Coast Of Turkey Research Articles

An integrated Bayesian Best-Worst Method and GIS-based approach for offshore wind power plant site selection: A case study in North Aegean and Marmara Sea (Türkiye)

In today’s world, renewable energy sources are in great demand due to the negative effects of fossil fuels on the environment. Wind power plants are an important renewable energy source alternative to fossil fuel consumption. Offshore wind farms established in coastal areas and seas are used effectively in many parts of the world. The wind power plants, especially in the Northwest region of Turkey and the Aegean coasts, constitute an important potential. This study selects suitable sites for offshore wind farms in the Marmara Sea and North Aegean Coasts of Turkey by integrating the Bayesian Best-Worst method (BWM) and GIS. Bayesian BWM improves the traditional BWM integrating the preferences of multiple experts. In the study, 17 sub-criteria were determined under four main criteria of “technical”, “socio-economic”, “environment,” and “location”. Experts’ judgments through the filled enabled the criterion weights to be obtained. The criteria weights found using the Bayesian-BWM model were integrated into the GIS, and suitable locations for the offshore wind farm were determined. Accordingly, the study area off the coasts of Aliağa, Bozcaada, and Gökçeada on the North Aegean coast, and the part south of the Marmara Sea and the area around Kapıdağ Peninsula are suggested as suitable areas for wind power plants.

Modification of Saharan dust size distribution during its transport over the Anatolian Plateau

Particle number size distribution in dust plumes and its modification as the plume travels over the Anatolia were investigated by measuring particle number size distributions at two stations: one located on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey and the other on the Anatolian plateau. Clustering of backtrajectories revealed six trajectory clusters at the Marmaris station and nine clusters at the Ankara station. Cluster 6 in Marmaris and clusters 6, 7 and 9 in Ankara stations had the potential to transport Saharan dust to stations. Concentration of particles with D ≤ 1 μm increased during dust events in the Ankara station, but decreased at the Marmaris station. Higher PM1 concentrations during the non-dust period at the Marmaris station were attributed to the dominance of secondary particle formation on PM1 concentrations. Occurrence of sea salt episodes at the Marmaris station and anthropogenic episodes at the Ankara station affects the distribution of episodes. If different types of episodes are not differentiated and all episodes are considered as dust, it can lead to misleadingly high dust episodes in winter. Six Saharan dust episodes were sequentially intercepted first at the Marmaris and then at the Ankara stations. These episodes were used to study how dust size distribution is modified as the plume travels from the Mediterranean coast to central Anatolia. On the average, travel time between the two stations is 1–2 days. Particle number concentrations in 1 μm ≤ D ≤ 110 μm size range were consistently high at the Ankara station, indicating that local sources play a role in modifying the number size distribution as the plume travels over the Anatolian plateau.

“Trace element composition of fine and coarse particles at a background mountain station in Eastern Mediterranean: Assessment aerosol components and their source regions

Components making up aerosol population at a mountain station (1000 m asl) on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey were investigated. Fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM2.5–10) particle samples were collected at approximately 8 km outside the Marmaris province, on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Fifteen elements were measured using energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique. 84%–88% of crustal elements and 48%–51% of anthropogenic elements, except for S, were associated with coarse particles. EFc – Al diagrams showed that relatively high contribution of coarse particles on concentrations of anthropogenic elements is due to coagulation of fine anthropogenic particles on coarse crustal particles. Cluster analysis resulted in seven trajectory clusters. Two of these clusters have potential to bring dust from Sahara and two had potential to bring particles from local sources at western and central parts of Turkey. Concentrations of crustal elements were higher in summer due to limited resuspension in winter. Concentrations of pollution-derived elements were also high in summer due to more effective wet scavenging during winter season. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis resulted in five factors which were identified as sea salt, crustal, local anthropogenic, oil combustion and regional combustion factors. Source regions affecting these anthropogenic components were supported by distributions of PSCF values. Approximately 75% of PM10 mass is accounted for by secondary inorganic ions, crustal material, and sea salt. Dust transported from North Africa accounted for 55%–76% of concentrations of crustal elements, but only 26% of PM10 mass, due to sea salt and secondary ion contribution to PM10 mass concentrations.

First occurrence of juvenile Sargocentron rubrum (Forsskål, 1775) from South-Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey

In the present study, one juvenile specimen of redcoat Sargocentron rubrum (Forsskål, 1775) was first reported from the Mediterranean coast of Turkey with a visual record during an underwater survey conducted from the coast of Arsuz (Konacik), Iskenderun Bay, at a depth of 3 m, on September 11, 2018. The Family Holocentridae is currently represented in the Mediterranean by seven species, all exotic, six of them originate in the Red Sea (Lessepsian migrants) and one originates from the Atlantic.

Reliability estimation of a consecutive k-out-of-n system for non-identical strength components with applications to wind speed data

ABSTRACT In the stress-strength reliability literature, although identical components assumption may not be realistic due to the structure of a system, independent and identically distributed components have been commonly used. In this study, we aim to contribute to the literature by studying of non-identical distributed components in a consecutive -out of- system when both stress and strength components follow the proportional hazard rate models. Estimation methods for the stress-strength reliability of this system are investigated from frequentist and Bayesian perspectives. Maximum likelihood and uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimations are obtained in the frequentist approach. Based on the suitability of the structure, approximate Bayes estimates methods: Lindley’s approximation, Markov Chain Monte Carlo through Metropolis-Hastings or Gibbs sampling algorithms and exact Bayes estimates are derived. Asymptotic confidence and highest posterior density credible intervals are also constructed for all cases. We provide comprehensive simulation experiments for investigating the performances of the considered estimates. Wind speed data from NASA’s satellite data source project are used in the application of the considered model and methods. We present the comparison of wind energy potentials of two districts on the Aegean coast of Turkey using our model structure after determining their wind speed distributions.

Information on the deep-water giant red shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea (Risso, 1827) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Aristeidae) population in Antalya Bay (Eastern Mediterranean Sea, South of Turkey) based on the MEDITS protocol

The main aim of this study was to contribute to the current knowledge on the population of Aristaeomorpha foliacea in Antalya Bay located on the southern coast of Turkey in the Mediterranean Sea. Monthly samples were collected between July 2016 and July 2017 from experimental trawl surveys in accordance with the International Bottom Trawl Survey in the Mediterranean (MEDITS) protocol. The abundance index was calculated as 4308.6 N/km 2 and the biomass index as 66.8 kg/km 2. The relationship between total weight (TW) and carapace length (CL) was estimated to be TW = 0.00078⋅CL2.76 for females and TW=0.00049⋅CL2.92 for males. The seasonalized von Bertalanffy growth parameter estimates were CL∞=66.12mm, K=0.43 years −1, tanchor=0.36 years, C=0.63 and ts=0.21 years for females, and CL∞=44.02mmK=0.39 year −1, tanchor=0.30 years, C=0.77 and ts=0.87 years for males. Female shrimps grew slightly faster and reached a larger asymptotic size hence exhibiting a greater growth performance than males. The spawning season was determined as the summer. Recruitment took place in spring, and the sex ratios were found to be 1.29:1 in favor of males. The median size at first maturity was estimated as 37.7 mm CL for females and 30.1 mm CL for males. The annual total mortality rate was 1.66 and 1.41, the annual natural mortality rate 0.57 and 0.72, and the exploitation rate 0.66 and 0.49 for females and males, respectively. The fishing ground for A. foliacea in Antalya Bay is situated within 12 nautical miles off the shore within the territorial waters, thus closed to commercial trawl fisheries between 15 April and 15 September in accordance with the Turkish fishery regulations. The closing period, which coincides with the spawning season and also provides a reduction in the fishing pressure, is clearly of great importance for the sustainability of this species in Antalya Bay.

