The Edremit bay: Examination from natural reefs to artificial reefs in a 5-year time series

In 2011, the main objective of this study was to measure the functionality of the "Edremit Bay Artificial Reefs", one of the largest artificial habitat areas in the Mediterranean, and to determine the eggs, larvae and adult individuals of fish species in different habitats, to investigate the reasons for the differences between fish species diversity and density in different habitats and to understand the effect of physicochemical values. More than 6000 cylindrical shaped artificial reef areas made of C3 type concrete and natural reef areas in the same area from Narlı to Akçay coasts of Edremit Bay were analysed in terms of fish diversity between 2013-2017. The study was carried out seasonally and for each station, extension net was used only in 2013, while both extension net and trawl were used in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. In general, the number of species according to years was determined as follows: 2013 extension net 24 species, 2014 extension net 49 species, 2014 trawl 77 species; 2015 extension net 43 species; 2015 trawl 58 species; 2016 extension net 56 species; 2016 trawl 59 species; 2017 extension net 34 species; 2017 trawl 62 species. Biodiversity indices for each year and for both habitats were calculated using the DIVERSE function of PRIMER 7.0 ecological statistics package programme. In general, a total of 89 species were detected in natural reefs for 5 years and the species with the highest number of individuals was Diplodus annularis, while 102 species were detected in artificial reefs and the species with the highest number of individuals was Mullus barbatus. It was determined that artificial reefs had higher numbers of species and total number of individuals than natural reefs.