Comprehensive Biometric Study on the Invasive Seaweed, Caulerpa mexicana,  in the Aegean Sea

Erhan Mutlu; Yaşar Özvarol; Barış Akçalı; Berivan Elif Aslan; Zeynep Narlı; Zeynep Zabun

Makale detayları

Comprehensive Biometric Study on the Invasive Seaweed, Caulerpa mexicana, in the Aegean Sea

Yazarlar:

Erhan Mutlu | Yaşar Özvarol | Barış Akçalı | Berivan Elif Aslan | Zeynep Narlı | Zeynep Zabun

Yayıncı:

Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University

Ana Başlıklar:

Biyolojik Oşinografi | Fiziksel Oşinografi

Dergi:

Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Journal of Marine Sciences and Fisheries Vol.8 Issue 1, pp.46-63

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

7/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354699

pISSN:

2651-5326

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 The present study investigates the occurrence and biometry of the invasive seaweed Caulerpa mexicana in the Gulf of İzmir, Aegean Sea, thereby highlighting its ecological implications in a region increasingly affected by biological invasions. The Mediterranean basin, especially the eastern and Aegean parts, is becoming a hotspot for non-native species, and the region may be a place of interest with the occurrence of the C. mexicana species. This research represents the first detailed assessment of its biometric characteristics in the Levant-Aegean Basin. The studys sampling was conducted from May to August 2024 at 321 stations along the Aegean coast, and C. mexicana was identified at only two specific sites. The species was found in shallow coastal waters at depths of 10 m and 15 m with densities of 630 shootsm² and 469 shootsm², respectively. Morphometric analysis revealed frond lengths ranging from 10 to 12.5 centimeters and widths from 7 to 9 millimeters, with a significant correlation between frond length and number of pinnae. Environmental parameters such as temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen were measured, providing a context for the species habitat preferences. The findings underscore the invasive potential of C. mexicana and its capacity to perturb local marine ecosystems, highlighting the necessity for persistent monitoring and management strategies to mitigate its deleterious effects.

 The present study investigates the occurrence and biometry of the invasive seaweed Caulerpa mexicana in the Gulf of İzmir, Aegean Sea, thereby highlighting its ecological implications in a region increasingly affected by biological invasions. The Mediterranean basin, especially the eastern and Aegean parts, is becoming a hotspot for non-native species, and the region may be a place of interest with the occurrence of the C. mexicana species. This research represents the first detailed assessment of its biometric characteristics in the Levant-Aegean Basin. The studys sampling was conducted from May to August 2024 at 321 stations along the Aegean coast, and C. mexicana was identified at only two specific sites. The species was found in shallow coastal waters at depths of 10 m and 15 m with densities of 630 shootsm² and 469 shootsm², respectively. Morphometric analysis revealed frond lengths ranging from 10 to 12.5 centimeters and widths from 7 to 9 millimeters, with a significant correlation between frond length and number of pinnae. Environmental parameters such as temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen were measured, providing a context for the species habitat preferences. The findings underscore the invasive potential of C. mexicana and its capacity to perturb local marine ecosystems, highlighting the necessity for persistent monitoring and management strategies to mitigate its deleterious effects.

 The present study investigates the occurrence and biometry of the invasive seaweed Caulerpa mexicana in the Gulf of İzmir, Aegean Sea, thereby highlighting its ecological implications in a region increasingly affected by biological invasions. The Mediterranean basin, especially the eastern and Aegean parts, is becoming a hotspot for non-native species, and the region may be a place of interest with the occurrence of the C. mexicana species. This research represents the first detailed assessment of its biometric characteristics in the Levant-Aegean Basin. The studys sampling was conducted from May to August 2024 at 321 stations along the Aegean coast, and C. mexicana was identified at only two specific sites. The species was found in shallow coastal waters at depths of 10 m and 15 m with densities of 630 shootsm² and 469 shootsm², respectively. Morphometric analysis revealed frond lengths ranging from 10 to 12.5 centimeters and widths from 7 to 9 millimeters, with a significant correlation between frond length and number of pinnae. Environmental parameters such as temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen were measured, providing a context for the species habitat preferences. The findings underscore the invasive potential of C. mexicana and its capacity to perturb local marine ecosystems, highlighting the necessity for persistent monitoring and management strategies to mitigate its deleterious effects.