Place Attachment and Well-Being Interrelations in Traditional and New Settlements in Alanya Highlands

The psychological well-being of individuals is under the influence of many variables, and place attachment is one of the phenomena that need to be emphasized. Until now, there have been limited studies on place attachment and psychological well-being in traditional and modern second homes. From this point of view, this study was carried out with the people living on the western Mediterranean coast of Turkey in Alanya. The locals living in the center of Alanya move to the highlands on the northern slopes of the Taurus Mountains every summer. Besides many other reasons, this seasonal movement is a psychological need for the well-being of these people . The essential characteristic of the highland settlements and houses is their close relationship with nature . A natural environment surrounded homes, including many wild plants and animal species. In the area, two-story traditional houses are located in extensive gardens. The semi-open living spaces were directed to the north to get the cool winds and openly see the natural view. Today, new roads that facilitate the transportation of new building materials and the increasing income levels of the people created a new housing and settlement pattern. Gardens were divided into small parcels, and a denser housing pattern developed. Therefore, the human-nature relationship is weakening. Moreover, problems such as noise, pollution, and parking issues arose. For that reason, this study aims to measure and compare residents' well-being and place attachment levels in old and new settlements and houses in Alanya highlands. The people who lived in both locations and residences were asked to answer a questionnaire to collect the data. The researcher used a random sampling method to determine the participants and formed a sample group with people from different gender and various age groups. The findings revealed a positive relationship between place attachment and the well-being level of the occupants both in traditional and modern second homes in Alanya Highlands. Still, place attachment is a higher predictor of the psychological well-being of the people living in new settlements and houses. Keywords: well-being, place attachment, second homes, Alanya highland houses Keywords: well-being, place attachment, second homes, Alanya highland houses DOI: 10.7176/CER/15-1-03 Publication date: February 28 th 2023

Comparative Spectrophotometric and Chromatographic Assessment of Antioxidant Capacity in Different Marine Algae

ABSTRACT The objective of the current study was to analyze the vital phenolic compounds available in the marine macroalgae (mostly edible) collected from the southwest coast of Turkey, to compute their total antioxidant capacity (TAC) with the cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) assays and to correspond their antioxidant power with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) findings. The predominant constitutive phloroglucinol unit of the phlorotannins was the main phenolic component in brown algae species. Among the tested species, those with the greatest phloroglucinol content found by HPLC were Cladostephus spongiosum f.verticillatum (31.62 ± 0.66 μmolg−1), Cystoseira barbata (13.34 ± 0.60 μmolg−1), and Dictyota dichotoma (11.23 ± 0.19 μmolg−1), respectively.

Expansion of the flat needlefish Ablennes hians (Valenciennes, 1846) distribution in the eastern Mediterranean

The flat needlefish Ablennes hians was recorded for the first time from the coast of Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean. Two specimens were captured, one in May 2021 and the second in April 2022. One of the specimens was preserved and deposited in fish collection, while only the photograph of the other was obtained.

New records of gastropods (Caenogastropoda and Heterobranchia) from the Turkish coasts with observations on some poorly known species

This work presents information about 19 taxa recorded from different habitats at depths between 0.2 and 508 m in the last two decades, which are new records or poorly known species along the Turkish coasts. Among the identified species, Epitonium vaillanti, Melanella cf. lubrica, Melanella monterosatoi, Pelseneeria minor, Setia amabilis, Kurtziella serga, Rissoella diaphana, Rissoella inflata, and Spirolaxis clenchi are new records for the Turkish mollusc fauna, Eatonina pumila is new report for the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea, and Eatonina ochroleuca, Acirsa subdecussata, Lamellaria latens, Setia pulcherrima, Setia valvatoides, and Turbonilla cangeyrani are species with rare distribution which were sampled for one or a few times only. Viriola cf. bayani, Acirsa subdecussata, Melanella monterosatoi, Eatonina ochroleuca, E. pumila, Setia amabilis, Setia pulcherrima, Lamellaria latens, Rissoella diaphana, R. inflata, and Syrnola sp. were encountered along the Aegean Sea coast, whereas Epitonium vaillanti, Pelseneeria minor, Rissoidae sp., Kurtziella serga, Turbonilla cangeyrani, and Spirolaxis clenchi were recorded on the Levantine coast of Turkey, and Melanella cf. lubrica in the prebosphoric region of the Sea of Marmara. Setia valvatoides is the only species found on the Turkish Black Sea coast. On the other hand, Epitonium vaillanti and Viriola cf. bayani are species originated outside the Mediterranean basin. Most of the species were found at infralittoral and circalittoral depths, except for Kurtziella serga and Spirolaxis clenchi found at a depth of 508 m. The present study elucidates some ecological and distinguishing characteristics of the investigated species, along with their colour photographs and distribution along the Turkish coasts.

