OPHELIA, cilt.50, sa.1, ss.1-20, 1999 (SCI-Expanded)
Macrofouling organisms and their developments on asbestos-cement panels submerged in a polluted marina (Levent Marina) and an unpolluted marina (Altinyunus Marina) between September-1993 and September-1994 were studied through the analysis of species composition and community structure including Diversity (H') and Evenness (T'). Panels were submerged in the two marinas for different periods: short-time panels (3 months) were used for determining seasonal developments of the organisms, and long-time panels (6, 9 and 12 months) for assessing fouling succession. In the polluted site 39 species were identified, of which 15 were motile or non-attached forms, whereas 23 species including 4 motile or non-attached forms occurred in the unpolluted site. Seven species were common in both sites, showing a big difference between sites in terms of species composition. Settlement in the sites was always higher on panels submerged in September and March, whereas it was at a minimum on panels submerged in December. Diversity and evenness in the polluted site were relatively low compared with those in the unpolluted ones, because of the high dominance levels of some species, Hydroides Elegans, Balanus eburneus and B. amphitrite. The wet weight of fouling and the fouling intensity were lower in the unpolluted than in the polluted site.