Turkish Coast Research Articles

Italy’s Sea: Empire and Nation in the Mediterranean, 1895–1945

Italy’s Sea: Empire and Nation in the Mediterranean, 1895–1945

Hardly predictable and yet an equitable solution: Delimitation by judicial process as an option for Greece and Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean

AbstractThis article addresses the dispute between Greece and Turkey concerning the reach of their sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the Eastern Mediterranean, which is essentially about delimitation of the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Turkey has delineated its continental shelf in the region to extend directly to the outer limits of the territorial waters of the Greek islands, specifically Crete, Rhodes, and Kastellorizo. Greece sees this as an attempt to deprive the islands of their maritime zones. The present article discusses what the two states might expect if they would request the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to determine the course of their maritime boundaries. The outcome of such a process would be difficult to foresee because international case law regarding the effect of islands on the delimitation of the continental shelf and EEZ is rather diffuse. Nevertheless, this article will explore what an equitable solution could look like. In particular, the small island of Kastellorizo, Greece’s most remote outpost in the Eastern Mediterranean, which lies just off the Turkish coast, requires special consideration. The present article discusses different options for dealing with this island in a future delimitation.

Population Dynamics, Current Trends and Future Prospects of the Black Goby (Gobius niger) in the Eastern Part of the Black Sea (Turkiye)

With its adaptation to the Black Sea, the black goby Gobius niger (Linnaeus, 1758) has increased in biological and ecological importance in recent years. Despite previous studies, up-to-date information on population status in the Black Sea is still lacking. Specimens were collected monthly from April 2020 to March 2021 from different commercial fishing landings on the Turkish coast of the eastern Black Sea. The total length of sampled individuals (n=630) ranged from 7.20 to 14.0 cm. Males were dominant throughout all size classes and the overall sex ratio was significantly different from the expected ratio of 1:1. The length-weight relationship indicated isometric growth (b=3) for both sexes. Spawning occurred from March to June. The observed maximum age was 4 and both males and females were dominant in age group 3. The black goby appeared to have relatively low growth rates (Φ′=1.74) in the Black Sea, but longer asymptotic length (L∞=16.94 cm) data were obtained in the study area. The total mortality rate (Z) estimated by means of the catch curve method was 1.43 yr-1 and the fishing mortality (F) was 0.88 yr-1. The estimated exploitation rate (E) was 0.61 yr-1 which was higher than the optimum value of 0.5. Updated biological parameter estimates show that black goby populations in the Black Sea are now more exploited than previously thought. Additional studies are recommended to ensure sustainable management of black goby populations and national regulations to reduce bycatch. 

Officer Candidates’ Reasons for Choosing Turkish Coast Guard: A Mixed Methods Study

Officer Candidates’ Reasons for Choosing Turkish Coast Guard: A Mixed Methods Study

A novel approach for Mediterranean monk seal conservation: an artificial ledge in a marine cave

AbstractThe Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus, categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, comprises 600–700 individuals in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic Ocean. Habitat degradation is a severe threat to the species. In 2016 and 2017, coastline surveys were conducted in Gökova Bay, south-west Turkey, to identify suitable monk seal habitat. A significant factor hindering recovery of the monk seal population of this Turkish coast and the nearby Greek islands is the limited number of marine caves suitable for resting and/or pupping. We identified four caves as possible monk seal resting and pupping caves. An additional cave with all essential features for seal usage except a ledge was also identified. An artificial ledge was built in this cave in July 2019 and seal usage was monitored by camera trap until September 2020. A total of 405 camera-trap events were analysed to examine presence of any monk seals on the ledge, and to understand the purpose (resting and/or pupping), frequency of use, sex and age group of any individuals using the cave. One juvenile used the cave four times for resting (420 minutes in total), predominantly nocturnally. This is the first construction of a dry ledge in a cave of this kind for monk seals. The camera recordings suggest this approach could provide habitat for this species in areas where there is insufficient dry protected area on land.

Ingestion of microplastics by commercial fish species from the southern Black Sea coast

Microplastic (MP) contamination is a serious threat to today's marine life. Therefore, this study investigates MP ingestion in three commercial fish species (European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus, whiting Merlangius merlangus, and red mullet Mullus barbatus) from the Turkish coast of the Black Sea. Ninety-five MPs were detected in all examined fish (371). Fiber forms were detected in the majority of cases based on the MP morphology. Polyethylene and polypropylene were the most dominant polymer type. The mean of ingested MPs was found as 0.15 ± 0.04, 0.28 ± 0.06, 0.40 ± 0.07 in anchovy, whiting and red mullet, respectively. The size of the MPs ranged from 118 μm and 4854 μm. The MP waste was detected in each species, and the highest MP amount was determined in the red mullet, which was significantly higher than European anchovy. The present study's data might be a baseline on the ecological risk assessment of MPs in the fish and future experimental studies on the fish species living in the Black Sea.