Russian politics in the Balkans and the 1903 crisis

After the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion, the situation in the Far East became increasingly dangerous. The contradictions between Russia and Japan in Manchuria and Korea were growing. To activate its policy in the Far East, Saint Petersburg needed a calm rear in Europe and the Balkans. Meanwhile, the situation in Macedonia threatened to put this rear in jeopardy. Russian-Ottoman relations were threatened by the actions of the VMRO activists and acts of terror committed by Albanians against Russian diplomats. Neither Constantinople nor Saint Petersburg wanted further complications. Nevertheless, Russia was forced to organize a naval demonstration and send its Black Sea Fleet Squadron to the European coast of Turkey. That did not lead to further development of the crisis. Faced with the prospect of a common European diplomatic front, which was based on the Russian-Austrian agreement in Mürzsteg, the Ottoman government took a number of measures against the organizers of terror and accepted a reform program in Macedonia, proposed by Russia and Austria-Hungary

The Influence of Introversion–Extroversion on Service Quality Dimensions: A Trait Activation Theory Study

Personality characteristics influence individuals’ perceptions, evaluations, and behaviors toward external stimuli. This study aims to investigate the influence of the extroversion–introversion personality characteristics of hospitality customers on the amount of value they attached to the different service quality dimensions. The influence of customers’ personality characteristics on the amount of value attached to the different service quality dimensions has not been previously studied by researchers. The data were obtained from 508 Turkish tourists staying at five-star hotels in holiday resorts located on the Aegean coast of Turkey. Partial least-squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the data. At the measurement model stage, the scales were subjected to reliability and validity tests. It was seen that all the variables in the measurement model met the reliability and validity criteria. The structural model and the hypotheses were tested to examine the relationships between the latent variables. The results show that while introvert customers tend to attach more value to the tangibles dimension of service quality, extrovert customers tend to attach more value to the empathy dimension of service quality.

Effect of a fishing closure on Chamelea gallina stocks along the Turkish coast

Abstract The striped venus clam Chamelea gallina (SVE), plays an important role as an infaunal filter-feeder in the ecosystem, besides an important economic role in the Black Sea coasts of Turkey. It is caught using hydraulic dredge boats, then processed, and the final product (frozen meat) is exported to EU countries. SVE fishing requires a special licence and regulations. Also, SVE beds were closed to fisheries for the recovery of stocks for 2 years. In the study, SVE beds were investigated during the closed season over two years to assess stock density. Additionally, the number of macrobenthic species that share the same habitat as the SVE was determined. The sampling area was divided into five sub-areas and four strata by depth and then stratified random sampling was applied to collect data. In 2011, SVE stock sizes in the sub-areas were 11,723.58 ± 5167.262 tons (Cide), 35,082.94 ± 27,510.95 tons (İnebolu), 10,077.05 ± 4970.68 tons (Türkeli), 3304.36 ± 3215.1 tons (Ayancık) and 1431.3 ± 1703.5 tons (Sarıkum). In 2012, these estimated stocks were 13,820.41 ± 6977.86 tons, 34,841.94 ± 14,623.71 tons, 8148.27 ± 5006.74 tons, 3420.72 ± 3093.67 tons and 2023.74 ± 2832.63 tons, respectively. However, the estimated SVE total biomass did not change significantly during the period when the fields were closed (P > 0.05). The results indicate that length-weight relationship parameters varied of b from 2.9011–2.9072 in two years. Shell damage during fishing, environmental factors, food competition and consumption by the main predator all have a significant impact on stock densities, and changes occurring in these conditions should be considered in fisheries management.

