Turkish Mediterranean Coast Research Articles

Concern about the spread of the invader seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia var. distichophylla (Chlorophyta: Caulerpales) towards the West Mediterranean

The new Australian alien seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia var. distichophylla, after being established along the Turkish Mediterranean coast in 2006, was recorded in Southern Sicily in 2007. Since then local fishermen claimed support to counteract the effects of entanglement of large amounts of the alien strain wrack in their trammel nets, causing the gear to become ineffective. The further northward and westward spread of the new alien strain is supposed to be limited by winter temperature. We present novel data confirming that the new alien strain is fully naturalized in Central Mediterranean and is expanding its range beyond such limit (i.e. the 15°C February isotherm), thus becoming potentially able to colonize the western basin. By means of a preliminary estimation of effects on native polychaete assemblages, and considering some peculiarities of Sicily (mostly linked to its geographical position in the Mediterranean Sea), the risk linked to the increasing range of distribution of the invasive algae is highlighted.

Sagum posteli Delamare-Deboutteville & Nunes-Ruivo, 1954 (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Lernanthropidae) parasitic on Epinephelus aeneus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire) in Turkish waters, with a key to the species of Sagum Wilson, 1913

Sagum posteli Delamare-Deboutteville & Nunes-Ruivo, 1954 (Copepoda: Lernanthropidae) is reported from the white grouper Epinephelus aeneus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire caught off the Turkish Mediterranean coast. This documents the first discovery of this species in the Mediterranean and is only the second record. The species is redescribed from adult females and the cephalothoracic limbs are described for the first time. The valid species of the genus Sagum Wilson, 1913 are reviewed, and the poorly described species S. poeyi Ortiz, Lalana & Suarez, 2003 is relegated as a junior synonym of S. texanum Pearse, 1952, described from the same host. A key is provided to females of the ten valid species of Sagum and the known hosts for all species are summarised.

Multifactorial Optimization Approach for Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Sea Sediments of Turkish Mediterranean Coast

Present study aims the optimisation and validation of the extraction procedures for the determination of poly- cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediment samples. As analytical techniques, gas chromatography- mass detector (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The optimized methods were soxhlet extraction, ultrasonic bath extraction and solid phase micro extraction (SPME). The factorial design was used in order to search out the main factors affecting extraction efficiencies. The best extraction method was chosen as ultrasonic bath extraction and optimum values for main factors were selected for the development of this extraction method. The optimised methods were validated to confirm the reliability. Percent errors were in between 1.40% - 25.0%. Relative standard deviation was less than 1% and limit of detection changed from 0.006 to 0.028 mg/L. The accuracy of the method was verified by analyzing National Institute of Standards and Technology, Standard Reference Material 1597a (NIST SRM 1597a). The selectivity, accuracy and precision were quite adequate for the determination of PAHs in sediment samples. The best extraction and analysis methods were then applied to determine 16 PAHs in sea sediments from Ölüdeniz Lagoon, of Turkish Meditreanean coast and marine sediment, SRM 1941b. The highest observed cocentration for PAHs was 0.620 mg?kg–1 for Acenaphtene.Total sum of the concentrations for all the observed PAHs was1.854 mg?kg–1.

Environmental Protection in Coastal Recreation Sites in Antalya, Turkey

This study was designed to evaluate different approaches to the protection of the environments of coastal recreation sites in and around Antalya, Turkey. Data was collected by means of a survey of coastal recreation sites and six categories were evaluated: environmental protection, infrastructure facilities, water conservation, energy conservation, waste management, and protection of the natural environment. The results indicated that there was a clear motivation among site managers or authorities for environmental protection (p < .05), infrastructure facilities (p < .001), water conservation (p < .05), energy conservation (p < .05) and the protection of the natural environment (p < .001) but waste management was not accorded a priority. The quality of coastal recreation largely relies on the attractiveness and naturalness of the environment. Although good quality site management largely depends on the awareness and willingness of individual site managers, more proactive approaches toward better environmental protection of recreation sites along the Turkish Mediterranean coast might be effective in improving their sustainable use, particularly in the absence of proper site planning.

