Gulf Of Iskenderun Research Articles

Too young to die: Mapping nursery areas for early juveniles of the endangered sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) to inform conservation in the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract Globally, elasmobranch species have been declining in abundance due to fishery activities. This conservation issue calls for effective management strategies and increasing efforts to protect these species. The declining status of elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean Sea is alarming as well. Reversing such dramatic trends requires tackling fishing pressure using multiple methods, including a fine‐tuned spatial resolution in conservation strategies incorporating robust evidence on species spatial use at different life stages and its overlap with fishing pressure. In particular, a scientifically sound identification of nursery grounds is crucial to define key spatial management targets promoting the recruitment of such depleted species. Here we focused on the sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus), listed as endangered by the IUCN, and on the nursery of its early juveniles such as newborns (i.e. a few months old) and young‐of‐the‐year individuals (i.e., < 1 year old), both characterized by a total length below 71 cm. First, by monitoring a small‐scale fishery fleet in the North‐Western Adriatic Sea, we unambiguously identified a local multiyear nursery site for early juveniles of this species. Then, we combined such novel information with a bibliographic review on the presence and absence of early juveniles across Mediterranean regions to construct a species distribution model predicting favourable nursery areas throughout the entire Mediterranean Sea. To do so, a Bayesian approach was applied to construct a generalized linear model with spatial effect estimated by a Gaussian random field (INLA‐SPDE). Model‐based inference indicates that, in summer, which is the main pupping season, important nursery areas for this species are found along the North‐Western coast of the Adriatic Sea, in the coastal area of the Gulf of Gabes, and in the Gulf of Iskenderun (North‐Eastern Levantine Sea). Synthesis and applications: These key areas should be prioritized to apply conservation measures to foster the recruitment of this species since intense fishing activities were also documented. Model predictions also allowed to determine where unknown nursery grounds may potentially occur, a valuable information to direct future monitoring efforts and clarify any further occurrence of nursery areas.

First Mediterranean record of Atys ehrenbergi (A. Issel, 1869) with notes on some species of the genus Retusa (T. Brown, 1827) (Gastropoda: Cephalaspidea)

The Red Sea species Atys ehrenbergi (Issel, 1869) is reported for the first time in Mediterranean based on findings at Karpathos Island (Greece) and in the Gulf of Iskenderun (Turkey). It is compared with similar Mediterranean species. Moreover, the variability of the Mediterranean species Retusa leptoeneilema (Brusina, 1866) and Retusa minutissima (Monterosato, 1878) is discussed with the support of photos of various forms from various localities. Shell characters allowing specific separation are indicated.

Report of Nerocila bivittata (Risso, 1816) (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) Parasitic on Alien Fish, Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828) from the Aegean and Mediterranean Sea

Since 2014, an invasive alien fish species, lionfish, Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828) has been started to distribute in the Turkish Mediterranean Sea coasts and spread out to the Aegean Sea. In the present study, a Cymothoid fish parasite, Nerocila bivittata (Risso, 1816) is reported from the pectoral fin of P. miles caught from the Gulf of Iskenderun (Northeastern Mediterranean) and Bodrum, Turkey (Aegean Sea Coast). This study is the first record of N. bivittata on lionfish P. miles caught from Gulf of Iskenderun. Key diagnostic characters of N. bivittata, some morphological differences observed between the newly collected material of N. bivittata and its previous descriptions, in addition to newly observed additional characters were presented.

Population dynamics of an emergent invasive fish, striped piggy, Pomadasys stridens (Actinopterygii, Perciformes, Haemulidae) in the Gulf of İskenderun, north-eastern Mediterranean

