Ecological gradients of epimegafaunal distribution along the sectors of Gulf of İzmir, Aegean Sea


Mutlu E.

COMU Journal of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, cilt.4, sa.2, ss.130-158, 2021 (Hakemli Dergi)

Özet

During 2009-2010 years epifaunal materials were collected seasonally with a beam trawl from seven fixed stations in infralittoral of Gulf of Izmir to study spatiotemporal distribution of megabenthic fauna and their ecology. A total 153 megafaunal species were identified belonging to nine phyla, comprised mostly by 54 molluscans, 43 chordates (mostly fish), 20 arthropods, and 18 to echinoderms. Nine alien species were found. Four species (two fish species, one gastropod and one Asteroidea species) were constant species and 16 species were common species in the study area. Lesueurigobius friesii, Buglossidium luteum, Turritellinella tricarinata and Astropecten irregularis were the most frequently occurred, and Lesueurigobius friesii, Varicorbula gibba, Anomia ephippium, Turritellinella tricarinata and Dentalium sp were the most abundantly occurred species. Excluding the evenness index faunistic characteristics were tended to increase by seafloor depth. Seasonal density (abundance and biomass) was minima in April and maxima in February, followed by November being 2-fold higher in abundance than July. Faunal assemblages were oriented with sectors of the gulf and habitat type along the depth gradients. Buglossidium luteum overspread the gulfs excluding the inner gulf. Varicorbula gibba and Fulvia fragilis, a pollution indicator predominated the inner gulf. Hydrographical parameters and bottom depth were associated to dictate faunal assemblages with difference among the sectors and habitats.