Seasonal variations of fat and fatty acid composition in muscle tissues of Mediterranean octopuses

The effects of seasons on lipid and fatty acid profiles of muscle types (mantle and arm) of Mediterranean octopuses (common octopus-Octopus vulgaris and musky octopus-Eledone moschata) were investigated. The results showed that lipid levels ranged from 0.75% to 1.60% in both muscle types of octopuses which were considered as lean. Lipid levels in mantle tissues of both octopus species were higher than lipid levels in their arms. Although these two octopus species contain small amounts of lipid, they are good sources of n-3 PUFAs content (especially EPA and DHA) for all season regardless of muscle types. The highest levels of EPA were obtained from mantle and arms tissues (18.23%) of common octopus in spring. The highest levels of EPA were obtained from mantle (12.90%) and arms (12.67%) of musky octopus in autumn and winter. The levels of EPA in both of muscle tissues of common octopus were found to be higher than levels of EPA in both of muscle tissues of musky octopus. The highest DHA levels were obtained from mantle tissue (28.17%) of common octopus in summer. There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the levels of SFA, MUFA and PUFA in terms of species, season, and muscle types

First Observation of the Nocturnal Cleaning Relationship between Common Octopus Octopus vulgaris (Cuvier, 1797), and Indo-Pacific Palaemonid Shrimp, Urocaridella pulchella Yokeş & Galil, 2006 from the Iskenderun Bay, Eastern Mediterranean Coast of Turkey

During a Scuba survey in Iskenderun Bay at night time on November 2018, a female Urocaridella pulchella individual was observed with nocturnal cleaning on Octopus vulgaris at 16 m in depth. Some photos of the shrimp and its symbiont were taken. Although the nocturnal cleaning relationship between U. pulchella and various marine species has been reported in some studies, the nocturnal cleaning relationship between O. vulgaris and U. pulchella has been observed for the first time. In addition, in the present study, we first reported Indo-Pacific palaemonid shrimp U. pulchella which was encountered in its natural habitat during an underwater observation from Iskenderun Bay, and this report is the first observation for this area and fills a gap in the distribution range of this species.Keywords: eastern Mediterranean, Iskenderun coast, nocturnal cleaning, Palaemonidae, Turkey

New Record of the Velvet Belly Lanternshark Etmopterus spinax (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Deep Seas of Northern Cyprus

Lantern sharks are small shark species that can be seen at depths between 70 and 2000 meters.  Due to their luminescent characteristics, they have been called “Lantern shark”. In total eleven specimens of the velvet belly lantern shark, Etmopterus spinax (Linnaeus, 1758), were caught in the deep seas of Northern Cyprus by using a bottom trawl. Sampling was carried out using 13 trawling operations. The collected samples were placed in 4% formalin and stored at  the Museum of the Systematic, Faculty of Fisheries, Mersin University, (catalogue number: MEUFC-18-11-082). As a sampling area, the depths between 274 and 641 m were selected. Other cartilaginous fish caught during sampling except E. spinax were Galeus melastomus (1 individual), Squalus acanthias (4 individuals), Scyliorhinus canicula (85 individuals). E. spinax made up 10.89% of all cartilaginous fishes which were caught. Species identification for all fishes caught is made with the help of morphological features

Seasonal Variations in Fat and Fatty Acid Profiles of Barbus tauricus (Kessler, 1877) From Duzce-Melen Basin (Turkey)

In this study, total lipid and fatty acid profiles of Barbus tauricus samples which were obtained from Melen River Basin during winter, spring, and summer seasons, were evaluated. Total lipid levels were determined 2.27%, 2.37%, and 4.34% in winter, spring, and summer, respectively. The study also determined that the carbon count of 30 fatty acids, composing total fat compositions of B. tauricus caught in Melen Basin, ranges among 12-24. The major fatty acids of B. tauricus are palmitic acid and stearic acid from SFA; palmitoleic acid, trans oleic acid, oleic acid and erucic acid from MUFA and linoleic acid, alfa linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid from PUFA. The study is the first one on lipid and fat profiles of B. tauricus, one of the species living in Duzce Melen Basin and having high economic importance, and aimed to investigate total lipid and fatty acid profiles according to the season

