Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Ecology and Evolutionay Biology Symposium, 2022, Ankara, Türkiye, 7 - 09 Eylül 2022, ss.15, (Özet Bildiri)
Cryptobenthic fishes inhabiting in the coastal zones, such as combtooth (Blennidae) and threefin blennies (Tripterygiidae) and gobies (Gobiidae) are valuable elements of the coastal biodiversity. Due to the site fidelity, life strategies and habitat preferences, they offer us an opportunity to measure the impact of any positive or negative changes in the ecosystem. The determined area of this study includes parts of the Aegean Turkish coastline located north of 40 degrees latitude. The cryptobenthic fish populations are observed and sampled in 40 different stations along the rocky coasts of Saros Bay and Gökçeada. We intend to introduce a new method, by standardizing the obtained data with both space and time. Three habitat characteristics are recorded in order to reveal the ecological characters of cryptobenthic fish communities; substrate type, biocover and depth. Substrates to be studied are categorized according to the EUNIS habitat types. Tide pools, estuaries, coralligenous habitats, corals, phanerogams and harbours are determined as some of the important habitats. In addition, regions that are exposed to negative effects such as pollution or habitat degredation and regions that are considered to be inherent, will be evaluated seperately. Overall, the aim of the study is to find the answer to the question of whether these species are an ecological marker that shows the health of their ecosystem. Up to date 12 dives were conducted; a total of 166 individuals of 19 cryptobenthic fish species were observed. Density of the cryptobenthic fishes were estimated as 11.4 (ind. per hour) in May and June of 2021 (while intense mucilage formation was observed) and 17.8 (ind. per hour) in July and August of 2021. The overall results seems to indicate that the anthropogenic effects are destructive for the target species.