Meiofauna, microflora and geochemical properties of the late quaternary (Holocene) core sediments in the Gulf of Izmir (Eastern Aegean Sea, Turkey)

WOS: 000389388700029The Gulf of Izmir has seen the construction of marinas at four locations; Karsiyaka, Bayrakli, inciralti and Urla (Cesmealti). Six drilling holes have been structured for each location. Morphological abnormities observed in foraminifer tests, obtained from these core drillings, and coloring encountered in both foraminifer tests and ostracod carapeces, provide evidence of natural and unnatural environmental pollution. The objectives of this study are to identify micro and macro fauna, foraminifers in particular, contained within sediments in the above-mentioned locations; to investigate the background of pollution in the Gulf Region; and to determine pollution's impact upon benthic foraminifer and ostracods. Cesmealti foraminifera tests did not lead to color and morphological changes. But foraminifera tests samples collected from Karsiyaka, Bayrakli and Inciralti led them to turn black (Plate 4-6). However, concentrations of heavy metals (Ni, Cr and Mn) obtained from the sediments of Karsiyaka, Bayrakli and Inciralti locations are higher than those obtained from the cesmealti samples and high concentrations of these elements may be the cause of the color change in the samples during the foraminifera tests. In Karsiyaka and Bayrakli ostracod samples, Bosquetina carinella, Pterygocythereis jonesi, Semicytherura species; in the Cesmealti/Urla zone, Cyprideis torosa; in Inciralti, Pseudopsammocythere reniformis; and in four zones, Loxoconcha and Xestoleberis species were observed in the range of relative frequency. The same analyses were done on nannoplankton but they did not lead to color and morphological changes

Drilling and core data from the Gulf of Gemlik (SE Sea of Marmara): Holocene fauna and flora assemblages

*Yıldız, Ayşegül ( Aksaray, Yazar )This study was conducted to determine fauna and flora assemblages of Holocene sequences from Gemlik Gulf (SE Marmara Sea) and to obtaine their similarities and differences between the assemblages of Gemlik and İzmit Bays. Total of 201 dark gray colored, fine to medium grained sandy clay samples were studied. In the drilled samples, 22 genera and 38 species were identified from the foraminifera characterizing the infralittoral zone. 40 genera and 58 species of foraminifera characterizing the upper circalittoral zone were identified. In addition, Black Sea originated Ammonia parasovica was found for the first time in cores taken from Gemlik Gulf. Nannofossil species characterizing the open-shallow marine environment Emiliania huxleyi, Reticulofenestra parvula, Coronosphaera spp., Syracosphaera spp., Helicosphaera spp. beside Gephyrocapsa oceanica, small Gephyrocapsa spp., Scyphosphaera porosa were obtained. A total of 27 genera and 37 species from ostracods were defined in the samples from gulf. Moreover, the quite abundant mollusc assemblage characterizing the shallow marine environment and fewer genera and species of diatoms were identified. The studied sequence is represented by NN21 Emiliania huxleyi biozone at the Holocene. Foraminifers and ostracods of the Gemlik Gulf are observed as Mediterranean-Aegean Sea originated assemblages. The mollusc shows the shallow marine community