Research Article

Artificial seagrass experiments in the Northeast Mediterranean

Volume: 38 Number: 3 September 15, 2021
TR EN

Artificial seagrass experiments in the Northeast Mediterranean

Abstract



Seagrasses provide important nursery grounds, shelter and natural habitats for juvenile fish. In this study, we evaluated if artificially created seagrass areas can play the same role as the natural seagrass (NS) habitats. The study was carried out in three different stations on the coast of Yumurtalık, Adana, selected according to the seagrass areas. Artificial seagrass (AS) was made of polypropylene ribbon and fixed on the ground in the designated areas with a depth of 0.5 m on average. Sampling was carried out with a beach seine net once a week at stations between 28 April 2016 and 11 August 2016. Sampled fish were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Based on our results, the fish abundance and species richness of NS and AS habitats were not statistically different, whereas the both parameters were significantly lower in sandy (S) habitats (p<0.001). Moreover, the species composition of NS and AS habitats was found to be similar each other, whereas the composition was significantly different in S habitats. This study, conducted in the Northeast Mediterranean, shows that AS habitats effect the distribution of juvenile fish.


Keywords

Supporting Institution

Scientific Research Project Unit of Çukurova University

Project Number

FYL-2016-5507

Thanks

This work is a part of MSc thesis named “Effect on the juvenile fish distribution of artificial seagrass”, It was supported by the Scientific Research Project Unit of Çukurova University (FYL-2016-5507).

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Ecology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 15, 2021

Submission Date

January 25, 2021

Acceptance Date

May 19, 2021

Published in Issue

Year 2021 Volume: 38 Number: 3

APA
Yılmaz, Ö., Mavruk, S., & Gökçe, G. (2021). Artificial seagrass experiments in the Northeast Mediterranean. Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 38(3), 355-364. https://doi.org/10.12714/egejfas.38.3.12