The alien ascidian Styela clava now invading the Sea of Marmara (Tunicata: Ascidiacea)

Abstract

WOS: 000370336900001PubMed ID: 27047235During the implementation of a large project aimed to investigate the benthic community structures of the Sea of Marmara, specimens of the invasive ascidian species Styela clava were collected on natural substrata (rocks) at 10 m depth at one locality (Karamursel) in Izmit Bay. The specimens were mature, containing gametes, indicating that the species had become established in the area. The Sea of Marmara seems to provide suitable conditions for this species to survive and form proliferating populations.TUBITAK ProjectTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [111Y268]The author is indebted to the Benthos team of the Faculty of Fisheries, Ege University for their help during the field and laboratory work, and to Dr. Kate Mortimer (National Museum Wales, UK) for correcting the English of the text. This study was financially supported by the TUBITAK Project (Number: 111Y268)