Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T17:55:31.710Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Macrobenthic fauna associated with the invasive alien species Brachidontes pharaonis (Mollusca: Bivalvia) in the Levantine Sea (Turkey)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2017

Melih Ertan Çinar ,
Kerem Bakir ,
Bilal Öztürk ,
Tuncer Katağan ,
Alper Doğan ,
Sermin Açik ,
Güley Kurt-Sahin ,
Tahir Özcan ,
Ertan Dağli  and
Banu Bitlis-Bakir
...Show all authors
Melih Ertan Çinar*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Hydrobiology, Ege University, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey
Kerem Bakir
Affiliation:
Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Hydrobiology, Ege University, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey
Bilal Öztürk
Affiliation:
Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Hydrobiology, Ege University, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey
Tuncer Katağan
Affiliation:
Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Hydrobiology, Ege University, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey
Alper Doğan
Affiliation:
Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Hydrobiology, Ege University, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey
Sermin Açik
Affiliation:
Dokuz Eylül University, Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology, İnciraltı, İzmir, Turkey
Güley Kurt-Sahin
Affiliation:
Faculty of Art and Sciences, Department of Biology, Sinop University, Sinop, Turkey
Tahir Özcan
Affiliation:
Faculty of Marine Sciences and Technology, Iskenderun Technical University, Hatay, Turkey
Ertan Dağli
Affiliation:
Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Hydrobiology, Ege University, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey
Banu Bitlis-Bakir
Affiliation:
Dokuz Eylül University, Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology, İnciraltı, İzmir, Turkey
Ferah Koçak
Affiliation:
Dokuz Eylül University, Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology, İnciraltı, İzmir, Turkey
Fevzi Kirkim
Affiliation:
Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Hydrobiology, Ege University, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: M.E. Çinar, Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Hydrobiology, Ege University, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The invasive alien mytilid species, Brachidontes pharaonis, forms a biogenic habitat in the mediolittoral and upper-infralittoral zones of the Levantine Sea, hosting a number of alien and native species. Examinations of samples taken from dense, continuous mussel beds at seven stations along the coast of northern Levantine Sea yielded 187 macro-benthic invertebrate species belonging to 11 taxonomic groups. Polychaeta accounted for 46% and 37% of the total number of species and individuals, respectively. The top three dominant species in the mussel beds were Stenothoe gallensis, Spirobranchus kraussi and Mytilaster minimus. The species with the highest frequency values on the mussel beds were Pseudonereis anomala, Phascolosoma stephensoni and Elasmopus pocillimanus. The highest density and biomass of the associated fauna were estimated as 42,550 ind m−2 and 1503 wwt g m−2, respectively. The species number in samples varied between 14 and 47 species. The environmental variables best explaining variations in zoobenthic community structures were salinity, dissolved oxygen and total inorganic nitrogen in the water column. The biotic indices, TUBI and ALEX, classified the ecological status of one or two stations as moderate or poor, based on the relative abundances of ecological and zoogeographic groups, respectively. A total of 21 alien species were found to be associated with the mussel bed, of which Syllis ergeni is being newly considered as a new established alien species for the Mediterranean Sea. The maximum density of associated alien species was calculated as 30,300 ind m−2. The alien species assemblages were greatly affected by salinity and total inorganic nitrogen.

Keywords

Community structuresspecies assemblageszoobenthosinvasive speciesspatial distributioneastern Mediterranean
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 97 , Special Issue 3: European Marine Biology Symposium , May 2017 , pp. 613 - 628
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Abd-Elnaby, F.A. and San Martín, G. (2011) Syllinae (Syllidae: polychaeta) from the Mediterranean coast of Egypt with the description of two new species. Mediterranean Marine Science 12, 43–52.Google Scholar
Açik, S. (2011) Sipuncula from the southern coast of Turkey (eastern Mediterranean), with a new report for the Mediterranean Sea. Cahiers de Biologie Marine 52, 313–329.Google Scholar
Bakir, A.K. and Katağan, T. (2014) Distribution of littoral benthic amphipods off the Levantine coast of Turkey with new records. Turkish Journal of Zoology 38, 23–34.Google Scholar
