Distribution of Ascidians with a New Record of the Non-Indigenous Species Polyclinum constellatum Savigny, 1816 from the Aegean Coast of Turkey

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Aydin-Onen S.

TURKISH JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES, vol.18, no.9, pp.1077-1089, 2018 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 18 Issue: 9
  • Publication Date: 2018
  • Doi Number: 10.4194/1303-2712-v18_9_07
  • Journal Name: TURKISH JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.1077-1089
  • Keywords: Tunicates, non-indigenous ascidians, invasive species, Aegean Sea, Polyclinum constellatum, RAPID ASSESSMENT SURVEY, HARBOR IZMIR BAY, CHORDATA TUNICATA, FOULING ORGANISMS, SEA, BIODIVERSITY, COMMUNITIES, ASSEMBLAGES, MARINAS, REGION
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The current study attempts to investigate the distribution of ascidian species collected from eight stations located along the eastern coasts of Aegean Sea, Turkey. Forthis purpose, field studies wereconducted inJuly 2016. This study revealed the occurrence of 14 ascidian species belonging to 7 families and 12 genera. The invasive species Polyclinum constellatum Savigny, 1816 isreported for the first time from Turkish waters and for the second time in the Mediterranean Sea. Furthermore, Symplegma brakenhielmi (Michaelsen, 1904) is found as a new recordfor the Turkish Aegean Sea fauna. Knowledge about the ascidian diversity of the Turkish Seas is still incomplete andlarge-scale surveys, additional taxonomic and molecular studies are needed.