Examination of the Level of Bacteriological Pollution in the Discharge Area of the Ayamama Stream to the Marmara Sea

In this study seawater samples were taken from Ayamama stream's discharge point and from around of its six different areas every 15 days, and were examined in terms of bacteria such as faecal coliform, total coliform, faecal streptococci, Salmonella spp. and total mezophilic aerobic heterotrophic bacteria from May 2007 to April 2008. It is found that in all of the seven areas from which samples were taken, bacteria counts found are over seawater quality standards. It is found that the area in the best condition is station 6 which is far away 1 km from discharge point and the worst one is station 1 which is discharge point of the Ayamama stream to Marmara sea. Also, it is determined that the number of indicator bacteria show difference depending on months and seasons. Furthermore, a hierarchical ascendant cluster analysis was used to classify the sampling stations into similar groups. Dendograms obtained from cluster analysis has revealed that stations which are far away 500 m discharge point, in front of Air Force Academy (Yesilkoy), an four-star hotel and Yesilyurt sports club were similar at the first level in terms of the number of faecal coliform, total coliform, faecal streptococci and Salmonella spp. However, station 6 which is far away 1 km from discharge point was similar at the second level. As a result, when all findings were examined it was seen that Ayamama stream was a very serious threat for the sea of Marmara

Examination of the Level of Bacteriological Pollution in the Discharge Area of the Ayamama Stream to the Marmara Sea

In this study seawater samples were taken from Ayamama stream's discharge point and from around of its six different areas every 15 days, and were examined in terms of bacteria such as faecal coliform, total coliform, faecal streptococci, Salmonella spp. and total mezophilic aerobic heterotrophic bacteria from May 2007 to April 2008. It is found that in all of the seven areas from which samples were taken, bacteria counts found are over seawater quality standards. It is found that the area in the best condition is station 6 which is far away 1 km from discharge point and the worst one is station 1 which is discharge point of the Ayamama stream to Marmara sea. Also, it is determined that the number of indicator bacteria show difference depending on months and seasons. Furthermore, a hierarchical ascendant cluster analysis was used to classify the sampling stations into similar groups. Dendograms obtained from cluster analysis has revealed that stations which are far away 500 m discharge point, in front of Air Force Academy (Yesilkoy), an four-star hotel and Yesilyurt sports club were similar at the first level in terms of the number of faecal coliform, total coliform, faecal streptococci and Salmonella spp. However, station 6 which is far away 1 km from discharge point was similar at the second level. As a result, when all findings were examined it was seen that Ayamama stream was a very serious threat for the sea of Marmara

An Important Water Route Between Mediterranean and Black Seas and Bacterial Pollution (Canakkale and Istanbul Straits, Turkey)

The oceanographic characteristics of the Canakkale and Istanbul Straits provide interesting environments for bacteriological studies. In this study bacteriological analyses have been carried out in layers formed as a result of the salinity of the Mediterranean and Black Sea waters. Sea water samples taken from depths varying from 0-30 cm and 10-50 meters were analyzed for faecal coliform and total coliform bacteria using the Membrane Filtration Technique. Mixtures with CTD (SBE 19 SEACAT Profiles) and halocline stratifications were determined. The bacteria levels determined in water samples taken from under halocline layer in the Istanbul Strait were sometimes found to be higher in comparison to sea water samples taken from 0-30 cm. Higher bacteria levels found in the undercurrent were considered to be a result of deep discharge systems carrying domestic waste products. The indicator bacteria level determined in the Istanbul Strait were found to be higher than the sea water samples taken from the Canakkale Strait. The bacteria level in both straits showed no distinctive seasonal decrease throughout a one-year period. This shows the continuity of point and non-point sources of pollution in both regions

THE INVESTIGATION OF OIL DEGRADING CAPACITY OF BACTERIAL STRAINS ISOLATED FROM DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS IN TURKEY

The analyses were carried out with the aim of determining the oil-degradation capacity of bacterial strains isolated from different locations in Turkey. A total of 103 wild bacterial strains isolated from different marine environments and from the soil surrounding petroleum refineries in the city of Batman, Turkey, were screened with respect to their MIC (Minimum Inhibition Concentration) in Batman crude oil. Five bacterial isolates and their mixed consortiums were selected and investigated to detect their degradation capabilities with respect to different parameters including hemolytic activities, pH values, the emulsification index and the oil layers' thickness during the 30 days of incubation. The growth profiles of the isolates in the media with and without crude oil were also studied. In order to better understand the oil degradation capacity of the isolates, their performance was compared with the standard oil degrading bacterial strains, Alcanivorax borkumensis and Vibrio cyclitrophicus. The degradation activities of all of the five strains (Escherichia coli MDK04, Bacillus subtilis BR02, Vibrio fluvialis MD03, Staphylococcus haemolyticus GA01, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa BR03) and their consortiums were better than the reference strains. The experimental results indicated that the isolates from this study were efficient in using crude oil as the sole source of carbon and energy. We suggest that natural bacteria isolates from oil-polluted areas are likely to be as suitable candidates as standard oil-degrading bacterial strains for the purpose of cleaning up oil spills. This study significantly contributed to our knowledge about the possibility of the use of natural bacterial isolates in situ bioremediation of crude oil spills

First records and microgeographical variations of culturable heterotrophic bacteria in an inner sea (the Sea of Marmara) between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, Turkey

