Scleractinian diversity in the Dardanelles and Marmara Sea (Turkey): morphology, ecology and distributional patterns

Özalp, H. Bariş; Alparslan, Mustafa

doi:10.1515/ohs-2016-0023

Figures & Tables

GPS-supported map of the study stations in the Dardanelles and Marmara Sea

Wide-angle photo of Polycyathus muellerae showing the measured diameters of the coral colony in situ (D1: Width 1; D2: Width 2; H: Height of the colony from the substrate level)

Skeleton image of Madracis pharensis under a microscope. Calix, Septa, Columella, Coralites and Coenosteum structure around the corallites. (Ca: calix, Se: septa, Col: columella, Cor: corallites, Co: coenosteum)

Skeleton images of Cladocora caespitosa under a microscope. Calix, Septa, Columella (left), adjacent corallites, coenosteum part behind the corallites (middle) and theca structure (right). (Ca: calix, Se: septa, Col: columella, Cor: corallites, Co: coenosteum, the: theca)

Skeleton image of Caryophyllia smithii under a microscope. Calix, Columella (left), septa (middle) and theca (right) structure of corallite. (Ca: calix, Se: septa, Col: columella, Cor: corallites, the: theca)

Skeleton image of Caryophyllia inornata. Calix, columella, septa, palus (left) and theca structure of corallite (right). (Ca: calix, Se: septa, Col: columella, Cor: corallites, the: theca, pa: palus)

Skeleton image of Paracyathus pulchellus. Calix (left), columella, septa, palus (middle) and theca structure of corallite (right). (Ca: calix, Se: septa, Col: columella, Cor: corallites, the: theca, pa: palus)

Skeleton image of Polycyathus muellerae. Calix, septa, palus (left), columella, theca (middle two) and colony structure of corallites (right). (Ca: calix, Se: septa, Col: columella, Cor: corallites, the: theca, pa: palus)

Skeleton image of Phyllangia mouchezii. Calix (left), septa, columella (two middle) and theca structure of corallite (right). (Ca: calix, Se: septa, Col: columella, Cor: corallites, the: theca)

Skeleton image of Balanophyllia europaea. Calix, septa (left), columella (two middle) and theca structure of corallite (right). (Ca: calix, Se: septa, Col: columella, Cor: corallites, the: theca)

Skeleton image of Leptopsammia pruvoti. Calix, columella, septa (left), columella (middle left), juvenile corallite (middle right) and theca structure of corallite (right). (Ca: calix, Se: septa, Col: columella, Cor: corallites, the: theca)

Dominance values of solitary and colonial corals

Frequency of coral species evaluated over stations

Depth-related distribution of the total mean number of individuals of solitary corals and the total number of colonies in colonial corals

Similarity between the scleractinian species in relation to the sampling stations (Bray-Curtis index)

A: Correspondence analysis of solitary coral species with replicated quadrats in relation to stations/depth. Only stations with more than two species were assessed, while stations with only one species were excluded from the assessment. B: Correspondence analysis of colonial coral species in relation to stations/depth. (a,b,c,d,e,f: Depth ranges; the numbers with letters as “1,2,3,4”: replicate numbers)

A. Cladocora caespitosa colony on the sandy substrate around the Posidonia beds at 7 m depth (Scale bar: 5 cm); B. Cladocora caespitosa colony on the rocky substrate at 19 m depth; C. Polycyathus muellerae colonies at 34 m depth; D. Phyllangia mouchezii colony on the rocky overhang at 19 m depth; E. Madracis pharensis colonies strongly associated with the coralligenous outcrops on the rock ceiling at 25 m depth; F. Balanophyllia europaea corallites on a stony substrate between 2 and 23 m depth; G. Caryophyllia inornata corallites associated with the calcareous sponges on the rock ceiling at 21 m depth; H. Leptopsammia pruvoti corallites on the rocky overhang at 36 m depth; I. Caryophyllia smithii corallites on the rocky substrate between 6 and 29 m depth; J. Paracyathus pulchellus corallites on the rocky substrate at 24 m depth. (Scale bar for all figures except figure A: 1 cm)

Rock-based percent cover of P_ muellerae at Station 45, C_ caespitosa at Station 1, P_ mouchezii at Station 2 and M_ pharensis at Stations 1 and 45

