Nereididae (Polychaeta) fauna of rocky shores along the Middle and Western Black Sea coast

In this study 12 stations were investigated to determine Nereididae (Polychaeta) fauna of rocky shores of middle to western coasts between Samsun to İğneada (Kırklareli) along the Black Sea coast of Turkey. Benthic samples were collected by quadrat via free diving. Qualitative and quantitative analysis showed that total of 1224 individuals were found belonging to 7 species and 3 genus. Nereis zonata, and Platynereis dumerilii were the species of Nereididae with the highest dominancy and frequency index in the study area. In terms of diversity index; the highest diversity level was at the Gerze station and the stations with the lowest value was the Sinop port, Tekkekköy and Dereköy stations which were represented by a species. Nereis pelagica was represented only one individual in the study area. Among the investigated biotops, Cystoseira barbata showed the highest species and individual number whereas Zostera marina showed the lowest individual number. When all the stations in the research area were evaluated, the station with the highest number of individuals was Amasra station (1793.75 ind./m2) whereas the station with the lowest number of individuals was determined as Dereköy station (25 ind./m2).