“Your Mysterious Instruments”: American Devices and Imperial Designs in Cold War Archaeology

ABSTRACT This paper tracks a world of instruments and global designs in a new era of archaeology, spearheaded by Froelich Rainey in his role as Director of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Post-WWII scientific development, industrial-military-academic partnerships, and American adventurism were all brought together through Rainey’s archaeological expeditions. During the 1960s, Penn’s field projects were strategically positioned across the globe, with many trialing a novel technique or different device: Rainey launched a prototype submarine off the Turkish coast, magnetometers and sonic devices across Italy, resistivity in Mexico, and infrared aerial cameras over the Mediterranean. Archaeological innovation was tied to, and developed directly out of, US nuclear ambition and the leveraging of ‘peaceful’ atomic research, and American Cold War collaborations that united science, exploration, and culture for mutual benefit. Here we underscore the connectivities between diverse actors and activities, nuclear science, tech companies, private foundations, and philanthropists, coupled with the military and intelligence community.

Influence of the seasonal and host related factors on the metazoan parasites of Chelon saliens (Mugilidae) in the Turkish coast of the Black Sea.

The leaping mullet Chelon saliens is one of the economically significant fish species and the revealing its parasite fauna in relation with some ecological and host related factors will provide new data for our current knowledge. A total of 165 leaping mullet were collected from Sinop coasts of the Black Sea in the period from September 2015 to August 2016 and investigated for parasites. Eleven parasite species including Myxobolus parvus, Myxobolus sp., Sphaerospora mugilis (Myxozoa), Ligophorus szidati, Solostamenides mugilis (Monogenea), Schikhobalotrema sparisomae, Saccocoelium tensum, Saccocoelium obesum (Digenea), Hysterothylacium aduncum (Nematoda), Neoechinorhynchus sp. (Acanthocephala) and Ergasilus lizae (Copepoda) have been identified. The overall infection prevalence, mean intensity and mean abundance values were 65.5%, 26.2 and 17.2, respectively. The overall infection prevalence was dominated by L. szidati, followed by M. parvus and Digenea-group. On the other hand, the overall mean intensity values were dominated by Digenea-group, followed by L. szidati and E. lizae, respectively, while the mean abundance values were dominated by L. szidati, followed by Digenea-group and E. lizae. The infection indices of all identified parasites were also calculated in relation with length classes and sex of fish as well as season and the differences were evaluated statistically. Seasonally significant differences in the infection prevalence and mean abundance were found for Digenea-group, Ligophorus szidati and Neoechinorhynchus sp. These differences were also significant in the length classes of Digenea-group and Ligophorus szidati. This study is the first investigation on seasonal and host related dynamics of parasites of C. saliens in the southern coasts of the Black Sea and all investigated factors were found to influence the infection indices of dominating parasite species.

A preliminary study of length-weight relationship (LWR) and condition factor of Pagellus erythrinus from Gökçeada Island, northern Aegean Sea (Turkey)

The aim of the present study was to estimate the length-weight relationship and to determine the condition factors of the common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus Linnaeus, 1758) from Gökçeada Island, the northern Aegean Sea in Turkish coasts. Totally 30 specimens of P. erythrinus which are considered as bycatch were sampled by a commercial trawl in the northern Aegean Sea. Total length values of the sampled individuals ranged between 13.60 cm and 18.70 cm in total length and weight values ranged between 28.58 g and 90.04 g. The length-weight relationship of P. erythrinus was estimated as W=0.0062L³.²⁵⁸¹ (R²=0.94). The length-weight relationship was highly significant (p<0.0001). Fulton’s condition factor ranged between 1.08 and 1.56 with a mean of 1.26 (SE: ±0.02). The relative condition factor ranged between 0.86 and 1.26 with a mean of 1.01 (SE: ±0.02). P. erythrinus exhibited a positive allometric growth and the results of Fulton’s condition factor and the relative condition factor indicate the well-being of specimens in the study area. Knowledge of the distribution of exploited stocks is important for the appropriate management of fisheries resources. Therefore, the relationships between the length and weight of fish populations should be investigated and updated regularly. This study provides significant information on the length- weigh relationship and condition factors of P. erythrinus for fisheries managers and policymakers. Responsible authorities should consider the findings of the present study for sustainable fisheries management.

