphasize the need for further monitoring of Cladophora species in the Eastern Mediterranean and adjacent seas, particularly in the context of changing environmental conditions and species dispersal patterns.

Keywords: Cladophora, green algae, Marmara Sea, Türkiye

Pages: 48-53

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Türkiye’s special environmental protection areas (SEPAs): an overview, targets and some proposals

Bayram Öztürk, Dilek Tezel, Tancrède Barraud

ORCID IDs: B.Ö. 0000-0001-7844-2448; D.T. 0000-0002-1751-2948; T.B. 0000-0001-6621-0922

Marine Biology Department, Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Istanbul University, 34134 Istanbul, TÜRKİYE
Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV), P.O. Box: 10, Beykoz, İstanbul, TÜRKİYE
Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, 06510 Ankara, TÜRKİYE
Marine Biology Programme, Institute of Sciences and Technology, Istanbul University, 34134 Istanbul, TÜRKİYE

Abstract

Special Environmental Protection Areas (SEPAs) are the main marine protected areas (MPAs) in Türkiye. Currently, 19 SEPAs have been declared in Türkiye, both on land and at sea. Among them, 13 SEPAs were designated in Turkish waters between 1988 and 2025. In line with global targets and international commitments, SEPAs and other protected areas in Türkiye were analysed using GIS-based spatial analysis methods according to their location, size, categories, and resource values. Each marine SEPA has its own terrestrial and marine parts, except for the Finike Seamounts SEPA. The largest and latest SEPA is the Marmara Sea and its islands, outside of the geographical scope of Barcelona Convention, with 12,246.16 km², designated in 2021 with its borders extended in 2024. The smallest SEPA is Belek with 141.68 km². At least three of the SEPAs are of transboundary nature in the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, namely the Finike Seamounts, Kaş-Kekova, and Datça-Bozburun SEPAs. The Black Sea does not have any SEPAs presently. Thus, it is highly recommended to designate SEPAs urgently to protect the Black Sea’s marine biodiversity. Only 6.22% of Türkiye’s coastal and marine waters have been designated as protected areas, of which 5.71% are existing SEPAs. This value is far from AICHI Target 11 and Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Our proposal is to set new national targets to relevant authorities with the aim to increase MPAs and reach the AICHI target and Global Biodiversity commitment, mainly in the Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Keywords: Türkiye, marine biodiversity, Special Environmental Protection Area, AICHI Targets, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

Pages: 66-85

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Öztürk, B. (2009) Marine protected areas in the high seas of the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean Seas, some proposals. Journal of the Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment 15: 69-82.

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Expanding the biogeographical range of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica: the discovery of meadows at Yer Island, the Sea of Marmara, Türkiye

**Expanding the biogeographical range of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica: the discovery of meadows at Yer Island, the Sea of Marmara, Türkiye**

Rıdvan Kaan Gürses, Orhun Hisli, Nisan Aydaş, Nehir Eryılmaz, Sare Sena Türk, Zeynep Gülenç

ORCID IDs: R.K.G. 0000-0001-5951-2308; O.H. 0000- 0002-9102-4125; N.A. 0009-0001-9811-8829; N.E. 0009-0001-5574-431X; S.S.T. 0000-0002-6822-8621; Z.G. 0009-0000-7879-3934

Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV), P.O. Box: 10, Beykoz, Istanbul, TÜRKİYE
Institute of Graduate Studies in Sciences, İstanbul University, 34116, Fatih, Istanbul, TÜRKİYE
Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Istanbul University, Onaltı Mart Şehitleri Cad. No: 2, 34134, Fatih, Istanbul, TÜRKİYE
Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Dumlupınar Blv. No: 1 Üniversiteler Mah. 06800 Çankaya, Ankara, TÜRKİYE

Abstract

Posidonia oceanica is a key ecosystem engineer in the Mediterranean, playing a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity, enhancing habitat complexity, stabilising coastal environments, and contributing to carbon sequestration. The present study reports the discovery and spatial delineation of a previously unrecorded P. oceanica population on the coast of Yer Island, which is relatively smaller than other Marmara Islands. Through detailed georeferenced mapping and spatial analysis, we identified 37 discrete seagrass patches, covering a total area of 0.64 ha. These findings extend the known biogeographical range of P. oceanica and highlight the need for further research and conservation measures to protect these vulnerable habitats from ongoing anthropogenic impacts.