Colony’s number	Cover Area (m²)	Surface Area of Rock (m²)	Percent Cover on Rock (%)
P. muellerae
p¹	0.009	0.33	2.72
p²	0.036	0.42	8.57
p³	0.09	0.33	27.27
p⁴	0.03	0.19	15.7
p⁵	0.039	0.18	21.6
p⁶	0.032	1.01	3.16
p⁷	0.03	0.3	10
p⁸	0.15	0.68	22.05
p⁹	0.036	0.33	10.9
p¹⁰	4.8	7.6	63.15
p¹¹	2.2	2.76	79.71
p¹²	1.1	3	36.6
p¹³	15.1	20	75.5
p¹⁴	0.08	1.15	6.95
p¹⁵	0.12	0.15	80
p¹⁶	0.02	0.18	11.1
p¹⁷	0.03	1.26	2.38
p¹⁸	0.34	1.25	27.2
p¹⁹	0.14	1.54	9.09
p²⁰	0.17	0.25	68
p²¹	0.1	0.5	20
p²²	0.14	0.25	56
p²³	0.09	0.3	30
p²⁴	0.05	1.33	3.75
p²⁵	0.14	0.87	16.09
p²⁶	0.2	1.2	16.6
p²⁷	0.13	1.4	9.28
p²⁸	0.28	1.11	25.22
p²⁹	0.12	2.52	4.76
p³⁰	0.08	0.6	13.3
p³¹	0.29	2.43	11.93
p³²	0.3	1.5	20
p³³	0.08	0.9	8.8
p³⁴	0.3	1.14	26.31
p³⁵	0.6	3.36	17.85
p36	0.35	0.48	72.91
p37	0.09	0.8	11.25
C. caespitosa
c¹	0.057	0.095	60
c²	0.027	0.09	30
c³	0.048	0.096	50
c⁴	0.056	0.08	70
c⁵	0.026	0.34	7.64
c⁶	0.2	0.2	100
c⁷	0.07	0.093	75.26
c⁸	0.023	0.04	57.5
c⁹	0.029	0.029	100
c¹⁰	0.018	0.02	90
c¹¹	0.075	0.075	100
c¹²	0.022	0.028	78.57
c¹³	0.033	0.88	3.75
c¹⁴	0.008	0.06	13.3
c¹⁵	0.036	0.072	50
c¹⁶	0.18	0.39	46.15
c¹⁷	0.21	0.21	100
c¹⁸	0.022	0.16	13.75
P. mouchezii
p^m1	0.2	0.6	33.3
M. pharensis
m¹	0.23	2.08	11.05
m²	0.34	0.64	53.12
m³	0.19	1.12	16.96
m⁴	0.27	1.88	14.36

Colonial corals, morphological diameters and coral cover values assessed per station

