New Record of the Velvet Belly Lanternshark Etmopterus spinax (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Deep Seas of Northern Cyprus
AYAS, Deniz | Çiftçi, Nuray
Lantern sharks are small shark species that can be seen at depths between 70 and 2000 meters. Due to their luminescent characteristics, they have been called “Lantern shark”. In total eleven specimens of the velvet belly lantern shark, Etmopterus spinax (Linnaeus, 1758), were caught in the deep seas of Northern Cyprus by using a bottom trawl. Sampling was carried out using 13 trawling operations. The collected samples were placed in 4% formalin and stored at the Museum of the Systematic, Faculty of Fisheries, Mersin University, (catalogue number: MEUFC-18-11-082). As a sampling area, the depths between 274 and 641 m were selected. Other cartilaginous fish caught during sampling except E. spinax were Galeus melastomus (1 individual), Squalus acanthias (4 individuals), Scyliorhinus ca...
Cranial Morphometrics of a Stranded Common Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821) in Mersin Bay (Northeastern Mediterranean, Turkey)
AYAS, Deniz | Çiftçi, Nuray
On 10 November 2017, a young male common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821), 185 cm in total length (TL), was found dead on the Mersin Marina (36°46'065"N, 34°34'212"E) in Northeastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Measurements of the sample performed and documented. The specimen buried to obtain the skeleton of the individual. At the end of this process, the sample was deposited in the Museum of the Systematic, Faculty of Fisheries, Mersin University, (Catalogue no: MEUMC-17- 11-001). The morphometric measurements can contribute to ongoing fisheries biology and taxonomic studies of T. truncatus from Mediterranean Sea waters. During routine fishing activities, common bottlenose dolphins can be caught in fishing nets and drowned. This issue leads to an extra pop...
Report of Stranding of Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba (Meyen, 1833) in Mersin Bay (Northeastern Mediterranean Sea, Turkey)
AYAS, Deniz | Çiftçi, Nuray
On 08 April 2019, a mature female striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba (Meyen, 1833), 185 cm in length (TL), was found dead across the shores of the Mersin Naval Museum, Mersin on the northeastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Striped dolphins may accidentally enter the fishing nets, which may be one of the reasons for their death. Although this species has been classified as Vulnerable in the IUCN list, considering the frequency of deaths among this species, the necessity to develop species conservation strategies for the Mediterranean was once again proven by the death of this individual.
First record of the big nose shark, Carcharhinus altimus (Springer, 1950) from Mersin Bay
Ayas, Deniz | Çiftçi, Nuray | Yalçın, Esin
The total length of this shark specimen, which caught from a depth of 25 m, is 65.2 cm, and its weight is 2.2 kg. In this study, juvenile C. altimus species are more likely to be born in the Levant basin than the immigration. Their parents are highly likely to be found in the deep waters of the northeastern Mediterranean. This finding may indicate that this circumglobal species may also spread in the Northeast Mediterranean. Thus, continuous studies are needed in this region for further investigation and monitoring of these species. This research will make a significant contribution to many researchers working in this field in the future.
The presence of bristlemouth, Gonostoma denudatum (Rafinesque 1810), from the coast of Northern Cyprus (Northeastern Mediterranean)
AYAS, Deniz | Çiftçi, Nuray
Gonostoma denudatum belonging to Gonostomatidae family are small fishes living in deep-sea around Atlantic and Mediterranean. They are vital species for plastic accumulation because they can be available in all depths of the water column during the day. In this study, it was aimed to present the recent record of G. denudatum, which captured from North Cyprus in May 2018. The total length of the specimen, which obtained from a depth of between 420 and 640 m, is 12.8 cm. Its photograph was taken and the catalogue number (MEUFC-19-11-108) was given. Morphometric characteristics were measured and calculated. The specimen is stored in the Museum of the Systematic, Faculty of Fisheries, Mersin University.
New Record of Carcharhinus brevipinna (Müller Henle, 1839) from Mersin Bay, the Northeastern Mediterranean
Ayas, Deniz | Çiftçi, Nuray
In this study, it was aimed to present the morphometric and meristic data of Carcharhinus brevipinna (Müller & Henle, 1839) which caught from Mersin Bay (coordinate: 36°13'44.8"N34° 01'42.1"E, 36°14'28.2"N 34°02'19.6"E) in February 2019. The total length of this shark specimen, which caught from a depth of 20 m, is 115 cm, and its weight is 11.5 kg. Morphometric measurements of the individual made, its photographs were taken and given the catalog number (MEUFC-19-11-104) and recorded in the Museum of the Systematic, Faculty of Fisheries, Mersin University.
Occurrence of the rabbitfish (Chimaera monstrosa Linnaeus, 1758) in the deep seas of Northern Cyprus, Mediterranean Sea
Çiftçi, Nuray | Ayas, Deniz
Rabbitfish (Chimaera monstrosa, Linnaeus 1758), which is a deep-sea holocephalan mostly seen between 200-1000 m in depth. The specimen of C. monstrosa was caught in the deep-seas of Northern Cyprus by a commercial bottom trawler from Turkey. The depth of sampling area is between 456 and 690 m. Species description fulfilled with the help of morphological features and metric measurements. The specimen was preserved in 4% formaldehyde and deposited in the Museum of the Systematic, Faculty of Fisheries, Mersin University, (Catalogue number: MEUFC-19-11-103).
Metal levels of macroalgae from Iskenderun and Mersin Bay Turkey eastern Mediterranean
Çiftçi, Nuray | AYAS, Deniz
This study aimed to determine metals' concentrations (Cr, Se, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, V, As, Sr, Pb) in macroalgae species sampled from Iskenderun and Mersin Bay between June-October 2018, and these samples were from the depths of 0 to 2 meters. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) technique was used for metal analysis. Differences in the metal levels were analyzed using the ANOVA method. Metal concentrations of samples were found as Fe> Sr> Zn> Cr> Cu> V> Se ≥ As> Pb> Cd and Fe> Sr> Zn> Cr> Pb≥ Cu> V> Se> As> Cd from Iskenderun Bay and Mersin Bay, respectively (p