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

Roadside pollution of cadmium and lead in Istanbul City (Turkey) and their effects on Picea abies

Evaluation of metal pollution in soils and plants is of environmental importance due to their negative effects. Surface soil and samples of Picea abies (L.) KARST. needles were collected along two contaminated roadsides from urban environment and analysed for metal content. Soil cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) concentrations in these sites averaged 0.46 and 209.5 mug g(-1) DW, respectively. In the unwashed 1-year and 2-year old needles the Cd concentrations averaged 0.15 and 0.22, and Pb concentrations averaged 58.6 and 84.9 mug g(-1) DW, respectively. These values lowered in the washed needle samples. Chlorophyll content, peroxidase activity of the needles and annual ring width differences were determined to identify toxic damage of roadside Cd and Pb pollution. Decrease in chlorophyll content and increase in peroxidase activity were detected in the needles. These results were more evident in the 2-year old ones due to the time of exposure. We have not observed a reduction in the annual ring widths related to Cd or Pb, but precipitation may have an effect on them. We suggest that Cd and Pb concentrations determined in this investigation affect chlorophyll biosynthesis negatively and induce the increase in the activity of peroxidase enzyme as a stress response in Picea abies needles

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

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-Perembe, 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-Perembefish-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