An invastigation populations of Cetacean species in the İzmir Bay

This study was conducted to assess the status and distribution of the cetacean species in the Izmir Bay. Therefore, throughout 2013 and 2014 summer seasons, the current status of cetacean species were evaluated by carrying out a total of 4.494 nautical miles of research effort by the local passenger ferry. On the study area line between Foça, Karaburun and Mordoğan, out of 129 observations among which 125 bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus and 3 common dolphin Delphinus delphis groups were encountered in 2013. The following year all 119 observations were of T. truncatus. Since the only species that roamed the area during the population studies was T. truncatus, the population estimates belonged to this species could have been made. By using "Line transect" method, the population estimates of T. truncatus were found to be 143 individuals for 2013 and 141 individuals for 2014. Although the bottlenose dolphin individuals that were identified in the study were observed everywhere in the area, the coastal area between Karaburun and Mordoğan, line were the most intense observations were made. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that this area to be considered with in the borders of "Karaburun Peninsula SEPA". The prelimanry finding of the photo-ID study in the Foça SEPA revalaed that 11 T. truncatus individuals that were thought to be resident population members in the Izmir Bay were identified.