Species composition of the tintinnids found in the neritic water of Bozcaada Island, Aegean Sea, Turkey

Abstract

This study on the species composition of tintinnids was carried out from 2000 to 2001 in surface water of the Aegean Sea near Bozcaada Island, Turkey. The samples were collected with horizontal tows from the subsurface (0.5 m) with a 55 mu m plankton net at four stations. A total of 36 tintinnid species were identified according to their lorica shape as the usual important criterion, and four of which [Codonella galea Haeckel, Eutintinnus tubulosus (Ostenfeld) Kofoid and Campbell, Parundella aculeata (Jorgensen) Kofoid and Campbell, and Protorhabdonella curia (Cleve) Jorgensen] were new for Turkish coastal waters. Two genera, Favella and Eutintinnus, dominated in terms of species number. Eutintinnus lusus-undae and Rhabdonella spiralis were the most common species found during the sampling periods. Primary hydrographic conditions, such as salinity (32.2-37.8 practical salinity units), temperature (13.7-23 degrees C) and dissolved oxygen (7.47-9.67 mg L-1) were recorded on each sampling occasion.