Research Article

Depth-gradient biometrics of the invasive seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia spreading northward along the Turkish Aegean coast

Volume: 42 Number: 2 June 15, 2025
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Depth-gradient biometrics of the invasive seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia spreading northward along the Turkish Aegean coast

Abstract

The presence of the invasive green alga Caulerpa taxifolia has been documented in the Turkish Aegean Sea, prompting a comprehensive investigation into its depth biometry and ecological interactions. This study sought to assess the distribution, density, and morphological characteristics of C. taxifolia at four distinct depths (10, 15, 20, and 30 m) in Dikili Bay, İzmir, during the summer of 2024. A total of 321 sampling stations were surveyed, and C. taxifolia specimens were identified at four locations. Sampling was performed by SCUBA divers using a 0.4 x 0.4 m quadrat. Biometric measurements included shoot density, stolon length, frond length, and number of pinnae per frond. Environmental parameters such as temperature, salinity, pH, and light intensity were simultaneously recorded to evaluate their influence on algal growth. The internodal distance (frond) on stolon exhibited a range from 18.4 mm at the 15-m depth to 38.4 mm at the 30-m depth. The maximum shoot density (1397 shoots/m2) was recorded at the deepest sampling depth. The minimum density of 343 shoots/m2 was observed at 15 m. The number of fronds (shoots) per stolon showed a gradual decrease with depth up to 20 m. The length of the stolons ranged from 178 mm to 355 mm, with the shortest stolon occurring in the shallowest water, followed by a gradual increase with increasing bottom depth. Frond length exhibited a range from 49.9 mm at 10 m to 87 mm at 20 m, followed by 71 mm at 30 m. Frond width remained within a narrow range of 0.855 cm to 1.1139 cm across the bottom depth. The widest frond was observed at 30 m, while the narrowest frond was recorded at 10 m. A total of 35% of the specimens examined at 10 m were found to be budded, 12% at 15 m, and 7% at 20 m, and 20% at 30 m. The number of branchlets ranged from 6-18 to 156-210, with an average of 76 to 94 and 10-12 per 1 cm frond length.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), project number 124Y031.

Project Number

124Y031

Ethical Statement

The authors declare that all applicable guidelines for sampling, care, and experimental use of animals in the study have been followed.

Thanks

The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) for providing financial support through project number 124Y031. The authors also wish to acknowledge the dedicated efforts and support provided by the crew of the R/V Akdeniz Su during this project.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Hydrobiology , Aquaculture and Fisheries (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

June 14, 2025

Publication Date

June 15, 2025

Submission Date

May 15, 2025

Acceptance Date

June 2, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 1970 Volume: 42 Number: 2

APA
Mutlu, E., Akçalı, B., Özvarol, Y., Zabun, Z., Narlı, Z., & Aslan, B. E. (2025). Depth-gradient biometrics of the invasive seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia spreading northward along the Turkish Aegean coast. Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 42(2), 158-172. https://doi.org/10.12714/egejfas.42.2.08

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