Biological parameters of grey wrasse Symphodus cinereus (Bonnaterre, 1788) (Pisces: Labridae) along the coasts of Rize in the south-eastern Black Sea

Abstract The present study was designed to investigate the age distribution and growth properties of Symphodus cinereus in the south-eastern Black Sea. Data on the growth and age of S. cinereus were obtained by investigating sagittal otoliths. A total of 384 specimens (220 female, 164 male) were collected between June 2015 and May 2016 in the south-eastern Black Sea. Total lengths of male specimens ranged from 10–16.4 cm, whereas they ranged from 8.2–15.8 cm for females. The von Bertalanffy growth curve was used to describe length at age and considerable differences were seen between females (t0 = −2.85, k = 0.296 and L∞ = 16.46 cm) and males (t0 = −2.84, k = 0.272 and L∞ = 17.23 cm). The maximum age was 5 years. The relationship for males was W = 0.009L3.2596 (r2 = 0.9174, P < 0.005) and that for females was W = 0.0011L3.1821 (r2 = 0.9012, P < 0.005). While the highest condition (K) value was calculated in spring, the lowest value was determined in winter for both sexes. The obtained data also revealed monthly changes in the gonadosomatic index and maturity stages of male and female specimens, and the annual spawning season of this population began in March and ended in June. Fecundity ranged between 1375 and 5493 eggs/individual (mean: 2868.11 ± 36–59.69 eggs), and the relationship between total length and egg production was highly statistically significant (P < 0.0001). This study provides the first data on the growth and reproduction of S. cinereus along the south-eastern Black Sea coast of Turkey.

Occurrence of Plotosus lineatus (Thunberg, 1787) from the northeastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey

A single specimen of striped eel fish Plotosus lineatus (Thunberg, 1787) has been captured in August 2022 from Mersin Bay, at 3 m depth. This study reveals the second record from Turkish waters and the first occurrence from northeastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey (Mersin Bay). This species has been formed in this region, indicating that its trend has the potential to spread westward along the northern side of coast of Turkey. Besides, this species also first successive alien plotosid recorded from Mediterranean marine waters of Turkey. All measurements and counts as well as color descriptions of P. lineatus agree with previous descriptions.

Extension of the Striped Eel Catfish Plotosus lineatus (Thunberg, 1787) from the eastern Mediterranean Coast to the Mersin Bay on the western Mediterranean Coast of Turkey

A group of schools of striped eel catfish Plotosus lineatus (Thunberg, 1787) was photographed during scuba diving at depths of 10 m and 17 m on 11 July 2022 and on 24 September 2022 from Kızkalesi and Boğsak regions in the Mersin Bay of the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. With the present study, P. lineatus is extending its distribution to the western Mediterranean coastal waters after its first occurrence in 2016 in the İskenderun Bay of Turkish Marine waters.

Summer distribution and community structure of surface water mesozooplankton from the eastern Mediterranean Sea

The zooplankton community structure and its relationship with environmental parameters were evaluated in the surface waters (0–50 m) of the eastern Mediterranean (the Aegean Sea’s coastal waters and the Levanine Sea’s coastal and offshore waters), from coastal waters to open sea waters, during the summer for two years. A total of 157 species/groups were registered in the study area. Copepods, cladocerans, doliolids, meroplankton and appendicularians represented the most important zooplankton groups. Five copepod species (Corycaeus [Onychocorycaeus] ovalis, Goniopsyllus clausi, Oncaea scottodicarloi, Sapphirina bicuspidata and Scaphocalanus curtus) have been recorded for the first time in Turkish coastal regions; three species (Centropages bradyi, Goniopsyllus clausi and Oncaea scottodicarloi) had not previously been found in the Aegean Sea; and one species (Goniopsyllus clausi) has been added for the first time to the eastern Mediterranean fauna. Moreover, Pleopis schmackeri was already found to be present in both the Aegean Sea and Mediterranean coasts of Turkey in August 2006. Dominant species varied from the coastal waters to open waters. A small number of species belonging to the coastal community (e.g. Penilia avirostris, Pseudevadne tergestina, Oithona plumifera, Paracalanus parvus and Centropages kroyeri) dominated all coastal areas. In contrast, the open water stations were characterised by the presence of typically epipelagic species of the Mediterranean Sea (e.g. Calocalanus spp., Clausocalanus furcatus, Lucicutia flavicornis, Mecynocera clausi, Farranula rostrata, Oncaea scottodicarloi and Oncaea mediterranea).

