Contrasting Wind Regimes Cause Differences in Primary Production in the Black Sea Eastern and Western Gyres.

12-year time series of SeaWiFS chlorophyll a (Chl-a), primary production (PP), sea surface temperature (SST), and meteorological wind speed were used to examine decadal changes in these parameters in the eastern and western Gyres of the Black Sea. In both Gyres, low wind speeds and SST led to higher PP. After 2004, there was a progressive decrease in PP and Chl-a, which co-varied with increasing SST. Chl-a and PP were significantly higher in the western Gyre compared to the eastern Gyre, especially from 1998 to 2004. Wind speed negatively correlated with PP in both Gyres, but the higher wind speed prior to relaxation in the western Gyre led to higher PP during spring and autumn. Variability in annual PP in both Gyres was coupled to fluctuations in the Multivariate ENSO Index (MEI), which affected the wind regime more in the eastern than in the western Gyre. The data suggest that localised wind regimes in the western gyre that are uncoupled from MEI, sustains higher PP in this area

Seasonal changes of invertebrate fauna associated with Cystoseira barbata facies of Southeastern Black Sea coast

This research was carried out to determine the invertebrate fauna associated with Cystoseira barbata facies distributed in the upper-infralittoral zone of the Southeastern Black Sea coasts and their bioecological features. The investigations were seasonally performed at depths of 0 to 3 m in 5 different stations chosen in the Southeastern Black Sea from July 2005 to May 2006. As a result of the study, a total of 6123 specimens belonging to 38 species and 4 taxonomic groups were identified. Arthropoda was the dominant group in terms of number of species (55.3% of the total of phylum) and number of individuals (83.9% of the number total individuals). With regard to frequency index, 14 species were defined as continious, 8 species of common and 16 species as rare. Idotea metallica is reported for the first time from the Black Sea coast of Turkey in the present study.Keywords: Seasonal changes, invertebrate fauna, Cystoseira barbata, Black Sea, Turke

Microbial plankton communities in the coastal southeastern Black Sea: Biomass, composition and trophic interactions

We investigated biomass and composition of the pico-, nano- and microplankton communities in a coastal station of the southeastern Black Sea during 2011. We also examined trophic interactions within these communities from size-fractionated dilution experiments in February, June and December. Autotrophic and heterotrophic biomasses showed similar seasonal trends, with a peak in June, but heterotrophs dominated throughout the year. Autotrophic biomass was mainly comprised by nanoflagellates and diatoms in the first half of the year, and by dinoflagellates and Synechococcus spp. in the second half. Heterotrophic biomass was mostly dominated by heterotrophic bacteria, followed by nanoflagellates and microzooplankton. Dilution experiments suggest that nano- and microzooplankton were significant consumers of autotrophs and heterotrophic bacteria. More than 100% of bacterial production was consumed by grazers in all experiments, while 46%, 21% and 30% of daily primary production were consumed in February, June and December, respectively. In February, autotrophs were the main carbon source, but in December, it was heterotrophic bacteria. An intermediate situation was observed in June, with similar carbon flows from autotrophs and heterotrophic bacteria. Size-fraction dilution experiments suggested that heterotrophic nanoflagellates are an important link between the high heterotrophic bacterial biomass and microzooplankton. In summary, these results indicate that nano- and microzooplankton were responsible for comprising a significant fraction of total microbial plankton biomass, standing stocks, growth and grazing processes. This suggests that in 2011, the microbial food web was an important compartment of the planktonic food web in the coastal southeastern Black Sea

The impact assessment of cage aquaculture on benthic communities along the south eastern Black Sea

The present study was conducted to examine the impact of cage aquaculture on benthic communities in coastal areas (depth 25 to 50 m) from fish farming operations located along the southeastern Black Sea (Ordu-Perşembe, Trabzon-Yomra and Rize central). Sampling was conducted seasonally from April 2007 to 2009. Sediment samples were taken using Ekman Grab (box core- 0.04 m2). Temperature, salinity, and water velocity were periodically measured to determine influencing sedimentary organic matter in the sediment, oxygenation, and anoxic conditions. In addition, grain size of sediment, organic carbon content, and distribution of benthic communities were investigated. In order to determine benthic impact of fish farms on the region, Shannon – Wiener diversity index (H’), AMBI (AZTI Marine Biotic Index) and M-AMBI (Multivariate- Marine Biotic Index) indices were used. Results of current study showed that benthic zone ecological quality of stations with number 01, 02, 03, and 04 at Ordu-Perşembefish-farming habitat was found to be very low. In autumn 2008, there were 3 species which belonged to Capitella capitata (844 individuals/m2), Capitella sp. (133 individuals/m2), and Heteromastus filliformis (311 individuals/m2) at OP-01 station. In addition, the impact of Trabzon-Yomra fish-farming activity on benthic communities was low. The degree of exposure for Rize fish-farming area in all seasons was quite low, which was not a significant negative impact

