Opinions and comments on the benthic foraminiferal assemblage observed around the mineral submarine spring in Kuşadası (Aydın, Turkey)

Abstract

Opinions and comments on the benthic foraminiferal assemblage observed around the mineral submarine spring in Kuşadası (Aydın, Turkey) mehmet baki yokes 1 , engin meric ‚ 2 , niyazi avs ‚ar 3 , i ‹pek barut 4 , seyfettin tas 4 , mustafa eryilmaz 5 , feyza dinc ‚er 6 and cu ¤ neyt bircan 7The aim of the study was to investigate the benthic foraminiferal fauna around the mineral water spring in Pamucak Cove, north-west Kuşadası (Aydın) and figure out the effects of the spring on the fauna. The spring was located 200 m off the coast at 12.4 m depth and its temperature was 19.68C. The study area was found to include a rich population of Red Sea originated Amphistegina lobifera, of which the distribution pattern is noteworthy. It is abundant in the centre of the spring and its close vicinity; its abundance decreases when getting away from the spring. It is more abundantly observed on the southern and western sides of the spring, whereas, it is outnumbered by Ammonia compacta and Elphidium crispum on the northern and eastern parts. The water currents around the spring were in north-south and north-west directions. The observed diverse diatom population around the spring constitutes the main food source and dispersal according to the currents may explain the reason for the abundance of the Amphistegina population on the southern and western sides of the study area. High abundances of A. lobifera have not yet been observed elsewhere in the Aegean Sea, although large populations of this species have been recorded on the south-west coasts of Turkey and in several stations on the south-east of Gokceada. Abundance of coloured individuals and Red Sea originated benthic species suggests the presence of special environmental as well as ecological conditions around the spring.

Ecology of Benthic Foraminifera of the Eastern Aegean Sea Coasts

“…Alterations in the ecological conditions have been found to be the main reason causing these kinds of morphological abnormalities. Besides the studies performed by researchers from various countries, in our previous studies also we have shown that extreme salinity, rapid changes in salinity, presence of heavy metals and trace elements, both thermal and cold water submarine springs and the chemical compositions of the submarine spring waters in karstic regions are suggested to be the main factors which cause changes ecological conditions (Nigam et al, 2006;Meriç et al, 2003aMeriç et al, , b, 2009aMeriç et al, , b, c, 2010Meriç et al, , 2012aOkuş et al, 2004Okuş et al, , 2010Yokeş et al, 2014;Simav, et al, 2015Gazioğlu, 2018;Duman et al, 2019).…”

“…Total alpha values are ranging between 0.50±5.07(6)-4.57±27.23 (5) Bq/l, whereas total beta values are found to be 2. 29±5.11 (2)-22.19±26.61 (1) Bq/l (Yokeş et al, 2014).…”

“…It shows variable distribution in the sampling locations according the direction and distance to the submarine spring water (Figure 2). The diatom analysis revealed that there is diverse and rich community of diatomes around and near this springs (Meriç et al, 2009b(Meriç et al, , 2015(Meriç et al, , 2018 (Yokeş et al, 2014).…”

“…Transported of heavy metals and trace elements to marine environment in the northern part of the Karaburun Peninsula ( Figure 1b) were related to Karareis mercury mine bedrock and numerous fault systems, NE-SW partly, NW-SE, N-S (Çakmakoğlu & Bilgin, 2006). A rich foraminifer assemblages were observed around a submarine spring located 200 m of the shore in Pamucak Bay (Kuşadası, Aydın) (Figure 1d), at a depth of 12.40 m. The temperature of the springs was 19.6 oC (Yokeş et al, 2014). The Red Sea species, Amphistegina lobifera Larsen was found to be the dominant species on the southern and western part of the spring.…”

The Effect of Submarine Thermal Springs of Doğanbey Cape (Seferi̇hi̇sar-İzmi̇r) on Foraminifer, Ostracod and Mollusc Assemblages

“…When total alfa and beta countings of the springs in the study area are correlated with other hot springs located in Çeşme-Ilıca in northwest and the Kuşadası Bay in south, sea water samples of the Çeşme-Ilıca show resemblance with other hot springs in this area (Yenal et al, 1975;Meriç et al, 2012a). However, the total alfa and beta countings of hot springs in the Kuşadası Bay (Güzelçamlı, Kemerli, Kuşadası Kaynağı, Doğanbey, Karakoç, Cumali) are in different values (Yokeş et al, 2014).…”