Daha: “Chasing More Hope, Questing More Humanity”

The 2018 Turkish film Daha, inspired by Hakan Günday's novel and directed by Onur Saylak, deals with the experiences of immigrants during border crossings and the migrant smuggling networks through the father and son relationship. It is the second film directed by Saylak, one of the most well-known actors in Turkey. Saylak explains that he directed this film with the motivation that cinema should teach people and the aim that makes the audience consider the topic of the film. Daha takes place in Kandalı, a fictional town on the Aegean coast of Turkey where migrant smuggling is intense. It indicates the journey of the migrant smuggled by sea, and presents the migrant smuggling networks and the actors who have different roles in this network: the smuggler, the leader of the safe house, and the boat owners. Ahad, the smuggler, and his 14 years-old son Gaza, the leader of the safe house, are the starring of the film. The plot of the film is presented from Gaza's perspective and narration. The text "the first tool used by a human is another person" reflected on the screen at the beginning of the film draws attention to migrant smuggling.

Assessment of the spatiotemporal prediction capabilities of machine learning algorithms on Sea Surface Temperature data: A comprehensive study

Spatiotemporal time series prediction plays a crucial role in a wide range of applications. However, in most of the studies, spatial information was ignored and predictions were carried out either on a few points or on average values. In this study, 37 different configurations of 4 traditional ML models and 3 Neural Network (NN) based models were utilized to provide a comprehensive comparison and evaluate the spatiotemporal data prediction capabilities of the ML models. Additionally, to reveal the importance of spatial data for the time series prediction process, the best configuration of each ML model was evaluated with and without using spatial information. The utilized models were: (i) Linear Regression (LR), (ii) K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), (iii) Decision-Trees (DT), (iv) Support Vector Machine (SVM), (v) Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), (vi) Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and (vii) Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU). The study was performed on the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) data collected by satellite radiometers via infrared measurements. The models were evaluated according to their one-month ahead spatiotemporal SST prediction performance over the southern coasts of Turkey, and the effects of spatial information on model performance were presented. Results reveal that the spatial information increased the prediction performance by approximately 25%, in terms of RMSE. Additionally, acquired results show that the LSTM model outperforms all other ML models and gives the smallest prediction errors in all metrics.

A New Species of the Genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Niphargidae) from Groundwater Habitats of the Tarkhankut Upland, Crimean Peninsula

A new species of the genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Crustacea: Amphipoda), co-occurring with water louse Asellus cf. aquaticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Crustacea: Isopoda) in deep wells, is described from the Tarkhankut Upland, located in the northwestern part of the Crimean Peninsula. Niphargus tarkhankuticus sp. nov. corresponds to a separate phylogenetic lineage (the “tarkhankuticus” ingroup), also including several undescribed species from the coastal habitats of the Black Sea (the Crimean Peninsula, the southern Caucasus and the northern coast of Turkey), which is related to the paraphyletic European “stygius-longicaudatus” group. The divergence of the “tarkhankuticus” ingroup from the related European species probably appeared in the Late Miocene age, about 11–10 Mya, related to the separation of the Eastern Paratethys for different basins (Euxinian, Alpine and Pannopian). At the same time, the speciation within the ingroup started in Pliocene, about 5.76–3.6 Mya, and correlated with the Black Sea leveling and the drainage of coastal marine carbonate accumulations, including the Tarkhankut Upland. Intraspecific values of COI mtDNA gene markers (p-distances) for N. tarkhankuticus sp. nov. are about 2%, showing that the division into a number of isolated subpopulations, probably associated with local tectonic movements, the active formation of the river network, and further karst processes in the Tarkhankut Upland occurred during the Pleistocene (since 2.58 Mya). Analysis of stable isotopes (δ13C/δ15N) revealed that only discovered macrocrustaceans in the studied wells of the Tarkhankut Upland have non-overlapping trophic niches, with A. cf. aquaticus possibly feeding on algae/periphyton, while the trophic position of N. tarkhankuticus sp. nov. is close to predators.