CRUSTACEA DECAPODA ASSOCIATED WITH PHARAONIS (P. FISCHER, 1870) (, ) BEDS FROM THE LEVANTINE COASTS OF

BY

ALPER DOGAN1,3), TAHIR ÖZCAN2), KEREM BAKIR1) and TUNCER KATAGAN1) 1) Department of Hydrobiology, Fisheries Faculty, Ege University, TR-35100 Bornova-Izmir, Turkey 2) Department of Hydrobiology, Fisheries Faculty, Mustafa Kemal University, TR-31200 Iskenderun, Hatay, Turkey

ABSTRACT The spatial distribution of the decapod crustacean fauna associated with Brachidontes pharaonis (Mollusca, Bivalvia) beds from the Levantine coasts of Turkey was studied in September 2005. Triplicate samples were collected by means of a quadrate sampler covering 400 cm2 at nine intertidal stations located between Iskenderun Bay and Antalya Bay. A total of 13 species, represented by 61 individuals was identified. Among these, Pachygrapsus marmoratus was the most dominant species represented with 19 individuals. P. marmoratus and Pilumnus hirtellus were the most frequent decapod species on the beds with 25.9% occurrence.

RÉSUMÉ La répartition spatiale de la faune de crustacés décapodes associée aux moulières de Brachidontes pharaonis (Mollusca, Bivalvia) des côtes levantines de Turquie a été étudiée en septembre 2005. Des échantillons en triple ont été collectés au moyen d’un échantillonneur carré couvrant 400 cm2 dans neuf stations intertidales situées entre la baie d’Iskenderun et la baie d’Antalya. Un total de treize espèces, représenté par 61 individus a été identifié. Parmi ceux-ci, Pachygrapsus marmoratus était l’espèce dominante avec 19 individus. P. marmoratus et Pilumnus hirtellus étaient les espèces de décapodes les plus souvent présentes dans les moulières avec une fréquence de 25,9%.

INTRODUCTION TheRedSeamussel,Brachidontes pharaonis (P. Fischer, 1870), a Lessepsian invasive species, was first recorded in the seven years after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 (Fuchs, 1878). In the past 20 years, it has

3) e-mail: [email protected] © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2008 Crustaceana 81 (11): 1357-1366 Also available online: www.brill.nl/cr DOI:10.1163/156854008X361067 1358 ALPER DOGAN ET AL. become abundant in midlittoral and infralittoral habitats, especially along the rocky shores of the eastern Mediterranean Sea (Zenetos et al., 2003; Rilov et al., 2004). The first record of B. pharaonis (as B. semistriatus) along the Turkish coasts was from the Bay of Iskenderun in 1978 (Kinzelbach, 1985). The present status of the species along the Turkish coasts, where it has generated a dense population (over 40000 ind.m−2; unpubl. data) along certain parts of Levantine coast, was reported by Dogan˘ et al. (2007). Mussel beds, as structurally and functionally complex entities, are known to harbour lots of in interstitial spaces or on surfaces provided by the and by the algae growing on their shells (Tsuchiya & Bellan-Santini, 1989; Seed, 1996; Tokeshi & Romero, 2000; Tsuchiya, 2002). The species composition and diversity of the associated fauna are controlled by the position and the specific features of the mussel beds or patches, e.g., the tidal level, the age structure of the mussels, the quality of ambient water, and by the species of mussel involved (Tsuchiya, 2002). The associated species comprise highly mobile as well as more sedentary animals, with the mobile ones roaming the complex matrix of the mussel bed searching for prey or detritus retained in interstitial spaces (Çinar et al., 2007). Investigations have been carried out to date dealing either with faunal assem- blages (Kiseleva, 1968; Tsuchiya & Bellan-Santini, 1989; Topaloglu & Kihara, 1993; Seed, 1996; Saier, 2002; Thiel & Ullrich, 2002; Tsuchiya, 2002; Adami et al., 2004; Chintiroglou et al., 2004; Hammond & Griffiths, 2004; Çinar et al., 2007), or specific groups (Lantzouni et al., 1998; Damianidis & Chintiroglou, 2000; Tokeshi & Romero, 2000) in association with mussel beds. No specific research has been carried out thus far on the decapod fauna in association with mussel beds. Thus, the investigation of the spatial patterns of decapod crustaceans associated with the mussel, Brachidontes pharaonis, in local Turkish waters was the aim of this study.

MATERIAL AND METHODS Sampling was done by means of a quadrate sampler covering an area of 400 cm2, at 9 stations along the Levantine coasts of Turkey (fig. 1), between 12 and 29 September 2005 (table I). Three replicates were taken randomly at each station in the upper infralittoral zone by scraping off the quadrate area using a spatula. The scraped material was sieved through a sieve with 0.5 mm mesh size and fixed in a 5% formalin solution. In the laboratory, the 27 samples in total were washed in fresh water, sorted under a stereomicroscope, and preserved in 70% ethanol. Specimens belonging to the Decapoda were identified and counted. Salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen concentration were measured in situ. Identification of the species is based on Holthuis (1987), Ingle (1980, 1993), Lagardère (1971), d’Udekem d’Acoz (1999), and Zariquiey Alvarez (1968).