	TNC	Covering Area	Total Biomass	Length	Width	Height
	TNC	(cm²)	(g)	(cm)
	Mean±SE (Range)
Madracis pharensis
Station 1	674.5±329.5 (345-1004)	2850±550 (2300-3400)	285.3±87.15 (198-372)	77±1 (76-78)	37.5±7.5 (30-45)	6±1 (5-7)
Station 45	761±41 (720-802)	2340±400 (1900-2700)	70.09±12.31 (57-82)	64±4 (60-68)	36±4 (32-40)	3±1 (2-4)
Cladocora caespitosa
Station 1	112±17 (16-300)	630±150 (80-2100)	4.979±0.384 (2.81-9.9)	29.83±3.113 (17-61)	19.28±2.15 (10-39)	9.17±1.17 (2-19)
Station 2	214±84 (64-355)	520±100 (350-710)	2.873±0.576 (2.1-4)	26.67±2.96 (21-31)	19.23±1.86 (17-23)	8.33±2.33 (4-12)
Station 3	251±19 (67-1000)	2400±140 (570-6900)	5.412±0.185 (2.64-10.14)	56.77±1.59 (30-96)	41.31±1.38 (19-72)	8.4±0.35 (3-20)
Station 4*	112 (112)	300 (300)	3.43 (3.43)	26 (26)	14 (14)	5 (5)
Station 20	1518±1408 (110-2925)	1240±1160 (80-2400)	5.48±1.22 (4.26-6.69)	31±32.5 (23-54)	28±25.5 (10-46)	14±14.1 (4-24)
Station 24*	78 (78)	800 (800)	5.54 (5.54)	30 (30)	27 (27)	8 (8)
Station 41*	23 (23)	100 (100)	3.44 (3.44)	15 (15)	7 (7)	3 (3)
Polycyathus muellerae
Station 1	73±12 (19-270)	610±170 (100-4600)	4.082±0.35 (1.9-8.6)	20.69±2.18 (9-60)	28.54±2.65 (13-78)	5.11±0.5 (2-11)
Station 2	71±12 (32-136)	240±50 (140-600)	4.537±0.422 (1.8-5.75)	10.44±1.21 (7-18)	22.78±2.17 (18-34)	5.67±1.08 (2-11)
Station 21*	40 (40)	100 (100)	3.1 (3.1)	8 (8)	21 (21)	3 (3)
Station 45	228±52 (30-1600)	7540±4220 (90-151000)	3.585±0.152 (1.94-5.6)	47.7±9.74 (6-345)	66.4±13.5 (15-440)	6.56±0.61 (2-17)
Station 51*	90 (90)	700 (700)	4.66 (4.66)	30 (30)	26 (26)	6 (6)
Station 52*	40 (40)	100 (100)	3.51 (3.51)	10 (10)	15 (15)	2 (2)
Station 56*	140 (140)	1200 (1200)	4.4 (4.4)	30 (30)	40 (40)	4 (4)
Station 103	37±7 (23-55)	20±3 (10-30)	3.105±0.434 (2.17-4.21)	4.75±0.47 (4-6)	5.5±0.95 (4-8)	3.5±0.28 (3-4)
Station 104*	46 (46)	200 (200)	4.88 (4.88)	10 (10)	20 (20)	4 (4)
Station 108	212±176 (36-388)	950±850 (100-180)	4.045±0.205 (3.84-4.25)	19±5 (14-24)	43.5±31.5 (12-75)	7.5±4.5 (3-12)
Station 109*	41 (41)	400 (400)	2.23 (2.23)	22 (22)	21 (21)	4 (4)
Station 110*	86 (86)	900 (900)	3.24 (3.24)	22 (22)	41 (41)	4 (4)
Station 117	108±21 (10-423)	510±100 (30-1700)	4.66±0.2193.12-6.22	16.29±2.335-54	19.95±1.997-40	4.04±0.512-12
Station 140*	12 (12)	20 (20)	1.68 (1.68)	4 (4)	7 (7)	4 (4)
Phyllangia mouchezii
Station 2*	210 (210)	2000 (2000)	17 (17)	41 (0-41)	55 (0-55)	21 (0-21)

