Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

Table of Contents - 2005 - Volume 85, Issue 04  


Research Article

Alien species of spionid polychaetes (Streblospio gynobranchiata and Polydora cornuta) in Izmir Bay, eastern Mediterranean

Melih Ertan  Çinar a1c1, Zeki  Ergen a1, Ertan  Dagli a1 and Mary E.  Petersen a2p1
a1 Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Hydrobiology, 35100, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey
a2 Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

Article author query
Çinar me   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
ergen z   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
dagli e   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
petersen me   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

The present study reports the occurrence of two exotic species of polychaetes in Izmir Bay, the eastern Mediterranean: Streblospio gynobranchiata, newly reported for the Mediterranean, and Polydora cornuta. Their establishment in the area is most probably transport by ballast water since these two species greatly dominated polluted muddy bottoms near and in Alsancak Harbour. The maximum density and biomass of S. gynobranchiata in the area were 34,270 ind m−2 and 9·4 g wwt m−2, and those of P. cornuta were 3170 ind m−2 and 2·1 g wwt m−2, respectively. These two species accounted for more than 60% of total faunal populations in the majority of samples collected in winter. Both species are capable of reproducing in the area both in summer and winter. The morphological, ecological and distributional characteristics of these species as well as their impacts on the prevailing ecosystem are analysed and discussed.

(Received November 24 2004)
(Accepted April 11 2005)


Correspondence:
c1 cinar@sufak.ege.edu.tr
p1 Darling Marine Center, University of Maine, 193 Clark's Cove Road, Walpole, ME 04573, USA