Keywords: Posidonia oceanica, Sea of Marmara, Yer Island, biogeographical range, seagrass meadow

Pages: 37-47

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First documentation of rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea of Türkiye

**First documentation of rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea of Türkiye**

Aylin Akkaya, Atakan Dalkılıç, Tim Awbery, Ceyda Ozdemir, Patrick Lyne

ORCID IDs: A.A. 0000-0002-0414-770X; A.D. 0000-0001-7612-6740; T.A. 0000-0003-4338-8351; C.O. 0009-0005-1445-928X; P.L. 0000-0002-8326-5180

DMAD-Marine Mammals Research Association, 19 Mayıs Mah İnönü Cad Esin Sok 11/7, Kadıköy, Istanbul, TÜRKİYE

Abstract

Despite the global distribution of rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis), they remain an understudied species within the Mediterranean Sea, with only a handful of sighting and stranding reports within the entire basin. In the current study, an area of 3,922 km² between Fethiye Bay and the Finike Trough in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea of Türkiye was surveyed using a standard line-transect distance sampling approach. The survey was conducted over 10 days, from 12 to 21 July 2024. The survey methodology incorporated visual observations, acoustic data collection, and drone-based surveys. On 18 July 2024, an unidentified delphinid species was first acoustically detected at 04:06 in waters with a depth of 1,000 m. Later that same day, a visual detection of rough-toothed dolphins occurred at 14:40 in waters with a depth of 2,000 m. Both detections were located within the Finike Trough, off the coastal town of Kas. Post-acoustic analysis confirmed that the initial acoustic detection was also of rough-toothed dolphins. These detections are likely to represent the same encounter, given that it is likely that the short distance of 10 km can be travelled by the group within a 10-hour period. The focal group of the visual encounter consisted of 11 individuals, including two sub-adults, with multiple subgroups observed in tight formations, moving fluidly. During the encounter, the species showed no visible avoidance behaviour towards the research boat. Both non-harmonic and harmonic whistles were predominantly associated with diving and interactions with the research boat, while burst pulses were more frequent during diving activity. Upsweep whistle contours, with most energy below 10 kHz, were the most dominant whistle type, with segmented upsweep and wave shape harmonics notably prevalent in their tonal sound patterns. This study documents the first confirmed encounter with rough-toothed dolphins in Turkish waters and contributes to our understanding of the visual and acoustic behaviour of this species in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Keywords: Steno bredanensis, Levantine Basin, distribution, vocalisation, behaviour

Pages: 1-24

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First record of the epibiont barnacle Platylepas coriacea Monroe & Limpus, 1979 (Cirripedia: Platylepadidae) in Tunisian’s waters

**First record of the epibiont barnacle Platylepas coriacea Monroe & Limpus, 1979 (Cirripedia: Platylepadidae) in Tunisian’s waters**

Sami Karaa, Sondes Marouani, Hedia Attia Hilli, Mohamed Nejmeddine Bradai, Imed Jribi

ORCID IDs: S.K. 0000-0001-5380-7295; S.M. 0000-0002-3840-9958; H.A.H. 0009-0002-7612-4045; M.N.B. 0000-0003-3235-4439; I.J: 0000-0002-2973-9568

University of Carthage, National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies, Marine Biodiversity Laboratory (R16INSTM02). P.O. Box. 6000 Gabès, TUNISIA
University of Carthage, National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies, Marine Living Resources Laboratory (LR16INSTM01). P.O. Box. 1035 Sfax 3018, TUNISIA
National Center of Zoosanitary Vigilance, Tunis, TUNISIA
Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity in the Gulf of Gabès (ASCOB-Syrtis), Sfax Route de la Soukra km 4, P.O. Box 171, Sfax 3000, TUNISIA
Laboratory of Marine Biodiversity and Environment (BIOME LR18ES30), Life Sciences Department, Sfax Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax. P.O. Box. 1171, Sfax 3000, TUNISIA

Abstract

The barnacles of the family Platylepadidae are specialized crustaceans that live as obligate symbionts of motile marine animals, with some species occurring solely on sea turtles. In this note, we document the first record of Platylepas coriacea as a leatherback turtle epibiont in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Tunisia. The species was taken from two stranded leatherback turtles: on July 29, 2008, in Ghrannouch (Gabès, southern Tunisia), and on December 29, 2011, in Ras Angla (Bizerte, northern Tunisia).

Keywords: Platylepas coriacea, leatherback turtle, Tunisia, Mediterranean

Pages: 54-65

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