Ascidians and their distribution in the Mediterranean Sea

Creative Commons License

Aslan H.

E.U. Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences, vol.23, no.1, pp.29-31, 2006 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 23 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2006
  • Journal Name: E.U. Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences
  • Journal Indexes: TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.29-31
  • Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study was carried out elucidate Ascidian fauna and some ecological properties of shores of Bozcaada Island located in the North-east of the Aegean Sea. More than 2500 ascidians species are known to inhabit bottoms of the world's oceans. Ascidians are usually described as sessile organisms. We have little knowledge about the distribution of the Ascidians in Turkish Seas, 86 species from the Eastern Mediterranean and 165 species from the Western Mediterranean are known. In this study, samples were collected by scoop net, dredging and spatula in the infralittoral zone of Bozcaada. around Bozcaada, during the years 2000-2001. Following the taxonomic studies, six species of ascidians (Aplidium conicum (Olivi, 1792), Didemnum maculosum (Milne-Edwards,1841), Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776), Ascidia mentula Müller, 1776, Styela plicata (Lesueur, 1823), Molgula manhattensis (De Kay, 1841)) were identified.