Photogrammetric survey of macro-invertebrates inside the marine caves in Karaburun-Ildır SEPA (Aegean Sea, Türkiye)
12/25/2025Photogrammetric survey of macro-invertebrates inside the marine caves in Karaburun-Ildır SEPA (Aegean Sea, Türkiye)
Tancrède Barraud
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6621-0922
Marine Biology Programme, Institute of Graduate Studies in Sciences, Istanbul University, 34116 Istanbul, TÜRKİYE
Abstract
Benthic macro-invertebrates in three marine caves (MCs) located in the Special Environmental Protected Area (SEPA) of Karaburun-Ildır Bay (Aegean coast of Türkiye) were surveyed via Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry (SfM-p). This approach enabled the digital modelisation of 171.92 m2 of marine habitats. Faunal cover was 13.07-38.48%, while epifaunal surface ranged between 3.37 and 14.96 m2, depending on the sections of MCs. The quantitative assessment revealed the dominance of the phyla Porifera (28.72-99.81%), Cnidaria (≤71.04%, mostly scleractinians) and Mollusca (≤18.67%). The most abundant species were Phorbas tenacior, Spirastrella cunctatrix, Hoplangia durotrix and Madracis pharensis, while other species were cave-specific (e.g., Lithophaga lithophaga, Pseudosuberites sp. and Halisarca dujardinii in Ayı Balığı cave and Mycale (Mycale) lingua, Agelas oroides and Axinella polypoides in Eşendere cave). SfM-p was not suitable for MCs with sandy bottoms, such as Yatak Odası cave. Statistical analyses underlined the significant effects of MCs’ geomorphology and level of submersion on most of ecological indices, with the highest indices observed for blind-ended and entirely submerged MCs. Height and depth of MCs’ entrance were the most important factors affecting communities of macro-invertebrates. MCs within the SEPA of Karaburun-Ildır Bay had larger sponges/corals surfaces when compared to other MCs in the Northern Aegean and Marmara Seas, along the Turkish coastline.
Keywords: Karaburun-Ildır SEPA, Eastern Mediterranean Sea, underwater marine caves, Structure from Motion photogrammetry, benthic cover
Pages: 179-212
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