The striped piggy, Pomadasys stridens (Forsskål, 1775), is a recent invasive fish species in the eastern Mediterranean. Although its population dynamics was investigated in detail in its natural distribution area, the western Indian Ocean, an important data gap still exists in the Mediterranean. This study was carried out to determine the growth, mortality, and the length–weight and length–length relations of invasive striped piggy right after its establishment in the area. Samples were collected seasonally between April 2014 and December 2015 by using bottom trawl from 10 and 20 m depth contours off the north-western coast of the Gulf of Iskenderun. After the length, weight, and sex of fish were recorded, sagittal otoliths were extracted and examined for age determination. Then length–length, length–weight, and length at age relations, growth performance, and mortality rates were calculated for both sexes and pooled data. In the study, a total of 1131 individuals were investigated, the total length of which ranged between 7.3 and 18.9 cm. The mean length was 12.32 ± 0.11 cm. There was no significant difference between the length–weight relation (LWR) parameters of sexes and pooled data. The overall LWR was found to be TW = 0.0113 * TL^3.096 in all specimens. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were not significantly different between males and females. The model parameters for both sexes were L∞ = 22.01 cm, K = 0.22 years–1, t0 = –1.30 years. The growth performance index (Ø′) was calculated as Ø′ = 2.03. For combined sexes, the total, natural and fishery mortality rates were Z = 1.14 years–1, M = 0.66 years–1, and F = 0.48 years–1, respectively. The exploitation rate of the stock was found to be E = 0.42. The growth performance of the invasive striped piggy population was determined to be similar to the ones reported from the Gulf of Suez where was the closest natural distribution area of the species. Although striped piggy is proper for human consumption and commercially caught in its native range, its fishery has not yet been established in the Eastern Mediterranean and we found that there was insufficient fishery pressure on the invasive population.

Estimation of shipping emissions in the Iskenderun Gulf, Turkey

The Iskenderun Gulf is the main industrial and transportation region affected by the emissions emitted by its eight ports and industrial facilities. The air pollutants generated from vessels in the Iskenderun Gulf by using AIS data was created for the Iskenderun Gulf. In this study, total emissions from vessels were estimated as 2.551 t y−1 for NOX, 135.100 t y−1 for CO2, 968 t y−1 for SOX, 99 t y−1 for VOC, 139 t y−1 for PM based on ship activity-based method. Port emissions in the gulf may have negative effects on the health of a minimum of 32.364 people living 1 km from the port area including other city emissions (domestic heating, road traffic, and industry). The environmental cost of the port emissions was estimated as $82 million and $17.146 per ship call. This is the first study to estimate port emissions in the Iskenderun Gulf.

Estimation of shipping emissions in the Iskenderun Gulf, Turkey

Estimation of shipping emissions in the Iskenderun Gulf, Turkey

Evidence of a second nursery area of the sandbar shar, Carcharhinus plumbeus (Nardo, 1827) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

The sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) is a large coastal species with a cosmopolitan distribution that has been listed as Endangered in the Mediterranean Sea and as Vulnerable for the rest of the world on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. The Gökova's Boncuk Cove in south-western Turkey and the Gulf of Gabès in southern Tunisia are the only known nursery area for the Mediterranean population. On 24 – 27 July 2017, eight specimens, four males and four females, of sandbar sharks were accidentally caught at a depth of 7 to 9 m by a pelagic bluefish longline off the coast of Yumurtalik Bight in the Gulf of Iskenderun. The total length and weight of males and females were 54.5 – 61.0 cm, 930 – 1,484 g and 49.6 – 62.4 cm, 918 – 1,568 g, respectively. They all had unhealed umbilical scars that were still open as a narrow slit, measuring 4.35 and 5.39 mm in lengths. This study thus provides the records of the neonate sandbar sharks from the Yumurtalik Bight. Consequently, this occurrence represents that this area of the north-eastern Mediterranean Sea can be the second breeding and nursery grounds for this species after the Boncuk Cove in Gökova Bay in Turkey.

Paleoseismology of the western Sürgü–Misis fault system: East Anatolian Fault, Turkey

The East Anatolian fault bifurcates into a north strand and a south strand near the City of Celikhan, Turkey. The northern strand is referred to as the Surgu–Misis fault (SMF) system, which is divided into a number of distinct fault segments based on geological and geomorphological characteristics. However, no paleoseismological data regarding the movement history of the SMF system previously have been reported. We excavated seven trenches across four segments of the SMF system to evaluate the paleoseismological history of these fault zones. These trenches exposed structural and sedimentological evidence of paleoseismic events that had primarily strike-slip displacements with secondary normal and reverse components of motion. Geochronological dating of the trench stratigraphy and event horizons provide the time elapsed since the last event and confirmed the Holocene activity of the faults. These fault segments are individually capable of producing surface-rupturing earthquakes, but may also rupture together generating large, complex, multi–segment ruptures. However, the SMF system has not produced surface-rupturing earthquakes in the last millennia, and therefore is accumulating strain. In light of our findings, we suggest that about 1.7 m of strain has accumulated across the Karatas and Yumurtalik fault segments, which is sufficient to produce moderate to large earthquakes when released seismically. The surrounding Gulf of Iskenderun is a highly industrialized district in the Eastern Mediterranean. Therefore, the data obtained from this paleoseismological investigation will contribute to a better understanding of the earthquake hazards in the region.

