FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN, cilt.23, ss.3391-3399, 2014 (SCI-Expanded)
This first comprehensive study was carried out on current ecological quality status of the Kapida Peninsula between the years of 2011 and 2012. The samples were collected seasonally from 5 different depths (0.5-30 m) at 3 stations determined from shore to offshore. During the study, temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen levels of the seawater ranged between 7.5-26.0 °C, 18.06-35.06 ppt and 2.77-10.33 mg L-1, respectively. Nitrate+nitrite-N (0.01-5.39 g-at N L-1), ammonium-N (0.01-0.79 g-at N L-1), phosphate-P (0.01-1.48 g-at P L-1) and silicate-Si (0.52-21.18 g-at L-1) concentrations were measured, and also chlorophyll-a (chl-a) values ranged between 0.02-4.21 g L-1. The chl-a concentration is an important biogeochemical quantity monitored a present pigment in all phytoplankton species and, for this purpose commonly used as an index of biomass. In addition, the spatial and temporal patterns of chl-a concentration seawater temperature and nutrients are important oceanographic characteristics with important implications for sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. In autumn-winter months, high chl-a concentration was found along the station 3, and lower values were observed in summer. This high chl-a concentration could be related to the nutrients input from land through rivers discharge and anthropogenic effects.