Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
European Coral Reef Symposium ECRS 2024, Naples, İtalya, 2 - 05 Temmuz 2024, ss.1-4
Savalia savaglia is one of the highly important key species forming
biodiversity hotspots in marine environment. The Mediterranean-originated coral
facies may rarely constitute some species-rich ecosystems far from their native
waters. The present study deals with the four uncommon reef sites of S.
savaglia in the Turkish Seas. According to the pre-assessment of
assemblages from several rocky and wreck sites in the Turkish Straits System, there
have discovered some large individuals of S. savaglia reaching a maximum
diameter of 117 cm in height in the Çanakkale Strait (42 m, trunk
circumference: 13,2cm) and 96.4 cm in width in Marmara Sea (Avsa-Cinarli
region, Marmara Island, 38-47 m) with a maximum basal length of 26.4 cm and 15.5,
respectively. In a new project conducted in 2023, 80 benthic invertebrate species were detected around
the surrounding area of species
in the Marmara Sea, two of which (Phoronida, Porifera) are new record for the
eastern Mediterranean Sea from the region. In several sites, the community of Neopycnodonte
cochlear was the most structural facies around S. savalia colonies. Additionally, there have been observed an ingulfment
situation on separate healthy colonies of Paramuricea clavata at depths
between 38-44 meter on the wreck sites. With the present work, the occurrence
of colonies of species in the Aegean Sea, was recorded for the first time at mesophotic
depths on an offshore rocky bank off Babakale-Assos. In addition to that, a
recent severe impact of seine nets recorded recently is also given from a
monitored area for the first time. Although Marmara Island is a unique home for
some healthy gorgonian forests, there is still no conservation action for a
specific coral protection in the area. Due to ongoing fishing activities,
illegal catch and anchoring, the present study aims to show the necessity of a
coral-based marine protected area in the site, improving the lack of knowledge,
focusing the key benefits of S. savaglia at local level and introducing
the natural value for other marine life.
Keywords: Scientific Diving, Coral, Ecology, Mesophotic, Çanakkale Strait, Marmara Sea, Aegean Sea