Ginzberg ve arkadaşlarının gelişim kuramına dayalı örnek bir mesleki grup rehberliği çalışması

This study was conducted on 12 (6 male 6 female) 8th grade students of a primary school in Ankara. The age of the students varied between 14 and 16. Students participated in the study valuntarily after the school counsellor had informed them about it. Sessions were completed in six weeks. Vocational maturity inventory which was developed by Kuzgun and Bacanlı (2005) was administered to group member before and after the program in order to assess the effectiveness of the program. It was found that 6 of the group members did not reach due level of vocational maturity in the pretest, in other words their vocational maturity was low (below 143 points). Three (those between 143-155 points) reached the expected vocational maturity level, yet they needed to increase it in order to make a more appropriate vocational decision. The other three  group members (those above 155 points) were the ones who had reached the expected vocational maturity.Posttest results showed that two of the group members had not reached the targeted vocational maturity.  One of these students stated that since he would work at the building sector in which his father was working the sessions had not picked up much of his interest and it was observed that he had not attended to two of the group activies. This may be considered as the reason why he did not benefitted from group works.Lack of improvement in other group member's maturity level may be the result of the fact that he will not continue his education after primary school and his reluctance to attend to activities in group sessions. After the implementation of the program, a significant difference was observed between pretest and posttest scores. Mean vocational maturity inventory scores before the program was 145.83 while it increased to 153.25. This finding shows that the study had an important influence on the improvement of vocational maturity by raising group members' vocational maturity inventory scores.Ankara ilinde bir ilk&ouml;ğretim okulu 8. sınıfa devam eden 12 (6 erkek 6 kız) &ouml;ğrenci ile bu &ccedil;alışma y&uuml;r&uuml;t&uuml;lm&uuml;şt&uuml;r. Gruba katılan &ouml;ğrencilerin yaşları 14 ile 16 arasında değişmektedir.&nbsp; &Ccedil;alışmaya katılan &ouml;ğrenciler, okul rehber &ouml;ğretmenin yapılacak &ccedil;alışma hakkında bilgi vermesi sonucunda g&ouml;n&uuml;ll&uuml; olarak katılmışlardır. Oturumlar altı haftalık bir s&uuml;rede tamamlanmıştır.Programın etkililiğini değerlendirmek amacıyla Kuzgun ve Bacanlı (2005) tarafından hazırlanan Mesleki Olgunluk &Ouml;l&ccedil;eği grup &uuml;yelerine &ouml;n-test ve son-test uygulanarak belirlenmeye &ccedil;alışılmıştır. &Ouml;n-teste ki grup &uuml;yelerinin 6 sının (143 puandan aşağı olanlar) mesleki olgunluk d&uuml;zeyine ulaşmamış yani mesleki olgunluk d&uuml;zeyi d&uuml;ş&uuml;k olduğu g&ouml;r&uuml;lmektedir. 3 grup &uuml;yesinin (143-155 puanları arasında olanlar) kendilerinden beklenen mesleki olgunluk seviyesine ulaştıkları ancak daha isabetli mesleki se&ccedil;im yapabilmeleri i&ccedil;in mesleki olgunluk d&uuml;zeylerini geliştirmeye ihtiya&ccedil;ları vardı. 3 grup &uuml;yesinin (155 puandan yukarı)&nbsp; kendilerinden beklenen mesleki olgunluk d&uuml;zeyine ulaşmış &ouml;ğrencilerdir.Son-testte grup &uuml;yelerinin 2 sinin mesleki olgunluk d&uuml;zeyine ulaşmadığı g&ouml;r&uuml;lmektedir. Bu grup &uuml;yelerinden biri grup etkinliklerine pek katılmadıkları ve ilk&ouml;ğretim bittikten sonra babasının mesleği olan inşaat sekt&ouml;r&uuml;nde hayatını s&uuml;rd&uuml;receğini ve mesleğini o boyutta d&uuml;ş&uuml;nd&uuml;ğ&uuml; i&ccedil;in grup oturumları pek ilgisini &ccedil;ekmediği ve 2 grup oturumuna katılmadığı g&ouml;zlemlenmiştir. Buda yapılan &ccedil;alışmadan yararlanamamasının nedeni olarak d&uuml;ş&uuml;n&uuml;lebilir.Diğer grup &uuml;yesi, ilk&ouml;ğretim sonrası orta &ouml;ğretime devam etmeyecek olması, grup oturumlarındaki &ccedil;alışmalara istekli katılmaması,&nbsp; yapılan &ccedil;alışmaların etkili olmamasına etken olduğu d&uuml;ş&uuml;n&uuml;lebilir.Uygulanan program sonrasında &ouml;ntest ve sontest arasında anlamlı bir fark olduğu g&ouml;r&uuml;lmektedir. Grup &uuml;yelerinin uygulama &ouml;ncesi MO&Ouml; puan ortalamaları 145.83 iken uygulanan program sonrasında bu ortalamalar 153.25&rsquo;e y&uuml;kselmiştir. Bu bulgu yapılan &ccedil;alışmanın grup &uuml;yelerinin MO&Ouml; puanlarini y&uuml;kselterek mesleki olgunluklarini artirmada &ouml;nemli bir etkiye sahip olduğunu g&ouml;sterir