Notes on amphipods Caprella andreae Mayer, 1890 and Podocerus chelonophilus (Chevreux &amp; Guerne, 1888) collected from the loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta, off the Mediterranean and the Aegean coasts of Turkey

The present study reports the occurrence of 2 amphipod species, Caprella andreae Mayer, 1890 and Podocerus chelonophilus Chevreux & Guerne, 1888, that appeared on the carapace of the loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea (Levantine Sea). The amphipod specimens were found on a male Caretta caretta captured during experimental bottom studies conducted off Samandağ, Hatay (the Turkish Mediterranean coast) on 7 April 2007. In addition, Caprella andreae Mayer 1890 was collected from the nets of fish cages off the Seferihisar (Aegean Sea) coast (38^{°}11^{'}32^{"}N, 26^{°}38^{'}07^{"}E). C. andreae is a first report for the amphipod fauna in Turkish seas.

Air and Groundwater Pollution in an Agricultural Region of the Turkish Mediterranean Coast

Air pollution and groundwater pollution in conjunction with agricultural activity were investigated in Antayla province on the Turkish Mediterranean coast. The air pollution was investigated in terms of gas-phase nitric acid (HNO3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ammonia (NH3), and particulate matter for a 6-month period in the atmosphere using a “filter pack” system, which was developed and optimized in our laboratory. Ozone was measured by using an automated analyzer. Among all of the gas-phase pollutants, HNO3 had the lowest concentration (0.42 μg · m−3) followed by NH3. Agricultural activities seem to be the major source of observed NH3 in the air. The current state of water pollution was investigated in terms of organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides around the greenhouses, in which mainly tomato, pepper, and eggplant are cultivated. Water samples were collected from 40 points, 28 of which were wells and 12 of which were surface water. The pesticide concentrations in water samples were determined by means of solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by a gas chromatography (GC)-electron capture detector (ECD)/nitrogen phosphorus detector (NPD) system. In general, surface water samples were more polluted by the pesticides than groundwater samples. The most frequently observed pesticides were chlorpyriphos (57%) and aldrin (79%) in groundwater, and chlorpyriphos (75%), aldrin, and endosulfan sulfate (83%) in surface water samples. The highest concentrations were observed for fenamiphos (394.8 ng/L) and aldrin (68.51 ng/L) in groundwater, and dichlorvos (322.2 ng/L) and endosulfan sulfate (89.5 ng/L) in surface water samples. At least one pesticide had a concentration above the health limit in 38% of all the water samples analyzed.

ＤＲＡ（ｄｒａｇ ｒｅｄｕｃｉｎｇ ａｇｅｎｔ）／ｌｅａｋ ｄｅｔｅｃｔｉｏｎ ｓｙｓｔｅｍの紹介

The BTC crude oil pipeline runs 1,768 km from the Sangachal Terminal near Baku in Azerbaijan, via Tbilisi in Georgia, through to the Ceyhan Marine Terminal on Turkish Mediterranean coast. The pipeline has started its operation on June 2006 and exported around 220 million barrels as of the end of September 2007.This presentation introduces the outline of drag reducing agent (DRA) which is currently evaluated for the purpose of increasing the pipeline capacity, and the sophisticated leak detection system (LDS) installed in the system.

Alien Crustacean Decapods from the Aegean Coast of Turkey

Thirty of the 33 alien decapod crustacean species that have been reported off the Turkish Mediterranean coast are believed to have invaded the region via the Suez Canal, but only three of the species have been recorded along the Turkish Aegean coast. The marine biota of Gokova Bay, Datca Peninsula and Gulf of Fethiye, on the southern Aegean coast of Turkey, was studied by diving between 2002 and 2006. Of the eight Erythrean alien decapod species collected there, five constitute new records for the Aegean Sea and three are newly recorded from the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea.

