SEASONAL VARIATIONS OF MICROPLANKTON COMPOSITION IN İZMIT BAY (SEA OF MARMARA)

Seasonal variations of microplankton composition in İzmit Bay (Sea of Marmara)

Ahmet Küçük, Halim Aytekin Ergül

Department of Biology, Science and Arts Faculty, Kocaeli University, İzmit-Kocaeli, TURKEY

Abstract

In this study seasonal variations of microplankton composition were determined in İzmit Bay. Microplankton samples were taken vertically along 20 m water column at selected points in Eastern, Central and Western basins in April, July and, November 2009 and February 2010. Three major groups Dinoflagellata (55.88 %), Diatomae (29.41 %) and others (14.70 %) were determined during the study. The most abundant microplankton was observed in November 2009 in the Eastern basin of İzmit Bay. Ceratium fusus, Ceratium furca, Protoperidinium depressum, Protoperidinium claudicans, Coscinodiscus radiatus, Coscinodiscus perforatus and Tintinnid spp. were present in all seasons in the region.

Keywords: İzmit Bay, Marmara Sea, microplankton, dinoflagellata, diatomae

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