Distribution and species richness of seagrass meadows in the Sea of Marmara

Creative Commons License

Karadurmuş U., Akkuş M., Sarı M.

MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, sa.208, ss.1-10, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107097
  • Dergi Adı: MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Aqualine, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, Environment Index, Geobase, Metadex, Pollution Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database, DIALNET, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-10
  • Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Comprehensive data on seagrass distribution and species richness in the Sea of Marmara (SoM) are absent from

global seagrass mapping, hindering long-term monitoring and practical protection efforts for these vital

meadows. This study aims to assess the species richness, spatial distribution patterns, and fundamental ecological

aspects of seagrass meadows in the SoM, which serves as a crucial transition zone between the Black Sea and the

Mediterranean Sea. The data set was obtained through a series of underwater surveys conducted between June

and September 2024 at 140 surveyed stations, covering a total area of about 0.534 km2. Spatial and speciesspecific

surface area (m2), cover percentage (%), and depth limits (m) of seagrass meadows were estimated

from underwater records collected along line transects. Seagrass meadows constituted 51.9 % of the area surveyed

in the SoM, covering an area of 0.277 km2. Results revealed a rich diversity of seagrass species within the

SoM, identifying four species: Cymodocea nodosa, Posidonia oceanica, Zostera marina, and Z. noltei. C. nodosa was

the most common species, occupying 82.8 % (0.230 km2) of the total surface area. The lower depth limits of

seagrasses in the SoM were shallower than in other Mediterranean regions, with P. oceanica at 15.7 m and

C. nodosa at 11.1 m. This limitation attributed to reductions in light penetration caused by high primary production

and excessive pollution loads in the SoM. In conclusion, this dataset includes the first underwater

observation-based mapping and identification of new areas for seagrass species in the SoM, contributing to

distribution maps for the Mediterranean basin.