Ampithoe bizseli n. sp (Crustacea, Amphipoda) from the west coast of Turkey

The new species Ampithoe bizseli from the west coast of Turkey is described. It can be distinguished by a circular ischium lobe on gnathopod 2 in the male sex from the similar species Ampithoe ramondi where this lobe is slender. Ampithoe bizseli n. sp. appears to occur also on the coast of Tansania

Biodiversity Assessment: Preliminary Findings in Koycegiz-Dalyan SEPA

In Turkey, biodiversity assessments in Coastal-Marine Protected Areas (CMPA) were started with the Datca-Bozburun Special Environmental Protection Area (SEPA) Biodiversity Project by the Authority of Special Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with the Oceanos Team of the Istanbul University in 2002. "Koycegiz-Dalyan SEPA Biodiversity Project" was the fourth one in this field performed in 2010, the "International Year of Biodiversity", with cooperation between the Underwater Research Society and Dokuz Eylul University. The coastal and marine sites of the SEPA, especially Iztuzu Beach is important for nesting and breeding of Caretta caretta. Under the scope of the project, the study was carried out only once in autumn within the 0-50 meter depth zone with both sampling methods and visual observations of marine flora and fauna. The study aimed to define biodiversity of the marine area including seabed habitats and facies formations. Seven facies formations and six different benthic habitat types were defined during the study. Determinations of 17 species under several categories of IUCN Red List and 10 exotic species were other important findings which should be considered as significance of threat upon the marine ecosystem of the Koycegiz-Dalyan SEPA

Biodiversity for Carrying Capacity Assessment

Determination of marine vessel carrying capacity (MVCC) of an area is rather a new and challenging concept not only in Turkey, but also throughout the world. Determination of MVCC is a site specific process, and management objectives also play an important role during this process. Thus, MVCC calculation depends on various datasets comprising physical, ecological, social, economical or political components of the area in consideration. Ecological components, such as important habitats of endangered species and facies formations are considered as reduction factors for calculating MVCC of an area. This paper introduces ecological components identified for Kas-Kekova Special Environmental Protection Area (SEPA), one of the four areas where carrying capacity assessments have been performed in Turkey. Seven flora species were observed in the study area, which contribute to facies formations. Among these, Posidonia oceanica, Zostera marina and Cystoseira sp. were taken as reduction factors because of the direct interaction with mooring and anchoring activities in the area. The habitat of critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal was taken into consideration as another reduction factor because of the probability of cave formation and adjacent area being a sheltering zone for this species. The area coverage of ecological components which were considered as reduction factor was calculated as 2.246 km(2) within the study area (in total 7.387 km(2))