Metal levels of canned fish sold in Türkiye: health risk assessment

This study analyzed 34 canned fish products, including 28 tuna specimens, 3 salmon specimens, 1 mackerel specimen, and 1 anchovy specimen, from 13 different brands purchased in Türkiye. The study aimed to determine metal/metalloid levels in canned fish and potential health risks for both children and adult consumers. The metal/metalloid levels in the samples were determined using an Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometer (ICP–MS), with the range of levels found as follows (mg/kg, ww): Fe (12.12–101.4), Cu (2.19–11.68), Zn (4.06–33.56), Se (0.24–10.74), Al (1.41–14.45), Cr (0.06–4.08), Pb (0.10–0.43), Cd (0.001–0.110), and As (0.01–0.13). Estimated weekly intake (EWI) levels were found that the consumption of canned fish products did not pose any risk based on the EWI levels and provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) limits. However, three tuna samples had target hazard quotient (THQ) levels above the threshold (>1). Arsenic levels were found to increase the carcinogenic risk for child consumers if they heavily consumed 18 canned fish products, including 15 tuna, 2 salmon, and 1 mackerel. The maximum allowable consumption rates (CRmm) for each canned fish product were calculated monthly. Consequently, the consumption of canned fish by children can pose health risks

The effects of age and individual size on metal levels of Serranus cabrilla (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Yeşilovacık Bay (Northeasthern Mediterranean, Turkey)

In this study, the relationships were determined between the macro (Na, Mg, P, K, Ca), potential toxic metal, As, and trace element, Zn, levels of the muscle tissue and fish size (length and weight) in Serranus cabrilla (Linnaeus, 1758) caught via bottom trawl boat from the Yeşilovacık Bay (Northeastern Mediterranean, Turkey). The potential toxic metal, macro and trace element levels of the muscle tissue of S. cabrilla were determined. Besides, the relationships between fish size and metal levels were investigated. For this study, S. cabrilla individuals of 0-1, 1-2 and 2-3 age groups were used. Min-Max total length of the age groups was determined as 10.5-11.8, 13.0-15.5 and 15.8-16.5 cm; Min-Max weights were 15.34-23.66, 30.41-43.82 and 41.89-58.18 g respectively. There was no statistical difference between the age groups according to the macro and trace element levels of muscle tissue. The Arsenic levels of the muscle tissue were high and in general displayed variation with age. The present study firstly reported the relationship between mineral-metal levels and individual size-age of S. cabrilla

