Abstract:

In this study, which was carried out in the Karaburun-Ildır Bay Special Environmental Protected Area (SEPA) and adjacent waters, the diversity of marine macrofauna and the structure of demersal assemblages were investigated. The samplings were carried out in May 2022 and September 2022. A total of 179 species were identified (121 fish, 58 invertebrates). Penaeus pulchricaudatus, Bregmaceros nectabanus, Champsodon nudivittis, Callionymus filamentosus and Planiliza haematocheilus are non-indigenous species in the study area. Raja radula, Mustelus mustelus, Thunnus thynnus and Epinephelus marginatus are among the threatened fishes in the IUCN Red List. The analysis on demersal community showed that demersal assemblage of the shallow shelf was different from the assemblage of the upper slope and diversity is higher on the shallow shelf than on the upper slope. Species assemblages include commercial species such as Merluccius merluccius, Parapenaeus longirostris, and Mullus barbatus.

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