Age and growth of the Lessepsian migrant Lagocephalus spadiceus (Actinopterygii: Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae) from the Gulf of Iskenderun, north-eastern Mediterranean, Turkey

Age and growth of the Lessepsian migrant Lagocephalus spadiceus (Actinopterygii: Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae) from the Gulf of Iskenderun, north-eastern Mediterranean, Turkey

Age and growth of the phaeton dragonet, Synchiropus phaeton (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Callionymidae), from the Gulf of Iskenderun, north-eastern Mediterranean, Turkey

Age and growth of the phaeton dragonet, Synchiropus phaeton (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Callionymidae), from the Gulf of Iskenderun, north-eastern Mediterranean, Turkey

Accumulation and health risk assessment of heavy metals in tissues of the shrimp and fish species from the Yumurtalik coast of Iskenderun Gulf, Turkey

In this study, concentrations of heavy metals were determined in the tissues of fish species (S. solea and S. aurata) and shrimp (P. semiculatus) from the Yumurtalık zone of the Iskenderun Gulf, Turkey. The aim of of our study is to evaluate potential risks to human health associated with fish and shrimp consumption. Metals concentrations varied significantly depending on the tissues and species. The concentrations of Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn in fish and shrimp tissues were high, while Cd levels were relatively low. In comparing with the permissible limits set by the European Union and Food and Agricultural Organization for fish and shrimp, mean values of Cu, Fe, and Zn were within acceptable limits, but the mean values of Cd and Pb exceeded the limits.From the standpoint of human health, this study suggests that the observed Pb and Cd accumulation may pose a possible health risk to excessive S. solea and P. Semiculatus consumers in Turkey.

Geomedical, ecological risk, and statistical assessment of hazardous elements in shore sediments of the Iskenderun Gulf, Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey

This study was carried out on the Iskenderun Gulf in Turkey to assess the hazardous element pollution level of sediments and potential risk level which they pose to the environment. Their hazardous element content was inspected using five statistical parameters, mineralogical studies; and six risk indices. Similarity of sample content is divided into five groups C1–C5. C1 had anomalous concentrations of Cr, Zn, and V; C2 had anomalous concentrations Mn, Zn, Cu, and Pb; C3 showed very high Cr concentration; C4 indicated anomalous Cr and V concentrations; and no anomaly is observed for C5 samples. Ni and Mn show a distinct disparity and Cr shows a wide disparity in variance to the other elements. Principal component analysis reveals most of Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd, and majority of Mn and Fe are thought to have come from a geogenic source. Most of Ni, Co, and Mg along with majority of Sr, As, and Al are thought to have come from both geogenic and anthropogenic sources, while most of V and majority of Cr are thought to arise from anthropogenic sources. The Gulf thought to possess very high concentrations of Cr, Ni, and Co in most samples. No significant ecological risk is posed by samples BC-(35, 43, and 51), though anomalous concentrations are observed in the samples. On the other hand, samples BC-(16, 19–21, 25–28, 30, 37 and 38) pose moderate ecological risk, yet they possess no anomalous concentration. BC-(9, 10, 17, 18, 24, 32, 33, 53, 54, and 60) were observed to be of significant ecological risk. Cr is enriched in most of these samples with contaminated Geoaccumulation levels except in BC-(32 and 33) that are enriched with contaminated Geoaccumulation levels as BC 32 (Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, and Mn) and BC 33 (Mn). Overall, pollution load index indicated that PLI > 1 for 34 samples are polluted with BC-32 (PLI = 6.98) being the most polluted sample, located around the industrial zone, and followed by samples 53, 54, 33, 24, and 60 with PLI (1.94–2.5).

The re-discovery of Caligus lichiae Brian, 1906 (Copepoda: Caligidae) parasitic on two carangid fishes in the Mediterranean Sea, and the recognition of Caligus aesopus Wilson C. B., 1921 as a junior subjective synonym.

