Turkey
427
mainly determined by two factors: temperature and salinity. Because of
the low salinity level of the Black Sea, Chlorophyta can be expected to
dominate over Rhodophyta and Phaeophyta as for example observed in
the coastal areas of Istanbul, Igneada, Sile, Bartin, Sinop, Trabzon and
Rize (C.A. Agardh 1823; J.G. Agardh 1851, 1876; Stockmayer 1909;
Oztiirk 1980; Altindag 1990; Aysel et al. 1990; Aysel and Erdugan 1995).
The total biomass of the Black Sea macrophytes has been estimated as
16 x 10 6 t, and the annual production was estimated at 17.6 x 10 6 t wet
weight.
There have only been a few investigations on the algae of the Marmara
Sea. The first records from the area, at the species level, came from
Fritsch (1899), and further research was done by Oztig (1957). In the
following years, research focused on macro algae (Giiner 1973; Zeybek
and Giiner 1973; Aysel and Giiner 1979a, 1980; Aysel et al. 1984, 1991,
1993; Giiner et al. 1987). In the Marmara Sea, which receives water from
both the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea, the numbers of green and brown
algal taxa are generally at the same level, although at times variations
may occur, depending on the intensity of the currents.
The Turkish strait system lies in the country's most populated and
industrialized region. Istanbul, with its surrounding districts, accommodates one-sixth of Turkey's population. Nearly 766 million m 3 domestic
and industrial wastewater is discharged into the Marmara Sea annually.
In addition, excessive sea-going traffic, illegal discharge of bilge water as
well as tanker accidents also cause oil pollution. Organic waste products
dumped into the Marmara Sea have led to the decline of certain organisms, including algae. Since 1986, a substantial increase in eutrophication
has been observed.
The Aegaen Sea has a rich biological productivity and its hores
(the Turkish part) include many areas suitable for algal growth. There
have been many investigations on the floristic composition of the Aegean
Sea. The first record from the area belonging to Turkish shore at
the species level is from Karamanoglu (1964), the second from Zeybek
(1966, 1973), followed by a number of works on macro algae by
Aysel (1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1989), Aysel et al. (1977, 1986),
and Aysel and Giiner (1977, 1983a, 1985) between 1979 to 1989. In
addition, some other workers have studied the macro- and microalgae
(Giiner and Ayse11978a; Oztiirk 1980; Dural et al. 1989, 1990, 1992; Cirik
et al. 1990).
Some economic algae grow in the area, such as Ulva lactuca,
Gracilaria verrucosa, Gelidium capillaceum, Gigartina sp., Hypnea muscijormis, Cystoseira sp., Dictyopteris membranacea, and Halopteris sp.
(Aysel and Giiner 1978).
427
mainly determined by two factors: temperature and salinity. Because of
the low salinity level of the Black Sea, Chlorophyta can be expected to
dominate over Rhodophyta and Phaeophyta as for example observed in
the coastal areas of Istanbul, Igneada, Sile, Bartin, Sinop, Trabzon and
Rize (C.A. Agardh 1823; J.G. Agardh 1851, 1876; Stockmayer 1909;
Oztiirk 1980; Altindag 1990; Aysel et al. 1990; Aysel and Erdugan 1995).
The total biomass of the Black Sea macrophytes has been estimated as
16 x 10 6 t, and the annual production was estimated at 17.6 x 10 6 t wet
weight.
There have only been a few investigations on the algae of the Marmara
Sea. The first records from the area, at the species level, came from
Fritsch (1899), and further research was done by Oztig (1957). In the
following years, research focused on macro algae (Giiner 1973; Zeybek
and Giiner 1973; Aysel and Giiner 1979a, 1980; Aysel et al. 1984, 1991,
1993; Giiner et al. 1987). In the Marmara Sea, which receives water from
both the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea, the numbers of green and brown
algal taxa are generally at the same level, although at times variations
may occur, depending on the intensity of the currents.
The Turkish strait system lies in the country's most populated and
industrialized region. Istanbul, with its surrounding districts, accommodates one-sixth of Turkey's population. Nearly 766 million m 3 domestic
and industrial wastewater is discharged into the Marmara Sea annually.
In addition, excessive sea-going traffic, illegal discharge of bilge water as
well as tanker accidents also cause oil pollution. Organic waste products
dumped into the Marmara Sea have led to the decline of certain organisms, including algae. Since 1986, a substantial increase in eutrophication
has been observed.
The Aegaen Sea has a rich biological productivity and its hores
(the Turkish part) include many areas suitable for algal growth. There
have been many investigations on the floristic composition of the Aegean
Sea. The first record from the area belonging to Turkish shore at
the species level is from Karamanoglu (1964), the second from Zeybek
(1966, 1973), followed by a number of works on macro algae by
Aysel (1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1989), Aysel et al. (1977, 1986),
and Aysel and Giiner (1977, 1983a, 1985) between 1979 to 1989. In
addition, some other workers have studied the macro- and microalgae
(Giiner and Ayse11978a; Oztiirk 1980; Dural et al. 1989, 1990, 1992; Cirik
et al. 1990).
Some economic algae grow in the area, such as Ulva lactuca,
Gracilaria verrucosa, Gelidium capillaceum, Gigartina sp., Hypnea muscijormis, Cystoseira sp., Dictyopteris membranacea, and Halopteris sp.
(Aysel and Giiner 1978).