Aquatic Research

Yazarlar: Tuba TERBIYIK KURT

Konular:Deniz ve Tatlı Su Biyolojisi

DOI:10.3153/AR20018

Anahtar Kelimeler:Dioithona oculata,Indopacific,Copepod,İskenderun Bay,Levant Sea

Özet: The southern coast of Turkey (Levantine Sea) is one of the most affected areas from alien species. Dioithona oculata is an Indo-Pacific species that has passed to the coastal waters of Iskenderun Bay in recent years. In this study, the current status of the seasonal and spatial distribution of this species, having dense swarm in tropical waters, was investigated in the north of Levant Sea. In this context, seasonal samplings were carried out in the coastal waters of Iskenderun Bay, which is previously reported, to examine the temporal distribution. In addition, samplings were done in the late summer-early autumn of each year from 2017 to 2019 along the southern coastal water of Turkey in the framework of “Integrated Marine Pollution Monitoring 2017-2019 Programme” which was carried out by Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and coordinated by TUBITAK-MAM. According to the results of this study, D. oculata, which was found only in the autumn in Iskenderun Bay, started to be observed in summer by 2018 and in spring and winter by 2019. On the other hand, it was found that this species, which is known only in İskenderun Bay, extended spatially westward to the Mersin Taşucu coasts. The abundance of D. oculata in the study area is lower than previously reported values (max 110 individuals/m3). However, it is observed that its distribution was expanded both spatially and seasonally. Asia minor current, which is effective in the southern coast of Turkey, was thought to instigate for the transportation of this species.

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