The caligid copepod Caligus lichiae Brian, 1906 is redescribed based on new material collected from the type-host, Lichia amia (Linnaeus), and from a second carangid, Seriola dumerili (Risso), both caught in the Gulf of Iskenderun, Turkey. Key diagnostic characters of both sexes are reported, supported by drawings and scanning electron microscopy images. Despite the commercial importance of its type-host, L. amia, C. lichiae has not been reported since its original description. After detailed comparison with recent descriptions of Caligus aesopus Wilson C. B., 1921, commonly found on S. dumerili, we recognise these two species as conspecific and propose to relegate C. aesopus Wilson C. B., 1921 to a junior subjective synonym of C. lichiae Brian, 1906. Caligus lichiae is a member of the C. confusus group of species and an identification key to species in this group is provided.

Investigation of Sea Surface Temperature Affecting on the Maritime Trade between 1999 and 2012 in the Gulf of Iskenderun

The effect of sea surface temperature changes between 1999 and 2012 were investigated on the amount of agriculture, food and energy loads that are supplied/discharged by maritime trade. In the nonparametric correlation analysis, it was determined that the SST changes between 1999 and 2012 did not directly affect the amount of food, agricultural and energy supplied / discharged to the port operators in the Gulf of Iskenderun. There was little change in the amount of agricultural raw materials from Iskenderun Gulf and the amount of energy raw material increased. In addition, the amount of food raw materials increased between 1999-2002, 2005-2007 and 2009-2012 and it was observed that it decreased in other years.

Confirmed occurrence of moontail bullseye, Priacanthus hamrur (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Priacanthidae), in the Mediterranean Sea with first record off the coast of Turkey

A new Lessepsian migrant, moontail bullseye, Priacanthus hamrur (Forsskål, 1775), is recorded for the second time from the Mediterranean Sea, and for the first time from Turkey. A single male specimen of P. hamrur was caught at a depth of about 30 m, off the Konacık harbour (Arsuz coast, Gulf of Iskenderun, Turkey) on 18 December 2017, by a longline. The present paper reports the confirmed record of P. hamrur in the eastern Mediterranean with the first record off the coast of Turkey. This species is probably a Red Sea immigrant entering the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. With the present report, the number of priacanthid species reported in the Mediterranean Sea has reached four.

Identifying critical migratory bottlenecks and high‐use areas for an endangered migratory soaring bird across three continents

Migrant birds face a number of threats throughout their annual cycle, including persecution, collision with energy infrastructure, and habitat and climate change. A key challenge for the conservation of migrants is the identification of important habitat, including migratory concentration areas, because species survival rates may be determined by events in geographically very limited areas. Remote‐tracking technology is facilitating the identification of such critical habitat, although the strategic identification of important sites and incorporation of such knowledge in conservation planning remains limited. We tracked 45 individuals of an endangered, soaring migrant (Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus), over 75 complete migrations that traversed three continents along the Red Sea Flyway. We summarize and contextualize migration statistics by season and age class, including migration start, midpoint, and end dates, as well as linear and cumulative migration distance, migration duration and speed, and route straightness. Then, using dynamic Brownian bridge movement models, we quantified space use to identify the most important migratory bottlenecks and high‐use areas on the flyway. These areas each accounted for < 5% of the overall movement range of the tracked birds, yet > 20% of all tracks passed through bottlenecks, and > 50% of the overall vulture time spent on migration fell within high‐use areas. The most important sites were located at the southeastern Red Sea coast and Bab‐el‐Mandeb Strait (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Djibouti), the Suez Canal zone (Egypt), and the Gulf of Iskenderun (Turkey). Discouragingly however, none of the area within the major migratory bottlenecks was protected and < 13% of the high‐use areas were protected. This demonstrates a very concerning gap in the protected area network for migratory soaring birds along the Red Sea Flyway. Because reducing threats at migratory concentrations can be a very efficient approach to protect populations, our work provides clear guidelines where conservation investment is urgently needed to benefit as many as 35 migratory soaring‐bird species that regularly use the Red Sea Flyway.

