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

First Record of the Pempheris rhomboidea (Kossmann & Räuber, 1877) from Northeastern Mediterranean Sea (Mersin Bay)

In this study, eight individuals of Pempheris rhomboidea (Kossmann & Räuber, 1877) were for the first time caught in the Mersin Bay, Northeastern Mediterranean Sea. Some morphometric and meristic characters of these individuals were measured. The average standard length (SL): 90.13 mm, total length (TL): 112.62 mm, the length of longest pectoral fin (LPF): 25.88 mm, the length of longest dorsal fin ray (LDF): 21.25 mm, SL/LPF: 3.88, SL/LDF: 4.24, A: III, 39-42; D: VI, 9; LL pore scales: 55-58. The ratio of eye diameter (ED) to standard length (SL) is 7.95. The presence of the non-indigenous Pempheris rhomboidea was reported for the first time from Northeastern Mediterranean Sea and second time fromTurkish marine waters

Some Brachyuran Crab Records from Coastal Waters of the Mersin Bay, Northeastern Mediterranean Coast of Turkey

Eight crab species (Eriphia verrucosa, Maja squinado, Calappa granulata, Charybdis (Goniohellenus) longicollis, Callinectes sapidus, Atergatis roseus, Portunus segnis, Maja crispata) were sampled from Mersin Bay (Northeastern Mediterranean) between September 2017 and April 2018. Three species belong to the family of Portunidae while two Maja species represent Majidae. The other crabs represent the families of Calappidae, Xanthidae, and Eriphidae. All specimens were preserved in ethanol and were deposited in the Museum of the Systematic, Faculty of Fisheries, Mersin University (catalogue number:MEUDC-17-12-002 - MEUDC-18-12-009). Previous records of these crabs in the Mediterranean Sea were determined as their distributions were compared. All crab samples in the study are distributed in the Northeastern Mediterranean Sea commonly

DETERMINATION OF SEASONAL CHANGES ON SOME HEAVY METAL (Cd, Pb, Cr) LEVELS OF SHRIMP AND PRAWN SPECIES FROM NORTH-EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA, GULF OF MERSIN, TURKEY

The concentration levels of some potentially toxic trace elements such as Cd, Cr, and Pb in the muscle tissue of some shrimp and prawn species from Northeastern Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of Mersin, Turkey were seasonally determined in this study. The effects of seasons on the potentially toxic trace elements levels of regional commercially valuable five different shrimp and prawn species (green tiger prawn-Penaeus semisulcatus, kuruma prawn-Marsupenaeus japonicus, caramote prawn-Melicertus kerathurus, deepwater pink shrimp-Parapenaeus longirostris, speckled shrimp-Metapenaeus monoceros) were determined. 30 individuals of each species were caught by bottom trawling from the Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of Mersin) in four seasons in 2013. Shrimp and prawn samples were extracted using digestion method with concentrated nitric acid and per chloric acid and metal levels were measured using ICP/MS. The differences in Cd, Cr and Pb levels of muscle tissue in all species were determined as 0.44-1.40 mg/g dw, 1.38-5.80 mg/g dw, and 1.99-13.42 mg/g dw, respectively. The quantitative relationships generally found in the metal levels of muscle in all the species were: Pb> Cr> Cd, but the concentration of each potentially toxic heavy metal varied seasonally. If the data obtained by this study were evaluated with respect to the data in U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2013), it would be obviously seen that all the shrimp and prawn species living in Gulf of Mersin were not contaminated with Cd and Cr but contaminated with Pb. However, if it is analyzed in accordance with European Commission (2011) and Turkish Food Codex (2011), all species except winter and spring samples of Parapenaeus longirostris are contaminated with Cd and Pb.The concentration levels of some potentially toxic trace elements such as Cd, Cr, and Pb in the muscle tissue of some shrimp and prawn species from Northeastern Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of Mersin, Turkey were seasonally determined in this study. The effects of seasons on the potentially toxic trace elements levels of regional commercially valuable five different shrimp and prawn species (green tiger prawn-Penaeus semisulcatus, kuruma prawn-Marsupenaeus japonicus, caramote prawn-Melicertus kerathurus, deepwater pink shrimp-Parapenaeus longirostris, speckled shrimp-Metapenaeus monoceros) were determined. 30 individuals of each species were caught by bottom trawling from the Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of Mersin) in four seasons in 2013. Shrimp and prawn samples were extracted using digestion method with concentrated nitric acid and per chloric acid and metal levels were measured using ICP/MS. The differences in Cd, Cr and Pb levels of muscle tissue in all species were determined as 0.44-1.40 mg/g dw, 1.38-5.80 mg/g dw, and 1.99-13.42 mg/g dw, respectively. The quantitative relationships generally found in the metal levels of muscle in all the species were: Pb> Cr> Cd, but the concentration of each potentially toxic heavy metal varied seasonally. If the data obtained by this study were evaluated with respect to the data in U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2013), it would be obviously seen that all the shrimp and prawn species living in Gulf of Mersin were not contaminated with Cd and Cr but contaminated with Pb. However, if it is analyzed in accordance with European Commission (2011) and Turkish Food Codex (2011), all species except winter and spring samples of Parapenaeus longirostris are contaminated with Cd and Pb

The Chemical Composition of the Lionfish (Pterois miles, Bennett 1828), the New Invasive Species of the Mediterranean Sea

In this study, the proximate composition of muscle tissue was investigated in lion fish (P. miles), which has a high invasion potency in the Mediterranean. At the same time, the potentials of accumulation of essential and toxic metals in brain, gill, muscle and liver tissues have been examined. The study was carried out with 4 lion fish individuals (1st individual 278 g, 28 cm, 2nd individual 55 g, 19 cm, 3rd individual 68 g, 20 cm, 4th individual 92 g, 22 cm) caught from the Yeşilovacık Bay in 2016. Water, crude protein, total lipid, total mineral substance (TMS) percentages were found to be 75.68-77.62%, 20.05-21.08%, 1.11-1.84%, 1.22-1.54 in P. miles, respectively. The percentage of fatty acids in lionfish ranged from 34.26% to 37.57% saturated fatty acids (SFAs), from 24.99% to 27.99 % monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and from 20.49% to 49.31% polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Dominant fatty acids are palmitic acid and stearic acid from SFAs, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, cetoleic acid from MUFAs, EPA and DHA from PUFAs. The accumulation levels of heavy metals in the tissues were found as Fe> Zn> As> Cu> Cr> Pb, respectively. The accumulation levels of each metal in the tissues were determined as follows: liver>gill>brain>muscle (29.19-384.43 μg g -1 dw) for Fe, gill>brain>liver>muscle (16.08-56.68 μg g -1 dw) for Zn, muscle>brain>gill>liver (2.69-7.88 μg g - 1 dw) for As, liver> brain>gill>muscle (0.74-7.05 μg g-1 dw) for Cu, brain>gill>muscle>liver (0.35-2.67 μg g -1 dw) for Cr, brain>gill>muscle>liver (0.26-2.11 μg g -1 dw) for Pb. As a result; while lionfish muscle tissue contains high levels of protein, unsaturated fatty acids, minerals and trace elements, it has been determined that levels of heavy metals in this consumable tissue are not at levels that could threaten human health