Proceedings of the Second Mediterranean Symposium on Marine

THE SITUATION OF CAULERPA SPECIES AROUND TURKISH COASTS
ükran CIRIK and Barıs AKÇALI
Çanakkale 18 Mart University Faculty <strong>of</strong> Fisheries Terzioglu Campus 17100 Canakkale/TURKIYE
cirik@comu.edu.tr
ABSTRACT
This paper is about <strong>the</strong> studies which have been done to find out <strong>the</strong> distribution <strong>of</strong>
Caulerpa species around Turkish Coasts (Aegean and <strong>Mediterranean</strong>). With this project it
was targeted to monitor <strong>the</strong> invasion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Caulerpa species existing in <strong>the</strong>
<strong>Mediterranean</strong> coasts. During project, as well as <strong>Mediterranean</strong> endemic species such as
Caulerpa prolifera and Caulerpa ollivieri, <strong>the</strong> Lessepsian species such as Caulerpa
racemosa and its varieties (Caulerpa racemosa var. occidentalis, Caulerpa racemosa
var. lamourouxii form. requenii), Caulerpa scalpelliformis were encountered.
KEYWORDS: Invasive, Lessepsian, Caulerpa, <strong>Mediterranean</strong>
INTRODUCTION
The <strong>Mediterranean</strong> Sea, where many civilisations evolved, is <strong>the</strong> most utilized and
benefited sea by man. Coastal states <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Mediterranean</strong> Basin receive a share more
than 70 % <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world tourism and have been bearing <strong>the</strong> most concentrated human
population. Especially <strong>the</strong> Anatolia and its coasts, due to its climatic, geological and biogeographical
conditions, show a continent characteristics and bears as many species as
that may occur in a continent. <strong>Mediterranean</strong> Sea has a high biodiversity. A rough
estimate <strong>of</strong> more than 8500 species <strong>of</strong> macroscopic marine organisms should live in <strong>the</strong>
<strong>Mediterranean</strong> Sea, corresponding to somewhat between 4% and 18% <strong>of</strong> world marine
species (Bianchi & Morri, 2000).
However, <strong>the</strong> list <strong>of</strong> exotic animals and plants that invaded <strong>the</strong> <strong>Mediterranean</strong> is getting
longer everyday. Besides <strong>the</strong> afore-mentioned Lessepsian migrations, species are
intentionally or accidentally introduced into <strong>the</strong> <strong>Mediterranean</strong> via ship fouling, ballast
waters, aquaculture, trade <strong>of</strong> living bait, wrapping <strong>of</strong> fresh seafood with living algae,
aquariology and even scientific research (Bianchi & Morri, 2000). The last threat, invasion
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> exotic species –in this case lessepsian migratory species –, after <strong>the</strong> opening <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> Channel has increasingly been observed along <strong>the</strong> Anatolian coasts. According to
Boudouresque et al. (2002) <strong>the</strong>re might be 85 introduced species in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Mediterranean</strong>.
At <strong>the</strong> Experts Working Group Meeting, organised by United Nations Environment
Programme in 1998, it was concluded that both Caulerpa racemosa, one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
lessepsian species originated from tropical sea and Caulerpa taxifolia, originated during
ACTES DU DEUXIEME SYMPOSIUM MEDITERRANEEN SUR LA VEGETATION MARINE (ATHENES, 12-13 DECEMBRE 2003)
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