Analysing Sea Surface Temperature Change in Gulf of Iskenderun from 1982 to 2015

Climate change is one of the major challenge for Earth Systems in this century. Since the
 Industrial revolution, energy demands of countries has been rapidly increased which also causes
 an accelerated burning fossil fuels and increased greenhouse gases emission (GHG) into the
 atmosphere. Sea surface temperature (SST) is a pointer of the water temperature, which mainly
 related to sea surface layer and also plays an important role for keeping the energy balance
 between atmosphere and marine ecosystems. Various studies show that surface temperature of
 the inner seas surface temperature is affected by anthropogenic climate change. Gulf of
 Iskenderun is located in the southeast Mediterranean region of Turkey. The Gulf is important
 mainly for its industrial facilities and thermal power stations of Turkey. Due to the Suez Canal
 and strait of Gibraltar the gulf has also very important meaning for migration of the alien species
 into the Mediterranean Sea. To investigate the sea surface temperature (SST) change in the Gulf
 of Iskenderun over the period of 1982-2015 we used remote sensed data, which have 4x4 km
 high spatial and daily temporal resolution. This data collected from Copernicus Marine Services
 which based on satellites Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) Pathfinder
 Version 5.2 (PFV52). In the study period, the highest SST is determined in a JJA (June-JulyAugust)
 season. The warmest region was the north is part of the bay. The SST change about 1.5º
 C in the study period.

Preliminary study on age, growth and reproduction of Mustelus mustelus (Elasmobranchii: Carcharhiniformes: Triakidae) inhabiting the Gulf of Iskenderun, north-eastern Mediterranean Sea

Preliminary study on age, growth and reproduction of Mustelus mustelus (Elasmobranchii: Carcharhiniformes: Triakidae) inhabiting the Gulf of Iskenderun, north-eastern Mediterranean Sea

Geophysical Data (Gravity and Magnetic) from the Area Between Adana, Kahramanmaras and Hatay in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Tectonic Implications

The gravity and magnetic maps of the area between Adana–Kahramanmaras–Hatay provinces were produced from a compilation of data gathered during the period between 1973 and 1989. Reduced to the pole (RTP) and pseudo-gravity transformation (PGT) methods were applied to the magnetic data, while derivative ratio (DR) processing was applied to both gravity and magnetic data, respectively. Bouguer, RTP and PGT maps show the image of a buried structure corresponding to ophiolites under undifferentiated Quaternary deposits in the Adana depression and Iskenderun Gulf. DR maps show two important faults which reflect the tectonic framework in the study area: (1) the Karatas–Osmaniye Fault extending from Osmaniye to Karatas in the south between Adana and Iskenderun depressions and (2) Amanos Fault (southern part of East Anatolian Fault) in the Hatay region running southward from Turkoglu to Amik Basin along Amanos Mountain forming the actual plate boundary between the Anatolian block (part of Eurasian plate) and Arabian plate.

Intra‐annual patterns of coastal larval fish assemblages along environmental gradients in the northeastern Mediterranean

AbstractTo date, little is known about the larval‐fish assemblages (LFAs) in the eastern Mediterranean. The purpose of this study is to investigate the intra‐annual variations of LFAs with an emphasis on the effects of physical, chemical, biological and meteorological conditions in the gulf of Iskenderun, which is a shallow (100 m maximum depth), semi‐enclosed bay located in the northeastern corner of the Mediterranean. The gulf is under the influence of offshore waters throughout the year. The study was based on an ichthyoplankton survey program performed at 28 stations over 12 months, between November 2009 and October 2010. During the study, a total of 11,411 larval individuals belonging to 177 taxa were sampled. The jackknife estimate of maximum species richness was 225 ± 19 for the study area. The maximum larval richness (84 species) and abundance (827 larvae/10 m2) values coincided with spring bloom in April. Gobiids dominated the ichthyoplankton of Iskenderun Bay by constituting 9% of species richness and 42% of total individuals. Four LFAs were identified which were in early winter (November to January), late winter (February and March), spring (April to June) and summer (July to October). The intra‐annual variations of richness, abundance and composition of ichthyoplankton were significantly correlated with the temperature and mesozooplankton biomass. The wind conditions and thermal stratification were also significantly correlated with the composition of LFAs. In conclusion, phenology of LFAs were formed under the influence of physical and tropho‐dynamic conditions in Iskenderun Bay, Northeastern Mediterranean.