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New Observations of Alien Foraminifera on the Turkish Coasts of the Aegean Sea (2008-2011)
Authors: Engin Meriç , M. Baki Yokeş , Niyazi Avşar , Feyza Dinçer
Number of views: 258
Invasion of the Mediterranean Sea by alien species is an ongoing process. Each year new alien
species are being recorded in the Levantine basin. To date, 37 alien foraminifer species are known
to inhabit Turkish coastline. Because of low water temperature it is hard ot survive for the
thermophilic alien species in the Aegean Sea. Until 2008, only 12 alien foraminifers have been
reported from the Aegean coasts, however the recent studies increasd this number to 31. The reports
of İridia diaphana Heron-Allen and Earland, Quinqueloculina sp. C, Triloculina affinis d’Orbigny,
Triloculina sp. A, Euthymonacha polita (Chapman), Coscinospira acicularis (Batsch),
Polymorphina fistulosa Cushman and Brizalina simpsoni (Heron-Allen ve Earland) constitutes first
records. Besides, Haddonia sp., Nodopthalmidium antillarum (Cushman), Spiroloculina antillarum
d’Orbigny, Hauerina diversa Cushman, Triloculina fichteliana d’Orbigny, Peneroplis arietinus
(Batsch), Sorites variabilis Lacroix, Cymbaloporetta plana (Cushman), C. squammosa (d’Orbigny),
Amphistegina lessonii d’Orbigny are first records for the Turkish Aegean fauna.