Solitary corals, morphological diameters calculated per station

	TNI	Total Biomass	Length	Height
	TNI	(g)	(cm)
	Mean±SE (Range)
Caryophyllia smithii
Station 6*	18 (18)	28.53 (28.53)	0.65±0.15 (0.5-0.8)	1.2±0.2 (1-1.4)
Station 27*	18 (18)	10.42 (10.42)	0.34±0.05 (0.15-0.5)	0.96±0.06 (0.6-1.2)
Station 103*	18 (18)	15.63 (15.63)	0.59±0.03 (0.4-0.9)	0.76±0.05 (0.5-1.2)
Station 140	96±128 (6-187)	18.43±11.78 (10.1-26.76)	1.87±0.11 (1.69-2.1)	1.67±0.19 (1.4-1.8)
Station 141*	31 (31)	24.66 (24.66)	1.74±0.09 (1.59-1.82)	1.56±0.06 (1.5-1.7)
Station 142*	131 (131)	8.24 (8.24)	1.92±0.11 (1.69-2.1)	1.64±0.15 (1.5-1.8)
Caryophyllia inornata
Station 1*	6 (6)	2.49±0.67 (2.01-2.97)	0.65±0.15 (0.5-0.8)	1.2±0.2 (1-1.4)
Station 45	16±9 (6-25)	2.61±0.57 (1.98-3.09)	0.34±0.05 (0.15-0.5)	0.96±0.06 (0.6-1.2)
Station 103*	137 (137)	2.91 (2.91-2.91)	0.59±0.03 (0.4-0.9)	0.76±0.05 (0.5-1.2)
Station 117*	6 (6)	1.88 (1.88-1.88)	0.6 (0.6-0.6)	0.9 (0.9-0.9)
Paracyathus pulchellus
Station 1*	18 (8)	8.8 (8.8)	0.6±0.06 (0.6-0.8)	1.1±0.5 (1-1.2)
Station 2*	12 (12)	8.21 (8-21)	0.6±0.1 (0.5-0.7)	1.05±0.05 (1.-1.1)
Station 45	8±5 (6-18)	9.15±0.88 (7.89-10.11)	0.87±0.14 (0.5-1.2)	1.4±0.15 (1-1.7)
Station 51*	6 (6)	9.13±1.52 (8.05-10.2)	1.05±0.05 (1-1.1)	1.45±0.05 (1.4-1.5)
Station 52*	6 (6)	9 (6)	1.8 (1.8)	1.5 (1.5)
Station 56*	12 (12)	8.77 (6)	0.9±0.3 (0.6-1.2)	1.35±0.35 (1-1.7)
Station 103*	18 (18)	6 (6)	0.8±0.1 (0.7-1)	1.2±0.15 (1-1.5)
Station 104*	6 (6)	7.55 (7.55)	0.5 (0.5)	1 (1)
Station 108*	6 (6)	6.54 (6.54)	0.7 (0.7)	1.2 (1.2)
Station 117*	6 (6)	11.3 (11.3)	0.7 (0.7)	1.1 (1.1)
Balanophyllia europaea
Station 1*	12 (12)	29.9 (29.9-29.9)	1.65±0.25 (1.4-1.9)	2.65±0.15 (2.5-2.8)
Station 2*	6 (6)	24 (24-24)	1.4 (1.4-1.4)	2.5 (2.5-2.5)
Station 3*	6 (6)	21.98 (21.98-21.98)	0.6 (0.6-0.6)	1.6 (1.6-1.6)
Station 9*	6 (6)	25 (25-25)	1 (1-1)	2.1 (2.1-2.1)
Station 10*	6 (6)	21.28 (21.28-21.28)	1.9 (1.9-1.9)	3 (3)
Station 11*	12 (12)	13.9 (13.9-13.9)	0.75±0.05 (0.7-0.8)	1.75±0.15 (1.6-1.9)
Station 18*	12 (12)	10.66 (10.66-10.66)	0.75±0.05 (0.7-0.8)	1.35±0.15 (1.2-1.5)
Station 20*	6 (6)	33.95 (33.95)	0.7 (0.7)	1.6 (1.6)
Station 23*	6 (6)	28.3 (28.3)	1.8 (1.8)	2.3 (2.3)
Station 24*	12 (12)	20 (20)	1.4±0.3 (1.1-1.7)	2.5±0.1 (2.4-2.6)
Station 26*	6 (6)	24.41 (24.41)	1.1 (1.1)	1.9 (1.9)
Station 27	122±116 (6-237)	32.97±4.53 (28.44-37.5)	1.32±0.07 (0.5-2.4)	2.54±0.1 (1.2-3.9)
Station 30*	12 (12)	12.65 (12.65)	0.7±0.1 (0.6-0.8)	1.3±0.1 (1.2-1.4)
Station 35*	12 (12)	14.2 (14.2)	1.15±0.05 (1.1-1.2)	2.2±0.3 (1.9-2.5)
Station 38*	18 (18)	12.47 (12.47)	1.4±0.11 (1.2-1.6)	2.43±0.32 (1.8-2.9)
Station 39*	18 (18)	11.98 (11.98)	1.73±0.12 (1.5-1.9)	2.5±0.2 (2.2-2.9)
Station 40*	18 (18)	10.1 (10.1)	1.36±0.03 (1.3-1.4)	2.36±0.06 (2.3-2.5)
Station 41*	6 (6)	15.45 (15.45)	1.1 (1.1)	1.8 (1.8)
Station 42*	6 (6)	15 (15)	1.3 (1.3)	1.9 (1.9)
Station 43*	6 (6)	14.64 (14.64)	0.8 (0.8)	1.9 (1.9)
Station 44*	6 (6)	12.08 (12.08)	1.3 (1.3)	2.2 (1.9)
Station 103*	6 (6)	42 (42)	1.6 (1.6)	2.5 (2.5)
Station 117*	6 (6)	16.76 (16.76)	2.3 (2.3)	2.2 (2.2)
Station 119*	6 (6)	11.4 (11.4)	1.1 (1.1)	2 (2)
Leptopsammia pruvoti
Station 1	87±6 (81-93)	7.79±0.63 (7.16-8.42)	1.57±0.04 (1.2-1.5)	1.09±0.02 (0.8-1.4)
Station 2	49±12 (37-62)	4.21±0.1 (4.11-4.32)	1.59±0.06 (1.2-1.5)	1.08±0.03 (0.8-1.4)
Station 21*	6 (6)	4.19 (4.19-4.19)	1.5 (1.5)	1.1 (1.1)
Station 45	124±56 (68-181)	11.67±3.03 (6.64-14.7)	1.41±0.02 (1.1-1.4)	2.41±0.12 (1.5-3.9)
Station 51*	6 (6)	11.18 (11.18)	1.5 (1.5)	1.1 (1.1)
Station 52*	6 (6)	12.43 (12.43)	1.3 (1.3)	1.5 (1.5)
Station 56*	6 (6)	9.86 (9.86)	1.5 (1.5)	3 (3-3)
Station 104*	6 (6)	8.89 (8.89)	1.4 (1.5)	1.4 (1.4)
Station 108*	6 (6)	18.85 (18.85)	1.4 (1.4)	3.1 (3.1)
Station 109*	6 (6)	12.71 (12.71)	1.5 (1.5)	1.1 (1.1)
Station 110*	6 (6)	10.65 (10.65)	1.4 (1.4)	1.8 (1.8)
Station 117*	50 (50)	12.5 (12.5)	1.22±0.1 (1-1.5)	1.66±0.13 (1.3-2)
Station 140*	850 (850)	4.22 (4.22)	0.48±0.02 (0.4-0.6)	0.67±0.03 (0.5-0.9)

