Research Article
The Dynamics of the Benthic Molluscs in Inner Bay of the Izmir
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Profency Directory of Agriculture of the Canakkale, 1 7100 Canakkale/Turkey
This investigation was carried out in inner bay of Izmir, which is about 60 km in length. Izmir Bay has been divided into two parts, an inner and an outer Gulf. The inner Gulf is at the east of the Yenikale inlet and it is connected by a narrow channel to the outer gulf. The inner Gulf is more shaded than the outer gulf. According to benthic studies done in this region, a black mud which includes hydrogen sulphure has been observed to cover a large part of the bottom of the Gulf[1]. When the inner and the outer Gulf are compared, the effects of such environmental factors as industry, settlement and sea transport etc are seen to be much greater on the inner than the outer Gulf. pollution as a result of human activity is much less in the waters of the outer Gulf. To date Izmir Bay has been subjected to a number of investigations[1-6].
This study was carried out to investigate the effects of pollution on the dynamics of the Mollusca phylum.
The present study was been studied between March and December with the help of research ship; RV K. Piri Reis (Fig. 1). Sampling was not possible in July. The Benthic sampling was carried out by Vanveen grap and then examined according to standard methods[1]. Furthermore, systematic groups of the Benthic samples which were brought to the laboratory were identified and classified according to the abundance and dominance of individuals and species at the stations[1,7]. As a result of the quantitative assessment data were prepared for each station.
Fig. 1: | The map of research area |
As a result of this study, a total of 1196 individuals belonging to 18 species were identified from the stations. When all the stations were examined in respect to the species and individuals numbers, they have been observed to have an abundance of molluscs in spring, though less in the summer months. When the stations were examined in respect of quality and quantity, these have changed depending on the distance from pollution source.
When present study is compared with the very detailed study of Kocatas[1], of the benthic works in Izmir Bay, there are quite close similarities in respect to the species and individuals numbers.
According to these results, when the dynamic of the Corbula gibba, the indicator of pollution[1], was taken under consideration, the pollution in the Izmir Internal Gulf can be said to have been converted into a constant pollution in during years.
One hundred eighty six individuals belonging to 2 species were identified in the samples involved in the process research period at this station which is at the inner part of the Izmir. According to the quantitative assessment, Corbula gibba has been observed to be in the first rank with an average of 20.22 of abundance and 98.37 of dominance (Table 1).
Three hundred ten individuals belonging to 2 species were identified in the samples during the research period at this station which is between Karşiyaka and Konak. According to the quantitative assessment, Corbula gibba was observed to be in the first rank with an average of 27.66 of abundance and 80.3 of dominance (Table 2).
Three hundred twenty three individuals belonging to 14 species were identified in the samples during the research period at this station which is toward the Cakalburnu crawl. According to the quantitative assessment, Corbula gibba has been observed to be in the first rank with an average of 32.00 of abundance and 89.16 of dominance (Table 3).
Three hundred thirty six individuals belonging to 12 species were identified in the samples during the research period at this station which is in the neighborhood of Yenikale lantern. According to the quantitative assessment, Corbula gibba has been observed to be in the first rank with an average of 33.40 of abundance and 89.50 of dominance (Table 4).
Table 1: | Distribution, abundance and dominance of the individuals according to months and species of mollusca |
Table 2: | Distribution, abundance and dominance of the individuals according to months and species of mollusca |
Table 3: | Distribution, abundance and dominance of the individuals according to months and species of mollusca |
Table 4: | Distribution, abundance and dominance of the individuals according to months and species of mollusca |
Table 5: | Distribution, abundance and dominance of the individuals according to months and species of mollusca |
Forty one individuals belonging to 9 species were identified in the samples during the research period at this station which is in the neighborhood of Pelikan lantern. Different from the other station in quantitative assessment, Tellina sp. has been observed to be in the first rank with an average of 2.44 of abundance and 53.65 of dominance (Table 5).