The New Maximum Length of the Solea solea (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Turkish Coast of Black Sea

In this study, a female specimen of common sole (Solea solea) with 36.7 cm in total length and 466.0 g in total weight was caught off Ordu region (eastern Black Sea, Turkey) with trammel net at 10 m water depth on May 6, 2021. The age of specimen was determined to be 6 years old. Measured total length were the maximum value of Solea solea in the Turkish coast of Black Sea.

Polyclinum constellatum (Tunicata, Ascidiacea), an emerging non-indigenous species of the Mediterranean Sea: integrated taxonomy and the importance of reliable DNA barcode data

Polyclinum constellatum is a colonial ascidian with a pantropical distribution, recently introduced in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, indeed it was reported along Egyptian and Turkish coasts 2016 and 2018, respectively. In the present study we report its presence along the coasts of Greece and Italy (Eastern and Central Mediterranean Sea, respectively), using an integrated approach joining morphological and molecular analysis. Colonies of P. constellatum were collected from artificial substrata in the harbour of Taranto (Ionian Sea) in November 2018 and in the marina of Heraklion (Crete, Aegean Sea) in October 2019. Remarkably, several colonies observed and collected in the Heraklion marina appeared as two or more masses joined at their base or fused together, often with different colour morpho-types. Here we provide their detailed morphological description and molecular characterization using a long fragment of the mitochondrial COI sequence as DNA barcode. Furthermore, we present and discuss a comparative table of the main morphological features of all species of the genus Polyclinum known to date, and an accurate analysis of the reliability of the Polyclinum COI sequence currently available. Our study proves that P. constellatum is further spreading in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and already reached the Central Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, the present study reveals the presence of erroneously assigned Polyclinum COI sequences in public databases and a possible synonymy between the species P. constellatum, Polyclinum indicum Sebastian, 1954 (accepted as Polyclinum sebastiani Brunetti, 2007) and Polyclinum madrasensis Sebastian, 1952. Overall, our data provide a useful tool for the accurate and reliable identification of this expanding species in other non-investigated areas and suggest the most likely vector of introduction of this non-indigenous species in the investigated localities.

New Records of Diatoms (Bacillariales, Rhopalodiales &amp; Surirellales) with ultrastructure details from the Black Sea Coast of Turkey

Diatoms associated with the order Bacillariales, Rhopalodiales and Surirellales are well known to be present in marine and brackish waters. In this study, diatoms in the western Black Sea coasts of Turkey were investigated with ultrastructure details. Species belonging to the Bacillariales, Rhopalodiales and Surirellales were subject to light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, and a total of twenty-four taxa were investigated. This study examines details on the morphology and biogeography of the taxa with remarks on their distribution in Turkey. The results revealed that four species were reported on the Turkish coasts for the first time. These species were Nitzschia liebethruthii, N. volvendirostrata, Epithemia guettingeri and Campylodiscus scalaris.&nbsp;

Coseismic (20 July 2017 Bodrum-Kos) and paleoseismic markers of coastal deformations in the Gulf of Gökova, Aegean Sea, SW Turkey

The Gulf of Gökova is one of the earthquake-prone areas in the Aegean Sea and southwestern Turkey. The paleoseismology of the region is not well known because of the lack of robust field data. In this study, we focused on marine tidal notches as geomorphic markers of modern and paleoseismic deformations. Our geomorphic surveys suggest that the 20 July 2017 Bodrum-Kos Earthquake coseismically uplifted the Karaada Islet at the Turkish coast. We also provide new observations for the entire coastal area of the Gulf of Gökova. The six well preserved uplifted notch levels up to 1.5 m a.s.l. at the east of Ören town are geomorphic markers of offshore earthquakes along the northern shores. Radiocarbon dating 14C results suggest that the last 0.5 m of this uplift occurred in the last 2314 ± 32 years. The four well-preserved marine tidal notches up to 1.2 m a.s.l. indicate the earthquake-related uplift along the southern shores. There are also submerged shorelines along the southern shores at 1 m and 3–4 m below sea level as geomorphic markers of relative sea-level change. The evidence of a longer-term deformation is the presence of an uplifted wave-cut marine terrace on the southern shore. We do not have age data, but the inner edge elevation of the terrace is 238 m above modern sea level. In this study, we reveal that the shores of the Gulf of Gökova have been uplifting since the Pleistocene and Holocene, with a high probability of large magnitude offshore earthquakes occurring on normal faults very close to the modern shoreline.