 Mevcut çalışma, İzmir Körfezi, Ege Denizindeki istilacı deniz yosunu Caulerpa mexicananın bulunmasını ve biyometrisini araştırarak, biyolojik istilalardan giderek daha fazla etkilenen bir bölgedeki ekolojik etkilerini vurgulamaktadır. Akdeniz havzası, özellikle doğu ve Ege kesimleri, yerli olmayan türler için bir sıcak nokta haline gelmektedir ve C. mexicana türünün görülmesi ile bölge dikkat çekebilir. Bu araştırma, Ege-Levant Havzasındaki biyometrik özelliklerinin ilk ayrıntılı değerlendirmesini temsil etmektedir. Çalışmanın örneklemesi Mayıs-Ağustos 2024 arasında Ege kıyısı boyunca 321 istasyonda yürütülmüş ve C. mexicana yalnızca iki belirli noktada tanımlanmıştır. Tür, sırasıyla 630 sürgünm² ve 469 sürgünm² yoğunlukta, 10 m ve 15 m derinlikteki sığ kıyı sularında bulunmuştur. Morfometrik analiz, yaprak uzunluklarının 10 ila 12,5 santimetre ve genişliklerinin 7 ila 9 milimetre arasında değiştiğini ve yaprak uzunluğu ile pinnae sayısı arasında önemli bir korelasyon olduğunu ortaya koydu. Sıcaklık, tuzluluk ve çözünmüş oksijen gibi çevresel parametreler ölçülerek türün habitat tercihleri için bir ilişki sağlandı. Bulgular, C. mexicana türünün istilacı potansiyelini ve yerel deniz ekosistemlerini bozma kapasitesini vurgulayarak, zararlı etkilerini azaltmak için sürekli izleme ve yönetim stratejilerinin gerekliliğini belirtmiştir.

Makale detayları

Comprehensive Biometric Study on the Invasive Seaweed, Caulerpa mexicana, in the Aegean Sea

Yazarlar:

Erhan Mutlu | Yaşar Özvarol | Barış Akçalı | Berivan Elif Aslan | Zeynep Narlı | Zeynep Zabun

Yayıncı:

Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University

Ana Başlıklar:

Biyolojik Oşinografi | Fiziksel Oşinografi

Dergi:

Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Journal of Marine Sciences and Fisheries Vol.8 Issue 1, pp.46-63

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

7/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354699

pISSN:

2651-5326

Caulerpa mexicana

Non-indigenous species

invasive

biometry

Aegean SeaCaulerpa mexicana

yerli olmayan tür

istilacı

biyometri

Ege Denizi

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Erhan Mutlu | Yaşar Özvarol | Barış Akçalı | Berivan Elif Aslan | Zeynep Narlı | Zeynep Zabun

Yayıncı: Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University

Ana Başlıklar: Biyolojik Oşinografi | Fiziksel Oşinografi

Dergi: Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Journal of Marine Sciences and Fisheries Vol.8 Issue 1, pp.46-63

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 7/2025

Belge Dili: İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.): 2001354699

pISSN: 2651-5326

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Erhan Mutlu | Yaşar Özvarol | Barış Akçalı | Berivan Elif Aslan | Zeynep Narlı | Zeynep Zabun

Yayıncı:

Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University

Ana Başlıklar:

Biyolojik Oşinografi | Fiziksel Oşinografi

Dergi:

Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Journal of Marine Sciences and Fisheries Vol.8 Issue 1, pp.46-63

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

7/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354699

pISSN:

2651-5326