مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Sipunculans from Kuşadası Bay (Aegean Sea)

Abstract :

Faunistical analysis of benthic samples collected from different depths and biotopes (0–75 m) at 10 stations in Kuşadası Bay yielded 5 species and 2 subspecies of Sipuncula. Aspidosiphon (Aspidosiphon) misakiensis and Onchnesoma steenstrupii steenstrupii was the most dominant and frequent species in soft substratum and Phascolosoma (Phascolosoma) stephensoni were the most dominant and frequent species in hard substratum. Of the biotopes examined, sandy-mud bottom was characterized by the highest number of species and rock samples were characterized by the highest number of specimens. Quantitative analysis of benthic habitats indicated that the sipunculan density in the area ranged from 10 to 2750 individuals.m-2 and the biomass ranged from 0,01 to 5,83 g.m-2. Aspidosiphon (Akrikos) mexicanus and Aspidosiphon (Aspidosiphon) elegans are alien species. In the present study, the morphological, ecological and distributional characteristics of species are given.