Seasonal changes of invertebrate fauna associated with Cystoseira barbata facies of Southeastern Black Sea Coast

This research was carried out to determine the invertebrate fauna associated with Cystoseira barbata facies distributed in the upper-infralittoral zone of the Southeastern Black Sea coasts and their bioecological features. The investigations were seasonally performed at depths of 0 to 3 m in 5 different stations chosen in the Southeastern Black Sea from July 2005 to May 2006. As a result of the study, a total of 6123 specimens belonging to 38 species and 4 taxonomic groups were identified. Arthropoda was the dominant group in terms of number of species (55.3% of the total of phylum) and number of individuals (83.9% of the number total individuals). With regard to frequency index, 14 species were defined as continious, 8 species of common and 16 species as rare. Idotea metallica is reported for the first time from the Black Sea coast of Turkey in the present study. © 2010 Academic Journals

Spatial and temporal distribution of nereidae (Polychaeta: Annelida) along the coast of the Turkish Eastern Black Sea in the upper-infralittoral zone

A total of 99 benthic samples from four stations between Rize and Trabzon (on the Eastern Black Sea) were collected and analyzed according to their qualitative and quantitative aspects. Three genera and 6 species were identified: Nereis zonata and Platynere is dumerilii ranked first in dominance and frequency index values. Of the biotopes examined, Cystoseira barbata was highest in the number of species and diversity index values, whereas Mytilaster lineatus was the lowest. This study represents the first record of Nereis rava along the coast of the Turkish Black Sea. © Medwell Journals, 2009

The value of labial biopsy in the differentiation of sarcoidosis from tuberculosis

Background: Since the clinical features of sarcoidosis and tuberculosis may mimic each other, and that differentiation is not easy on clinical grounds, a histologic diagnosis may be mandatory in countries where the prevalence of tuberculosis is high or in populations with large numbers of immigrants from those countries. previous studies have suggested the minor salivary gland biopsy as a useful method in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, The present study was undertaken to evaluate the value of labial biopsy in the differentiation of sarcoidosis from tuberculosis in patients with enlarged hilar and paratracheal lymph nodes. Methods: Labial biopsy was performed in 50 consecutive patients with sarcoidosis, and in 35 consecutive patients with tuberculosis who had intrathoracic lympadenopathy. The files of all patients were reviewed for the clinical presentation, radiographic features, SAGE levels, tuberculin skin test anergy, and the frequency of positive labial biopsy in each disease. Results: Non-caseating granulomas were present in labial biopsies obtained from 24 patients (48%) of 50 patients with sarcoidosis, Labial biopsies were positive in 4 of 6 patients who had an abnormality on eye examination and in 3 of 5 patients who had noncaseating granulomas on biopsy material from skin. In two of 4 patients who underwent mediastinoscopy, noncaseating granulomas were detected on labial biopsy. In contrast to the patients with sarcoidosis labial biopsies revealed normal minor salivary glands in all patients with tuberculosis. Conclusions: Labial biopsy has a high discriminatory value as a diagnostic tool in the differentiation of sarcoidosis from tuberculosis. Although it has a rather lower diagnostic yield than transbronchial lung biopsy, labial biopsy should be considered as a first line approach prior to performing other more invasive procedures for the tissue confirmation of sarcoidosis

New records of two species of gnathiid isopods, Paragnathia formica (Hesse, 1864) and Gnathia maxillaris (Montagu, 1804) (isopoda, gnathiidae) from the black sea

During fieldwork on the southeastern Black Sea coast, in October 2009, two gnathiid isopods were found in their free-living stage, Paragnathia formica (Hesse, 1864) and Gnathia maxillaris (Montagu, 1804). These species are herein reported from the Black Sea for the first time.© Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2011

Recent changes of the Turkish anchovy fishery in the black seawith special reference to climate change

The Black Sea ecosystem, suffering ecological deteriorations through long-term changes induced by natural and anthropogenic factors, needs to be continuously monitored for its environmental state and ecological processes. In this study we have analysed the changes of the sea temperature over the 25 years of period in the southern Black Sea to look at if there has been an effect of climate changes on the Turkish anchovy fishery. Conclusions derived through this present study, comparisons for assessing changes in the Black Sea ecosystem related to climate changes and Turkish anchovy fishery can be summarised as follows: It is clear that there has been an increase in temperature especially in the winter months in the southern Black Sea. Although the data set is not good enough for a complete analysis of the effect of global warming on anchovy fishery, together with ecological problems, pollution, over-fishing, oil prices and tendency in temperature increase over the years may be of the other reasons for anchovy crisis observed in the late 80's