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Mediterranean Marine Science Vol. 12, 2011 Spatial and temporal variation of soft-bottom peracarid (Crustacea: Peracarida) infauna in the Canakkale Strait (Turkey) ASLAN-CIHANGIR H. Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Gokceada School of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 8, 17760, Gokceada, Canakkale PANCUCCI- Hellenic Centre for Marine PAPADOPOULOU M.A. Research, Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 712, P.C. 19013, Anavyssos, Attiki https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.58 Copyright © 2011 To cite this article: ASLAN-CIHANGIR, H., & PANCUCCI-PAPADOPOULOU, M.A. (2011). Spatial and temporal variation of soft-bottom peracarid (Crustacea: Peracarida) infauna in the Canakkale Strait (Turkey). Mediterranean Marine Science, 12(1), 153-182. doi:https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.58 http://epublishing.ekt.gr | e-Publisher: EKT | Downloaded at 28/09/2021 19:09:41 | Mediterranean Marine Science Research Article Indexed in WoS (Web of Science, ISI Thomson) The journal is available on line at http://www.medit-mar-sc.net Spatial and temporal variation of soft-bottom peracarid (Crustacea: Peracarida) infauna in the Canakkale Strait (Turkey) H. ASLAN-CIHANGIR1 and M.A. PANCUCCI-PAPADOPOULOU2 1 Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Gokceada School of Applied Sciences, PO Box 8 – 17760, Gokceada, Canakkale, Turkey 2 Hellenic Centre for Marine Research Inst. of Oceanography, 19013 Anavissos Attica, Hellas Corresponding author: [email protected] Received: 26 May 2010; Accepted: 15 February 2011; Published on line: 18 April 2011 Abstract The biodiversity and distribution of soft-bottom peracarid crustaceans were analyzed in the southern part of the Canakkale Strait, a very important biological corridor between the Mediter- ranean and the Black Sea. Samples were collected seasonally from 11 coastal stations at depths rang- ing from 10 to 22 m. Moreover, qualitative samples were collected in summer from 7 stations (40 - 83 m depth) located in the middle part of the Strait. A total of 110 species were identified. Amphipods were the dominant group both in terms of species richness and abundance. Apocorophi- um acutum, Phtisica marina and Microdeutopus versiculatus were the most abundant species. A large number of rare species was recorded, leading to very low similarity values among stations. Six differ- ent feeding types were detected, with surface deposit feeders being the dominant ones in the area. Significant differences in abundances and assemblage structure were detected along the eastern and western coasts of the Strait that could be attributed to food supply and sediment composition, depending on bottom current velocities. Possible relations of peracarids with the hydrological regime of the area are also discussed. Keywords: Peracarida; Crustacea; Canakkale Strait; Distribution; Diversity. Introduction robenthos (MOREIRA et al., 2008; LOURIDO et al., 2008) from shallow habi- Coastal soft bottom benthos is subject- tats to the abyssal plains of the world oceans, ed to different sources of disturbance, both often presenting high abundance and di- from natural and human origin versity (BRANDT, 1995). They are con- (OCCHIPINTI-AMBROGI et. al., 2005). sidered good indicators of water and sedi- Peracarids (Amphipoda, Cumacea, Isopo- ment quality (CORBERA & CARDELL, da, Mysidacea and Tanaidacea) are, in gen- 1995; ALFONSO et al., 1998; G MEZ eral, common elements of soft bottom mac- GESTEIRA & DAUVIN, 2000) and it has Medit. Mar. Sci., 12/1, 2011, 153-182 153 http://epublishing.ekt.gr | e-Publisher: EKT | Downloaded at 28/09/2021 19:09:41 | been repeatedly pointed out that the knowl- 1) to investigate the biodiversity of soft bot- edge of their assemblages may be useful to tom benthic peracarid communities, and 2) interpret changes in benthic communities to assess the seasonal dynamics of peracarid for environmental management purposes fauna also relating its temporal variation (MOREIRA et al., 2008; CONLAN, 1994; with abiotic parameters, such as hydrody- BIERNBAUM, 1979). namism and water masses circulation. The Canakkale Strait, one of the two straits in the Turkish Straits System, con- Materials and Methods stitutes a pathway between the Aegean basin of the Mediterranean Sea and the Marmara Study area Sea. The dense maritime traffic in the strait Fieldwork was carried out along the affects the environment, due to maritime southern part of the Canakkale Strait, con- accidents, garbage and used oil dumping, necting the Sea of Marmara to the Aegean ballast water and waste water discharging Sea (Fig. 1). It has an approximate length (Undersecretariat for Maritime Affairs, of 70 km and an average width and depth www.denizcilik.gov.tr) The Strait also plays of 3.5 km and 55 m, respectively. The Strait an important role as a biological corridor has a well-defined two-layer stratification between the Mediterranean and the Black associated with a two-layer pattern of wa- Sea, and acts as an acclimatization zone for ter exchange. A prominent southward flow, the Mediterranean species (OZTURK & at velocities of 50-200 cm s-1 (ERGIN et al., OZTURK, 1996). 