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Alien species of spionid polychaetes (Streblospio gynobranchiata and Polydora cornuta) in Izmir Bay, eastern Mediterranean

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2005

Melih Ertan Çinar
Affiliation:
Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Hydrobiology, 35100, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey
Zeki Ergen
Affiliation:
Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Hydrobiology, 35100, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey
Ertan Dagli
Affiliation:
Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Hydrobiology, 35100, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey
Mary E. Petersen
Affiliation:
Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark Darling Marine Center, University of Maine, 193 Clark's Cove Road, Walpole, ME 04573, USA
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Abstract

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The present study reports the occurrence of two exotic species of polychaetes in Izmir Bay, the eastern Mediterranean: Streblospio gynobranchiata, newly reported for the Mediterranean, and Polydora cornuta. Their establishment in the area is most probably transport by ballast water since these two species greatly dominated polluted muddy bottoms near and in Alsancak Harbour. The maximum density and biomass of S. gynobranchiata in the area were 34,270 ind m−2 and 9·4 g wwt m−2, and those of P. cornuta were 3170 ind m−2 and 2·1 g wwt m−2, respectively. These two species accounted for more than 60% of total faunal populations in the majority of samples collected in winter. Both species are capable of reproducing in the area both in summer and winter. The morphological, ecological and distributional characteristics of these species as well as their impacts on the prevailing ecosystem are analysed and discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2005 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom