The diversity and abundance of ichthyoplankton in the changing Haliç (Golden Horn) ecosystem

Estuaries are typical sedimentation settlement the primary source of food and for many organisms, including bacteria. In this study, the ichthyoplankton diversity of Istanbul Golden Horn was investigated, in terms of ichthyoplankton species richness and spatial distribution after the rehabilitation work had been conducted. For this purpose, vertical and horizontal towings were monthly arranged between June 2015 and May 2016 at 6 stations that were placed to covering the whole of the Golden Horn region. Early development stages of 33 fish species were determined. The number, variety, dead and live egg ratio of these species were determined as well. In addition to this, monthly changes in ichthyoplankton abundance were examined as well as ichthyoplankton species richness after the amelioration work. At the end of the study, reproduction times and regions, species diversity and presence of species identified in the Istanbul Golden Horn ecosystem were compared with the Golden Horn ichthyoplankton studies of the previous period. The importance of this study is to evaluate the current situation in terms of ichthyoplankton after the rehabilitation work in the Golden Horn and to show that the ecological conditions have improved by comparing them with those of the past.