The microdiversity and composition of culturable heterotrophic aerobic bacteria were investigated in seawater samples taken from the Sea of Marmara (an important basin between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea) in different time periods throughout 2002 2010. The bacterial isolates were identified with the automated microidentification system VITEK 2 Compact 30 (bioMerieux, France). The compositions of identified bacteria according to their exposure to environmental factors in the areas from which they were isolated were compared. The primary hydrographic parameters (temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen) were recorded at the sampling station. The highest heterotrophic aerobic bacteria abundance was found in the coastal stations. It was possible to isolate enteric bacteria species from the lower and upper stratification of various marine localities, which possessed salinity values between 24.0 psu and 39.2 psu during the study. Six bacterial classes were determined: Gammaproteobacteria (49%), Bacilli (34%), Alphaproteobacteria (9.09%), Betaproteobacteria (3.03%), Flavobacteria (3.03%), and Actinobacteria (3.03%). This study increases the knowledge of the composition and biochemical response of bacteria isolated from eutrophic and oligotrophic areas. Twenty-three bacteria species belonging to 16 families are reported in this study as the first records for the Sea of Marmara

The occurrence of pathogenic bacteria in some ships' ballast water incoming from various marine regions to the Sea of Marmara, Turkey

The composition and frequency of antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacteria, the abundance of heterotrophic aerobic bacteria (HPC) and possible in-situ use of chromogenic agar were investigated in the ships' ballast water coming from different regions of the world to the Sea of Marmara. Turkey for the first time. The samples that were taken from 21 unit ships coming from various marine environments of the Southern China Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, Turkey in 2009 and 2010 were tested. 38 bacteria species, 27 of them pathogenic bacteria belonging to 17 familia, were detected. Vibrio cholera was not detected in the samples. However, the presence of a high number of HPC, including a cocktail of pathogenic bacteria showed that the ships carry a potential risk for the Sea of Marmara. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Determination of Multiple Antibiotic and Heavy Metal Resistance of the Bacteria Isolated from the Kucukcekmece Lagoon, Turkey

One hundred strains of Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from a brackish water Lagoon, Kucukcekmece in Istanbul-Turkey. Identification studies showed that 31% of the isolated bacteria were Escherichia colt, 28% were Citrobacter, and 12% were Enterobacter. Antibiotic and heavy metal resistances exhibited by these bacteria were evaluated. In antibiotic susceptibility tests, 68% of the isolates appeared to be resistant to vancomycin, while 38% was resistant to erythromycin, 23% to penicilin G, 19% to ampicillin, 13% to nalidixic acid and streptomycin, 7% to chloramphenicol, 5% to amikacin, 2% to gentamycin, and 1% to kanamycin. Most of the isolates tolerated various concentrations of heavy metals, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranged from 20 mu g/ml to >5000 mu g/ml. In terms of heavy metal sensitivity, 98% of the isolates were resistant to Fe, 95% to Cd, 85% to Co, 83% to Cu and Zn, and 74% to Ni. When antibiotic-heavy metals multiresistance index was examined, it was determined that the multiple heavy metal resistance (MHMR) index was remarkably high for the bacteria, while the multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index was low according to heavy metal resistance

Antibiotic and Heavy Metal Resistant Bacteria Isolated from Aegean Sea Water and Sediment in Gulluk Bay, Turkey Quantifying the resistance of identified bacteria species with potential for environmental remediation applications

Heavy metal and antibiotic-resistant bacteria have potential for environmental bioremediation applications. Resistant bacteria were investigated in sediment and seawater samples taken from the Aegean Sea, Turkey, between 2011 and 2013. Bioindicator bacteria in seawater samples were tested using the membrane filtration technique. The spread plate technique and VITEK (R) 2 Compact 30 micro identification system were used for heterotrophic aerobic bacteria in the samples. The minimum inhibition concentration method was used for heavy metal-resistant bacteria. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria were tested using the disk diffusion method. All bacteria isolated from sediment samples showed 100% resistance to rifampicin, sulfonamide, tetracycline and ampicillin. 98% of isolates were resistant against nitrofurantoin and oxytetracycline. Higher antibiotic and heavy metal resistance was recorded in bacteria isolated from sediment than seawater samples. The highest levels of bacterial metal resistance were recorded against copper (58.3%), zinc (33.8%), lead (32.1%), chromium (31%) and iron (25.2%). The results show that antibiotic and heavy metal resistance in bacteria from sediment and seawater can be observed as responses to environmental influences including pollution in marine areas

BACTERIAL PROFILES OF THE MUD FORMATIONS OBSERVED FROM A REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE (ROV) IN THE DEEP OF THE CANAKKALE STRAIT (DARDANELLES), TURKEY

KALKAN, SAMET/0000-0002-5110-5609; TURETKEN, Pelin Saliha CIFTCI/0000-0002-4377-1628WOS: 000485852800002The Canakkale Strait, as a part of the Turkish Strait System (TTS), is an important water route in the world which connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Sea of Marmara and hence to the Black Sea via the Istanbul Strait. Due to its peculiar hydrodynamic characteristics, the area offers unique opportunities for researching profiles of bacteria under different, poorly described conditions. the samples of the mud formations, observed by "Remotely-Operated Vehicles" (ROV) with a diameter of roughly 120m and a height of 1.5-2m at a depth of 24m on the seabed of the canakkale Strait, were investigated regarding bacterial composition, metabolic characteristics of heterotrophic bacteria and environmental variables. Gram-negative fermenting and non-fermenting bacteria were the most common group in terms of species numbers, compared to Gram-positive cocci and non-spore-forming and sporeforming bacilli, both also found in the sample of mud formations and surface sediment around them. in the study, four species, Micrococcus lylae, Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Bordetella trematum and Roseomonas gilardii were recorded for the first time in the Turkish Seas. the results of the study contribute to an increasing knowledge on bacterial diversity and bacterial interactions regarding metabolically-talented bacteria and the environmental conditions of different texture on the floor of the seabed.Istanbul University Scientific Research Projects UnitIstanbul University [20928]The authors wish to thank to Istanbul University Scientific Research Projects Unit (Project number: 20928) for their financial support