Checklist of copepods ( Calanoida and Podoplea ) from the northern Levantine basin shelf waters

This paper is based on the qualitative and quantitative description of planktonic materials collected from the northern Levantine basin shelf waters during the period 1998–1999. Analysis of a total of 75 zooplankton samples collected along the Turkish Mediterranean coast has shown the presence of approximately 200 copepod species. Among these, 76 species are recognised for the first time in this region including four new species. At present, the total list of copepod species from the Levantine basin numbers 233, with several Indo–Pacific species included. The copepod species inhabiting the region are interesting not only because of faunistic properties, but also due to their distribution, which is related to the existing current regime.

Distribution of the tiger beetle Lophyridia aphrodisia (Baudi, 1864) on the Turkish Mediterranean coast (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae)

The tiger beetle Lophyridia aphrodisia is reported from several new localities along the Turkish Mediterranean coast. The Turkish distribution of the subspecies cypricola extends from Kalkan in the west to Boğsak near the Göksu delta in the east. The subspecies aphrodisia is known only from two localities in the eastern part of the Çukurova (Karataş and Yumurtalık). Habitats observed at the new localities correspond well with those reported in the literature.

Marine Flora of the Turkish Mediterranean Coast 2. Brown Algae (Fucophyceae = Phaeophyceae)

The presence and distridution of brown algae on the Turkish Mediterranean coast were the subjects of this study. A total of 83 taxa were determined. Stypopodium schimperi (Buchinger ex Kütz.) Verlaque at boudur. was recorded for the first time for the records of algal flora in Turkey. 19 taxa are new for the flora of the Turkish Mediterranean.

Marine Flora of the Turkish Mediterranean Coast 1. Red Algae (= Rhodophyta)

The variety and distribution of red algae on the Turkish Mediterranean coast were studied. A total of 226 taxa were determined. The eight taxa that were new records for the algal flora of Turkey are: Porphyra leucosticta Thur. f. undulata Schiffner, Gelidium affine Schiffner, Pseudolithophyllum lobatum (Lemoine) Verlag. et Boud. Aglaothamnion caudatum J. Ag., Anotrichum tenue (C. Ag.) Nag., Spermothamnion flabellatum Born, Spyridia aculeata (Schimp.) Kütz. and Rodriguezella strafforelli Schimitz ex Rodriguez var. crassicaulis Ercegovic. In addition, 119 taxa were found to be new for the Turkish Mediterranean coast.

A record of Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba (Meyen,1833) from the Turkish Mediterranean Sea coast

The mummified carcass of a pregnant female of the Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba was found on the beach of the Göksu delta (Silifkce, Turkey, Mediterranean Sea) on 25 July 1996. This appears to be the first published record for Turkey.

Controlling pollution from land‐based sources in the Turkish Mediterranean coast—legislative aspects

Abstract The Turkish Mediterranean Coast is still the cleanest section in the region. This aspect needs to be strictly controlled and improved to allow for a sound development of touristic activities. Also, the adopted controlling policy should comply with the basic principles of the Mediterranean Action Plan. In Turkey, the regulations issued in connection with the “Water Products Law”; are now implemented to control wastewater discharges. Recently, major efforts were devoted to improve these regulations within the umbrella of the new “Environmental Law”;. The new proposals consider the issue from a much broader framework and provide technical support and criteria for marine outfalls, direct discharges of domestic and industrial sources and pretreatment requirement prior to discharge to the sewerage systems.

A study of heavy metals in limpets Patella sp. collected along a section of the southeastern turkish mediterranean coast

Limpets collected at three locations along the Turkish Mediterranean coast were analyzed for zinc, copper, cadmium, lead, chromium, nickel, iron, arsenic and strontium. Average metal concentrations in samples taken from busy harbor areas and near sewage outfalls differed little from those collected in primarily agricultural areas. Generally, an inverse relationship of metal concentration with size is seen. The average levels found in these samples are of the same order of magnitude as those in limpets from other regions of the world and thus should serve as a good indication of current background levels in this region.

Mercury in water, organisms and sediments from a section of the Turkish Mediterranean coast

Samples of water, marine organisms and sediment collected along the Turkish Mediterranean coast in the vicinity of Mersin were analysed for total mercury. The levels of mercury found in the samples from this area are generally low in comparison with the levels found in other regions of the Mediterranean.