The influences of fish infusion broth on the biogenic amines formation by lactic acid bacteria

The influences of fish infusion decarboxylase broth (IDB) on biogenic amines (BA) formation by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were investigated. BA productions by single LAB strains were tested in five different fish (anchovy, mackerel, white shark, sardine and gilthead seabream) IDB. The result of the study showed that significant differences in ammonia (AMN) and BA production were observed among the LAB strains in fish IDB (p < 0.05). The highest AMN and TMA production by LAB strains were observed for white shark IDB. The all tested bacteria had decarboxylation activity in fish IDB. The uppermost accumulated amines by LAB strains were tyramine (TYM), dopamine, serotonin and spermidine. The maximum histamine production was observed in sardine (101.69 mg/L) and mackerel (100.84 mg/L) IDB by Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. cremoris and Pediococcus acidophilus, respectively. Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis and Pediococcus acidophilus had a high TYM producing capability (2943 mg/L and 1157 mg/L) in sardine IDB

Metal levels of canned fish sold in Türkiye: health risk assessment

This study analyzed 34 canned fish products, including 28 tuna specimens, 3 salmon specimens, 1 mackerel specimen, and 1 anchovy specimen, from 13 different brands purchased in Türkiye. The study aimed to determine metal/metalloid levels in canned fish and potential health risks for both children and adult consumers. The metal/metalloid levels in the samples were determined using an Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometer (ICP–MS), with the range of levels found as follows (mg/kg, ww): Fe (12.12–101.4), Cu (2.19–11.68), Zn (4.06–33.56), Se (0.24–10.74), Al (1.41–14.45), Cr (0.06–4.08), Pb (0.10–0.43), Cd (0.001–0.110), and As (0.01–0.13). Estimated weekly intake (EWI) levels were found that the consumption of canned fish products did not pose any risk based on the EWI levels and provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) limits. However, three tuna samples had target hazard quotient (THQ) levels above the threshold (&gt;1). Arsenic levels were found to increase the carcinogenic risk for child consumers if they heavily consumed 18 canned fish products, including 15 tuna, 2 salmon, and 1 mackerel. The maximum allowable consumption rates (CRmm) for each canned fish product were calculated monthly. Consequently, the consumption of canned fish by children can pose health risks

New Mediterranean biodiversity records (March 2016)

In this Collective Article on “New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records”, we present additional records of species found in the Mediterranean Sea. These records refer to eight different countries mainly throughout the northern part of the basin, and include 28 species, belonging to five Phyla. The findings per country include the following species: Spain: Callinectes sapidus and Chelidonura fulvipunctata; Monaco: Aplysia dactylomela; Italy: Charybdis (Charybdis) feriata, Carcharodon carcharias, Seriola fasciata, and Siganus rivulatus; Malta: Pomacanthus asfur; Croatia: Lagocephalus sceleratus and Pomadasys incisus; Montenegro: Lagocephalus sceleratus; Greece: Amathia (Zoobotryon) verticillata, Atys macandrewii, Cerithium scabridum, Chama pacifica, Dendostrea cf. folium, Ergalatax junionae, Septifer cumingii, Syphonota geographica, Syrnola fasciata, Oxyu- richthys petersi, Scarus ghobban, Scorpaena maderensis, Solea aegyptiaca and Upeneus pori; Turkey: Lobotes surinamensis, Ruvettus pretiosus and Ophiocten abyssicolum. In the current article, the presence of Taractes rubescens (Jordan & Evermann, 1887) is recorded for the first time in the Mediterranean from Italy. The great contribution of citizen scientists in monitoring biodiversity records is reflected herein, as 10% of the authors are citizen scientists, and contributed 37.5% of the new findings.peer-reviewe