Ben-Eliahu, M.N. (1989) Lessepsian migration in Nereididae (Annelida: Polychaeta). Some case histories. In Spanier, E., Steinberger, Y. and Luria, M. (eds) Environmental quality and ecosystem stability, Vol. IV-B. Jerusalem: ISEEQS Publishers, pp. 125–134.Google Scholar
Bitlis-Bakir, B. and Öztürk, B. (2016) Rissooidea species distributed along the Turkish Levantine coast. Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 16, 443–454.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bonnici, L., Evans, J., Borg, J.A. and Schembri, P.J. (2012) Biological aspects and ecological effects of a bed of the invasive non-indigenous mussel Brachidontes pharaonis (Fischer P., 1870) in Malta. Mediterranean Marine Science 13, 153–161.Google Scholar
Çinar, M.E. (2005) Syllis ergeni: a new species of Syllidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from Izmir Bay (Aegean Sea, eastern Mediterranean Sea). Zootaxa 1036, 43–54.Google Scholar
Çinar, M.E. (2006) Serpulid species (Polychaeta: Serpulidae) from the Levantine coast of Turkey (eastern Mediterranean), with special emphasis on alien species. Aquatic Invasions 1, 223–240.Google Scholar
Çinar, M.E. and Altun, C. (2007) A preliminary study on population characteristics of the Lessepsian species, Pseudonereis anomala (Polychaeta: Nereididae), in Iskenderun Bay (Levantine Sea, eastern Mediterranean). Turkish Journal of Zoology 31, 403–410.Google Scholar
Çinar, M.E. and Bakir, K. (2014) ALien Biotic IndEX (ALEX) –A new index for assessing impacts of alien species on benthic communities. Marine Pollution Bulletin 87, 171–179.Google Scholar
Çinar, M.E., Bakır, K., Öztürk, B., Katağan, T., Dağli, E., Açik, S., Doğan, A. and Bitlis-Bakir, B. (2015) TUBI (TUrkish Benthic Index): a new biotic index for assessing impacts of organic pollution on benthic communities. Journal of Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment 21, 135–168.Google Scholar
Çinar, M.E., Bilecenoğlu, M., Öztürk, B., Katağan, T., Yokes, M.B., Aysel, V., Dagli, E., Açik, S., Özcan, T. and Erdoğan, H. (2011) An updated review of alien species on the coasts of Turkey. Mediterranean Marine Science 12, 257–315.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Çinar, M.E. and Ergen, Z (2005) Lessepsian migrants expanding their distributional ranges; Pseudonereis anomala (Polychaeta: Nereididae) in Izmir Bay (Aegean Sea). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 85, 313–321.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Çinar, M.E., Katağan, T., Koçak, F., Öztürk, B., Ergen, Z., Kocatas, A., Önen, M., Kirkim, F., Bakir, K., Kurt, G., Dagli, E., Açik, S., Doğan, A. and Özcan, T. (2008) Faunal assemblages of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis in and around Alsancak Harbour (Izmir Bay, eastern Mediterranean) with special emphasis on alien species. Journal of Marine Systems 71, 1–17.Google Scholar
Çinar, M.E., Katağan, T., Öztürk, B., Bakir, K., Dagli, E., Açik, S., Doğan, A. and Bitlis, B. (2012a) Spatio-temporal distributions of zoobenthos in soft substratum of Izmir Bay (Aegean Sea, eastern Mediterranean), with special emphasis on alien species and ecological quality status. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 92, 1457–1477.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Çinar, M.E., Katağan, T., Öztürk, B., Dagli, E., Açik, S., Bitlis, B., Bakir, K. and Doğan, A (2012b) Spatio-temporal distributions of zoobenthos in Mersin Bay (Levantine Sea, eastern Mediterranean) and the importance of alien species in benthic communities. Marine Biology Research 8, 954–968.Google Scholar
Çinar, M.E., Katağan, T., Öztürk, B., Egemen, Ö, Ergen, Z., Kocatas, A., Önen, M., Kirkim, F., Bakir, K., Kurt, G., Dagli, E., Kaymakçi, A., Açik, S., Doğan, A. and Özcan, T. (2006) Temporal changes of soft bottom zoobenthic communities in and around Alsancak Harbor (Izmir Bay, Aegean Sea), with special attention to the autoecology of exotic species. Marine Ecology 27, 229–246.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
D'Alessandro, M., Castriota, L., Consoli, P., Romeo, T. and Andalora, F. (2016) Pseudonereis anomala (Polychaeta, Nereididae) expands its range westward: first Italian record in Augusta and Siracusa harbours. Marine Biodiversity 46, 129–133.Google Scholar
De Min, R. and Vio, E. (1997) Molluschi conchiferi del litorale sloveno. Annals for Istran and Mediterranean Studies 11, 241–258.Google Scholar
Di Geronimo, I. (1971) Prima segnalazione sulle coste italiane di Brachiodontes variabilis Krauss. Bollettino delle Sedute dell Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Naturali in Catania 10, 847–852.Google Scholar
Doğan, A., Önen, M. and Öztürk, B. (2007) A new record of the invasive Red Sea mussel Brachidontes pharaonis (Fischer P., 1870) (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) from the Turkish coasts. Aquatic Invasions 2, 461–463.Google Scholar