1991), is driven by sea level difference, with Studies on peracarid fauna of the the Sea of Marmara being at a higher level Canakkale Strait are scant or deal only with than the Aegean Sea. The sea level differ- peracarid faunal composition, without ence follows a seasonal pattern, ranging any investigation into their ecological re- at the extremes from 12 cm during summer quirements and/or adaptations to the pe- to 18 cm during winter. The northward flow, culiar environmental conditions of the Strait with velocities ranging from 20-40 cm s-1 (KOCATAS & KATAGAN, 1978; (ERGIN et al., 1991), is driven by the dif- MULLER, 1985, ERKAN-YURDABAK, ferent salinity between the Sea of Marmara 2004, KIRKIM et al., 2005, ASLAN- and the Aegean Sea. Consequently, brack- CIHANGIR et al., 2008, 2009). ish Black Sea waters flow southward through The objectives of the present study were the Canakkale Strait at the surface layer, Fig. 1: Map of the Canakkale Strait showing A) coastal sampling stations B) qualitative sampling sta- tions at the mid-line area. 154 Medit. Mar. Sci., 12/1, 2011, 153-182 http://epublishing.ekt.gr | e-Publisher: EKT | Downloaded at 28/09/2021 19:09:41 | while the more saline and denser waters of were separated under a stereomicroscope, the Aegean Sea flow deeper in the oppo- preserved in 70% ethanol, identified at the site direction (O UZ & SUR, 1989; species level and counted. STASHCHUK & HUTTER, 2001). Black Water samples for hydrographic data Sea water salinity increases by about 4 ppt were collected with Nansen bottles at two crossing the Canakkale Strait, reaching val- layers (surface and bottom) of the water ues of 29.6 ppt. Aegean waters, with a salin- column. Temperature, salinity, dissolved ity of 38.9 ppt when entering the Canakkale oxygen, pH, TDS (Total Dissolved Solid) Strait, flow through the strait with little and conductivity were thereafter measured change in their salt content (STASHCHUK on board using a YSI 556 Multiprobe Sys- & HUTTER, 2001). Inevitably, the surface tem. Water clarity was also determined at water outflow and bottom water inflow flux- each station using a Secchi disc. Granulo- es vary seasonally, as they depend upon wind metric analyses were performed following stress and density differences above and be- LEWIS, 1984. The percentage of organic low the pycnocline (POULOS, et. al., 1997). carbon (TOC) was determined spec- trophotometrically in sediment samples fol- Sampling lowing the sulphochromic oxidation method Soft bottom samples were obtained sea- (HACH Publication, 1988). The amount of sonally during 2006 by means of a 0.1 m2 van total nitrogen (TN) was measured applying Veen grab at 11 stations; six of them were the Kjeldahl method. Unfortunately, due located along the European shelf and the re- to several problems with equipment, some maining five stations were located on the parameters are missing (bottom water pa- Asian shelf. Samples were collected from rameters at all stations in summer, all pa- depths between 10-22 m from R/V Bilim 1. rameters at stations KL, GK, DC HS in win- At each station, three replicates were tak- ter, DO values at all stations in winter). en for faunistic analysis and an additional one was collected for chemical and granu- Data analysis lometric sediment analyses. Seven more sta- Univariate analyses were applied to tions located in the mid-line of the Canakkale characterise the community in terms of rel- Strait were sampled using a van Veen grab, ative abundance and diversity. The Mar- dredge and box-corer from R/V K. Piri Reis galef richness index (d), Pielou evenness in- in June 2007 at depths between 40-83 m. Due dex (J') and Shannon-Wiener diversity in- to technical difficulties (high hydrodynamism dex (log2 base) (H') were calculated at each reducing the sampling gear’s capacity, mar- station and season. The frequency of species itime traffic, etc) different gears were used occurrence (Ci) was calculated to identify and only twelve samples containing peracarids the most representative species; accordingly, were collected from the mid-line, here used each species was evaluated either as con- only for qualitative analyses. Coordinates, stant (1 ≥Ci ≥ 0.5), common (0.5 > Ci ≥ depth, sampling gear, and sediment types for 0.25) and rare (Ci < 0.25) (SOYER, 1970). all stations are given in Table 1. Dominance index (Di, relative total abun- All benthic samples were sieved (mesh dance in percentage) and the hierarchical opening 0.5 mm) and the retained fauna importance of each species (given by the was fixed with 4% formaldehyde-sea water product Ci x Di) were also calculated solution. In the laboratory, the peracarids (L PEZ DE LA ROSA et al., 2002). Medit. Mar. Sci., 12/1, 2011, 153-182 155 http://epublishing.ekt.gr | e-Publisher: EKT | Downloaded at 28/09/2021 19:09:41 | Table 1 Physical description of the sampling stations.