Abstract: A study was undertaken between 2007-2009 in the Dardanelles. Monthly sampling was carried out in 4 stations up to 10 m of water depths by using dredge. The samples were fixed and preserved in 5% formalin prepared in marine water. Morever, anatomical and morphological characteristics of identified species were illustrated with photographs. The specimens were examined the macroscopic and then microscopic under the light of binocular microscope. According to the results; total of 22 species belonging to 7 Order, 5 Kalssis was found in the South Marmara Sea.

INTRODUCTION

In the present study, we investigated the distribution macrozoobenthic invertebrates in the South Marmara Sea tacsonomical charecteristic and bioecology of these species according to location in the South Marmara Sea and has extremelly specific hydrodynamic structure. So four stations chosen for sampling in the South Marmara Sea are as follows: Sarköy, Karabiga, Denizkent and Musakca (Fig. 1). Sampling was done in monthly intervals using dredge were brought to the laboratories in either 0.5-1 L. Glass jars or 1 L plastic bags containing ice (to preserve the freshness of samples). Samples were dispersed according to their sex, fixed in glass jars containing 5% formaldehyte and the information about the specimen was recorded on the labels which were stuck on glass jars.

Besides, anotomical and morphological charecteristics of the speciments were recorded with the pictures taken from tese speciments. Macroscopic and microscopic features of specimens were studied and according to the definitions of Zariquiey (1968), Ingle (1980), Holthuis (1987), Kocatas (1981), Noel (1992) and Balkis (1994) and with the help of previous studies done by Ninni (1923), Demir (1952), Monod (1956), Kocatas and Mater (1967), Kocatas (1981), Muller (1986) and Koukouras et al. (1992), the species were identified. In addition, the structure of bottom was tried to be determined during the course of samplings.

Fig. 1:	The map of the study area

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sarkoy location: This sandy-muddy ground is intensively inhabited by sea-urchins, mussels and oysters covers. The specimens of this ground consist of Donax trunculus, Chamelia gallina, Spisula subtruncata, Bittium reticulatum, Tapes phillippinarum, Eriphia verrucosa, Mytilus galloprovincialis, Rudicardium tubercilatum, Cardium edule, Astropecten spinulosus, Liocarcinus depurator, Paracentrotus lividus, Carcinus aestuarii, Cyclope nerita and Rapana thomasiana.

Karabiga location: Stony and muddy bottom of this region also contains algea and shell. Species found in this region are Donax trunculus, Chamelia gallina, Spisula subtruncata, Bittium reticulatum, Tapes decussatus, Tapes philippinarum, Eriphia verrucosa, Carcinus aestuarii, Cyclope nerita, Astropecten spinulosus, Murex trunculus, Gourmya vulgata, Xantho poressa, Aconthocordia eculata, Paracentrotus lividus, Liocarcinus depurator, Donax trunculus and Donax variabilis.

Musakca location: In general, bottom of this region is muddy and contain algae and small rocks. The species inhabit this region are Chamelia gallina, Donax trunculus, Spisula subtruncata, Bittium reticulatum, Tapes philippinarum, Xantho poressa, Tapes decussatus, Carcinus aestuarii, Gourmya vulgata, Astropecten spinulosus, Paracentrotus lividus, Raphana thomasiana, Liocarcinus depurator, Eriphia verrucosa, Xantho poressa, Mmytilus galloprovincialis, Cyclope nerita, Murex trunculus and Donax variabilis.

Denizkent location: Bottom of this region is sandy muddy, covered with algea and small rocks. The species inhabits in this region are Chamelia gallina, Donax trunculus, Donax variabilis, Cyclope nerita, Spisula subtruncata, Bittium reticulatum, Paracentrotus lividus, Astropecten spinulosus, Tapes philippinarum, Tapes decussatus, Eriphia verrucosa, Liocarcinus depurator, Carcinus aestuarii, Gourmya vulgata, Rapana thomasiana, Mmytilus galloprovincialis and Murex trunculus.

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

The structure and the distrubution of bivalves on the shelf of straits and Sea of Marmara is poorly known (Demir, 1952; Artuz and Erdagan, 1962). Whereas many various investigations were conducted on bivalves adjected seas by Dolfus (1887, 1898), Milaschevich (1916), Wood (1950, 1961), Neveskaja (1965), Geldiay and Uysal (1971) and Geldiay and Kocatas (1988). The studies done by Muller (1986) and Ostroumoff (1893) reported 24 species in the Sea of Marmara. Muller (1986) reported 45 species belonging to 11 families in the Sea of Marmara and system of straits and he compared the previous reports using the scientific terms. Demir (1952) idefined 25 crab species belonging to 13 families along with their taxonomic compositions, morphology and location where they were caught Demir’s list of species.

Holthuis (1987) reported 15 crab species in Turkish Seas. Fifteen of those from Mediterranean and aegean Seas, 9 from Sea of Marmara and 5 from Black sea were identified. Five species out of 9 species identified from Sea of Marmara. Kocatas (1981) investigated the Decapod crustacea of the costs of Seas surrounding Turkey and reported 7 species from Black sea, 9 species from Sea of Marmara, 64 species from Aegean Sea and 41 species from Mediterranean 81 species in total. Balkis (1994) reported 21 species of crabs belonging to 8 families in the Sea of Marmara.

CONCLUSION

Owing to the previous studies, we determined total 22 species. A low number of species was determined with this study. This may be because of the limited research area, currents in the stations chosen for the study, wheather conditions ecountered during the study, different ecological conditions compare to the research areas of previous studies or the length of the present study.