Doğan, A., Özcan, T., Bakir, K. and Katağan, T. (2008) Crustacea Decapoda associated with Brachidontes pharaonis (P. Fischer, 1870) (Mollusca, Bivalvia) beds from the Levantine coasts of Turkey. Crustaceana 81, 1357–1366.Google Scholar
Emara, A.M. and Belal, A.A. (2004) Marine fouling in Suez Canal, Egypt. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research 30, 189–206.Google Scholar
Ergen, Z. and Çinar, M.E. (1997) Polychaeta of Antalya Bay (Mediterranean coast of Turkey). Israel Journal of Zoology 43, 229–241.Google Scholar
Fuchs, T. (1878) Die geologische Beschaffenheit der Landenge von Suez. Denkschriften der Kaiserkichen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche 38, 25.Google Scholar
Gruvel, A. and Moazzo, G. (1931) Contribution à la faune malacologique marine des côtes Libano-Syriennes. In Gruvel A. (ed.) Les états de Syrie. Richesses marines et fluviales. Société des Editions Géographiques. Paris: Maritimes et Coloniales, pp. 437–456.Google Scholar
Haas, G. (1937) Mollusca marina. In Bodenheimer, F.S. (ed.) Prodromus faunae Palestinae, Mémoires de l'Institut d'Egypte, pp. 275–280.Google Scholar
Hammond, W. and Griffiths, C.L. (2004) Influence of wave exposure on South African mussel beds and their associated infaunal communities. Marine Biology 144, 547–552.Google Scholar
Jaubet, M.L., Garaffo, G.V., Sánchez, M.A. and Elías, R. (2013) Reef-forming polychaetes outcompetes ecosystem engineering mussels. Marine Pollution Bulletin 71, 216–221.Google Scholar
Jianjun, W. and Zongguo, H. (1993) Fouling polychaetes of Hong Kong and adjacent waters. Asian Marine Biology 10, 1–12.Google Scholar
Kinzelbach, R. (1985) Lesseps'sche Wanderung: neue stationen von Muscheln (Bivalvia: Anisomyaria). Archiv fur Molluskenkunde 115, 273–278.Google Scholar
Kocatas, A. and Katağan, T. (1978) Türkiye denizlerinin littoral bentik amphipodlari ve yayilislari. TÜBITAK Temel Bilimler Arastirma Grubu, Proje No.TBAG-223, 63 pp.Google Scholar
Krapp-Schickel, G. (1976) Marine amphipods from Pantelleria and Catania (Sicily). Bulletin Zoologish Museum, Universteit van Amsterdam 5, 31–45.Google Scholar
Kurt-Sahin, G. and Çinar, M.E. (2017) Distribution of Eunicidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) along the Levantine coast of Turkey, with special emphasis on alien species. Marine Biodiversity in press. doi: 10.1007/s12526-016-0483-4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mohammed, S.Z. (1997) Influence of age structure of Brachidontes variabilis on the community structure of its associated fauna in the Great Bitter Lake, Suez Canal. Journal of Egypt and Germany Society of Zoology 24, 51–66.Google Scholar
Parsons, T.R., Maita, Y. and Lalli, C.M. (1984) A manual of chemical and biological methods for seawater analysis. Oxford: Pergamon Press, 173 pp.Google Scholar
Rilov, G., Benayahu, Y. and Gasith, A. (2004) Prolonged lag in population outbreak of an invasive mussel: a shifting-habitat model. Biological Invasions 6, 347–364.Google Scholar
Safriel, U.N. and Sasson-Frosting, Z. (1988) Can colonizing mussel outcompete indigenous mussel? Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 117, 211–226.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Safriel, U.N., Gilboa, A. and Felsenburg, T. (1980) Distribution of rocky intertidal mussels in the Red Sea coasts of Sinai, the Suez Canal, and the Mediterranean coast of Israel, with special reference to recent colonizer. Journal of Biogeography 7, 39–62.Google Scholar
Sará, G. and de Pirro, M. (2011) Heart beat rate adaptations to varying salinity of two intertidal Mediterranean bivalves: the invasive Brachidontes pharaonis and the native Mytilaster minimus . Italian Journal of Zoology 78, 193–197.Google Scholar
Sará, G., Romano, C. and Mazzola, A. (2006) A new Lessepsian species in the western Mediterranean (Brachidontes pharaonis Bivalvia: Mytilidae): density, resource allocation and biomass. JMBA2 Biodiversity Records 5087.Google Scholar
Simberloff, D. and Von Holle, B. (1999) Positive interactions of nonindigenous species: invasional meltdown? Biological Invasions 1, 21–32.Google Scholar
Tsuchiya, M. and Bellan-Santini, D. (1989) Vertical distribution of shallow rocky shore organisms and community structure of mussel beds (Mytilus galloprovincialis) along the coast of Marseille, France. Mésogée 49, 91–110.Google Scholar
Tsuchiya, M. and Nishihira, M. (1986) Islands of Mytilus as habitat for small intertidal animals: effect of Mytilus age structure on the species composition of the associated fauna and community organization. Marine Ecology Progress Series 31, 171–178.Google Scholar
Zakhama-Sraieb, R. and Charfi-Cheikhrouha, F. (2010) First record of two lessepsian amphipods in Tunisia: Elasmopus pectenicrus and Stenothoe gallensis . Journal of the Marine Biological Associations of the United Kingdom 90, 1291–1295.Google Scholar
Zenetos, A., Gofas, S., Russo, G. and Templado, J. (2004) CIESM Atlas of exotic species in the Mediterranean, Volume 3. Molluscs. 376 pp. Monaco: CIESM Publishers.Google Scholar