A New Outbreak in Sea Bass Farming in Turkey: Aeromonas veronii

Turkey produces most of the European sea bassin Europe and bacterial diseases are the main cause of economic loss during the production cycle. This research presents the first extended study of the Aeromonas veronii infection in sea bass on the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea. An outbreak was observed in three different sea bass farms and diseased fish with clinical symptoms were sampled. Abdominal distention, hemorrhages on the body and anus, enlarged spleen and liver, and hemorrhages in the internal organs were detected from clinical and pathological examinations. Biochemical and molecular identification confirmed the pathogen to be A.veronii.The histopathological observations demonstrated that the pathogen caused bacterial colonies in the fibrous connective tissue, granuloma, and vacuolar degeneration.The primary causes of the disease were proved through an infection experiment. 80% and 90% mortality were calculated in 0.85 x 108 CFU ml-1 and 1.28 x 108 CFU ml-1 experimentally infected groups with clinical and pathological signs of the disease respectively. Recently, the pathological symptoms of the disease had been confused with pasteurellosis infection in cage farms but the presence of A.veronii has been confirmed in the current study. A detailed study is needed to investigate the overall status of the disease in the Aegean Sea in order to design an appropriate preventive strategy.

Using social media to identify recreational bluefish angling in the Mediterranean and Black Sea

Filling the information gap on recreational fisheries is an important challenge due to difficulties in monitoring and collecting data. The use of citizen science based on social media has recently emerged as a digital data source. This study aims to explore the extent of recreational bluefish angling in the Turkish coasts of the Mediterranean and adjacent seas (Aegean Sea, Marmara Sea and Black Sea) by using existing knowledge that is publicly available on YouTube and to highlight conservation priorities. For this purpose, a total of 14,214 bluefish individuals were identified from 929 YouTube videos posted between 2017 and 2019. The highest number of videos were uploaded from the Aegean Sea and the Marmara Sea with 47% and 40% respectively. Our results show that juvenile bluefish were predominantly caught in the Marmara Sea during the bluefish migration that occurs from the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea in autumn and from the Aegean Sea to the Black Sea in spring via the Marmara Sea. In addition, recreational bluefish anglers predominantly caught adult bluefish throughout the year in the Aegean Sea. This is likely related to the aggregations of bluefish around sea-cages along the Aegean Sea coast of Turkey. These results highlight conservation and management priorities for recreational bluefish angling for policymakers, and therefore prove the suitability of digital data extracted from social media.

Endohelminth fauna of teleost fishes from coasts of Şile region of the Black sea

SummaryA total of 508 fish specimens belonging to 19 species collected in the coast of Şile region of the Black sea were examined to detect the presence of endohelminths. Of this, 357 (70.27%) were found to be infected with parasites. 15 distinct helminths species were recovered including four species of nematodes, seven digenean species, one species of cestodes and three species of acanthocephalans. It was also determined that the species of nematode Hysterothylacium aduncum was the most common parasite and the most diverse endohelminth fauna was found in Gobius niger and Solea vulgaris, with five species. Furthermore, it should be noted that Capillaria gracilis is reported for the first time from the Turkish coasts. The infection rates, hosts, and parasites are listed in this paper.

