Determination of species variety of shellfishes in artificial reefs applied in Turkey coasts

This study was carried out between July 2013 and July 2015. in artificial reef areas applied in Iskenderun Bay, Kuşadası Bay and Edremit Gulf. It was aimed to determine the species diversity of the crustaceans that enriched the artificial habitats in terms of species and individual by placing them in artificial reefs in artificial reef applications which became widespread on the Turkish coast. Visual counting techniques, telemetry and specimen excavation methods were carried out by scuba diving in artificial reef areas over 3 years old. After the samples, 768 individuals belonging to 8 species were sampled. These species were identified as Ostrea edulis, Anomia epiphyllum, Hiatella arctica, Ostrea stentina, Spondylus gaederopus, Balanus sp, Anadora inaequalis and Chama arctica species according to the order of density. 474 individuals belonging to 4 species in the Edremit artificial reef area, 249 individuals belonging to 2 species in the Kuşadası Gulf and 50 individuals belonging to 3 species in the İskenderun Gulf have been sampled. The similarity of species between different stations was examined by bray-curtis similarity index. It is determined that there is no similarity between these two regions and the Iskenderun Gulf region in terms of species, with similarity between the 40 percent species in Kuşadası and Edremit regions. It has been found that the difference between the regions is significant and the difference between the regions tested by kruskal wallis analysis is significant. It is a fact that artificial reefs create new habitats for many living species. Artificial reefs have been observed as structures favored by the oysters especially as hard holding areas. Artificial reefs have been deemed useful for the cultivation of some species.