Determination of seasonal changes of phytoplankton biomass and some physicochemical parameters of sea water in the İskenderun bay (Northeastern Mediterranean)

ABSTRACTMSc THESISDETERMINATION OF SEASONAL CHANGES OF PHYTOPLANKTON BIOMASS ANDSOME PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF SEA WATER IN THE ISKENDERUNBAY (NORTHEASTERN MEDITERRANEAN)Bilim ÜNLÜDEPARTMENT OF FISHERIESINSTITUTE OF NATURAL APPLIED SCIENCESUNIVERSITY OF ÇUKUROVASupervisor: Assoc.Prof. Sevim POLATYear: 2006, Page: 42Jury : Doç.Dr. Sevim POLATProf. Dr. Dursun AVŞARProf. Dr. Ferit KARGINIn this study, seasonal variations of phytoplankton biomass in term of chlorophyll a wasinvestigated at the southeast coast of skenderun Bay. Samplings were performed four timesbetween the years of 2004-2005. Seven sampling stations were selected through a transect fromcoast to the offshore. Sampling was conducted from surface waters and standart depths accordingto depth of stations. In addition to chlorophyll a, the analysis of inorganic nutrients and somepollution parameters such as Biochemical Oxygen Demand and Total Suspande Solids wereconducted. The present status of the bay in terms of these parameters were tried to be determined.The lowest chorophyll a value was determined as 0.04 g l-1 in June 2005, and the highest value(2.86 g l-1) was found in March 2005. The concentrations of phosphate, nitrate+nitrite, ammoniaand silicate varied in the range of 0.047-0.76 M, 0.37-6.9 M, 0.21-2.90 M and 0.56-5.88 M,respectively. Chlorophyll a and nutrients were found higher at the stations close to the coast.Biochemical Oxygen Demand values ranged between 12 and 91 mg l-1 and the concentrations ofTotal Suspande Solids ranged between 24-54 mg l-1.Key Words: Chlorophyll a, nutrients, northeastern Mediterranean, skenderun Bay.II