Climate Signals in the Black Sea From a Multidecadal Eddy-Resolving Reanalysis

Ocean reanalyses are becoming increasingly important to reconstruct and provide an overview of the ocean state from the past to the present-day. In this article, we present a Black Sea reanalysis covering the whole satellite altimetry era. In the scope of the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service, the Black Sea reanalysis system is produced using an advanced variational data assimilation method to combine the best available observations with a state-of-the-art ocean general circulation model. The hydrodynamical model is based on Nucleus for European Modeling of the Ocean, implemented for the Black Sea domain with a horizontal resolution of 1/27°× 1/36°, and 31 unevenly distributed vertical levels. The model is forced by the ECMWF ERA5 atmospheric reanalysis and climatological precipitation, whereas the sea surface temperature is relaxed to daily objective analysis fields. The model is online coupled to OceanVar, a 3D-Var ocean data assimilation scheme, to assimilate sea level anomaly along-track observations and in situ vertical profiles of temperature and salinity. Temperature fields present a continuous warming in the layer between 25 and 150 m, where the Black Sea Cold Intermediate Layer resides. This is an important signal of the Black Sea response to climate change. Sea surface temperature shows a basin-wide positive bias and the root mean square difference can reach 0.75°C along the Turkish coast in summer. The overall surface dynamic topography is well reproduced as well as the reanalysis can represent the main Black Sea circulation such as the Rim Current and the quasi-permanent anticyclonic Sevastopol and Batumi eddies. The system produces very accurate estimates of temperature, salinity and sea level which makes it suitable for understanding the Black Sea physical state in the last decades. Nevertheless, in order to improve the quality of the Black Sea reanalysis, new developments in ocean modeling and data assimilation are still important, and sustaining the Black Sea ocean observing system is crucial.

Türkiye'nin Akdeniz Kıyılarında Nadir Görülen Echeneis naucrates'in Son Kaydı

One specimen of live sharksucker was caught with a bottom trammel net in Taşucu Bay, south-eastern coast of Turkey, at 1 m depth on May, 2021. Meristic parameters were determined by fin ray counts and metric parameters were measured from the photos of the specimen. Excluding the recent record in Antalya Gulf, previous records of this species occurred later than May, generally in July in the Mediterranean Sea as well as in the Aegean Sea. The biometrical measurements were different in Taşucu Bay compared to those caught from the Aegean Sea and the central Mediterranean Sea (Tunisian and Sicilian waters), but relatively similar to those reported from Croatia. Major discriminative variables, albeit less significant in individuals from the central Mediterranean, were the number of anal, pectoral and dorsal fin rays. Numbers of suction disc laminae were higher in individuals from the central Mediterranean Sea and New Zealand than those from the Turkish coasts (all 21 disc laminae). The statistical analyses (Principal Component and Discriminant analyses) affirmed successful use of meristic parameters to differentiate the biometric characteristics of the species from the Aegean Sea, the central and eastern Mediterranean Sea. The length-weight relationship showed that the species had a negative allometric growth.

137Cs ocean distribution and fate at East Mediterranean Sea in case of a nuclear accident in Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant

A 3-D hydrodynamic model, coupled with a Lagrangian drift model, was applied to simulate the dispersion of derived 137Cs activity concentration in case of a nuclear accident in Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) located at the East Mediterranean Sea. The simulated near surface circulation presented a good skill in reproducing observed patterns from satellite altimetry data and existing literature. The dispersion pattern of dissolved 137Cs was investigated on an annual and seasonal basis. In all seasons the dominant pathway of released 137Cs had a westward direction, following the prevailing currents. The different dispersal patterns are mainly related to the intensity of the Asia Minor Current and the local circulation in the vicinity of the Akkuyu NPP. 137Cs was transported during the first month to the neighboring coasts of the NPP, while after the fourth month the distribution of the plume was extended in areas of the Eastern Aegean Sea (including East Crete and Rhodes Islands), as well as at the Antalya coastline. After the 3rd month, the plume reaches areas in the Eastern Aegean Sea (including the Crete Island and Cyclades plateau) while after the 6th month it is spread gradually to the Ionian Sea and Levantine basin. At the end of the annual simulation, the plume appears significantly diluted, with relatively high concentrations found still in Dodecanese Islands and along the Aegean Turkish coast. The 137Cs activity concentration starts to decline after the 9th month in most of the studied areas at the East Mediterranean Sea. The particulate 137Cs was diminished within a month from the accident, due to sinking and its fast transformation to dissolved, showing a similar westward dispersion pattern.

Karadeniz'in Sinop kıyılarından yakalanan bazı deniz balıklarında parazitik isopodlar

Marine fish species such as grey wrasse Symphodus cinereus, common sole Solea solea, knout goby Mesogobius batrachocephalus and rusty blenny Parablennius sanguinolentus were studied for their parasitic isopods on the Sinop coast of the Black Sea. Two cymothoid species (Nerocila bivittata and Nerocila orbignyi) were identified. Nerocila bivittata was found on the body surface and fins of grey wrasse, common sole, knout goby, and N. orbignyi on the dorsal fin of rusty blenny. The prevalence and mean intensity values of each parasite species on fishes were calculated. Fish species mentioned above were all new hosts for N. bivittata and N. orbignyi in the Turkish coast of the Black sea.