List of scleractinian corals from the Turkish coasts with the updated distributional data

Species	BS	M	AE	MS	D	Habitat	DR
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Family: Pocilloporidae
Madracis pharensis 1 Heller, 1868;	-	FL1	FL2	-	FL3-PR	H	VII
Family: Faviidae
Cladocora caespitosa 2 Linnaeus, 1767;	-	FL4	FL5-PR	-	FL6-PR	H	II
Family: Caryophylliidae
Caryophyllia smithii 3 Stokes & Broderip, 1828;	-	FL7	FL7*	FL8-PR	FL10-PR	H	IV
Caryophyllia cyathus 10 Ellis and Solander, 1786;	-	-	-	FL23	-	H	70-300 m**
Coenocyathus anthophyllites 11 Milne-Edwards and Haime, 1848;	-	-	-	FL10	-	H	65-250 m**
Hoplangia durotrix 13 Gosse, 1860;	-	-	FL22	-	-	H	0-150 m**
Caryophyllia inornata 4 Duncan, 1878;	-	FL11	FL12	-	PR	H	IX
Paracyathus pulchellus 5 Philippi, 1842;	-	-	-	FL13	PR	H	VIII
Polycyathus muellerae 6 Abel, 1959;	-	FL14	FL15	PR	PR	H,S	V
Phyllangia mouchezii 7 Lacaze-Duthiers, 1897;	-	FL16	FL17	-	PR	H	III
Desmophyllum dianthus 12 Esper, 1794;	-	-	-	FL24	-	H	8-2460 m**
Family: Dendrophylliidae
Alanophyllia europaea 8 Risso, 1826;	-	FL18	FL19	-	FL19-PR	H,R	I
B. Leptopsammia pruvoti 7 Lacaze-Duthiers, 1897;	-	FL21	FL22*	-	PR	H	VI
Dendrophyllia ramea 9 Linnaeus, 1758;	-	-	-	FL10	-	H	40-150 m**
Oculina patogonica 14 De Angelis, 1908;	-	FL25	-	-	-	H	0-10 m**

Coral cover determined in terms of the rocky substrate range at the stations with the highest species abundance

Station/tars (m²)	species/cover area (m²)
	M. pharensis	C. caespitosa	P. muellerae	P. mouchezii
Sta 1 – 800	0.63	1.14	1.58	-
Sta 2 – 410	-	0.15	0.22	0.2
Sta 3 – 350	-	18.11	-	-
Sta 20 – 200	-	0.24	-	-
Sta 45 – 1120	0.48	-	27.89	-
Sta 108 – 208	-	-	0.19	-
Sta 117 – 110	-	-	1.07	-

Scleractinian diversity in the Dardanelles and Marmara Sea (Turkey): morphology, ecology and distributional patterns

Figures & Tables

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Rock-based percent cover of P_ muellerae at Station 45, C_ caespitosa at Station 1, P_ mouchezii at Station 2 and M_ pharensis at Stations 1 and 45

Colonial corals, morphological diameters and coral cover values assessed per station

Solitary corals, morphological diameters calculated per station

List of scleractinian corals from the Turkish coasts with the updated distributional data

Coral cover determined in terms of the rocky substrate range at the stations with the highest species abundance

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