The Ichthyoplankton dynamics of the Sinop Coasts

This study was carried out at seven stations to determine the ichthyoplankton dynamics of Sinop coasts. Sampling was conducted by horizontal hauls between June 2010 and June 2011 with two standard plankton nets (0.5 m diameter, 0.100 and 500 mm mesh aperture). Ichthyoplankton and gelatinous organisms as the environmental factors (such as water and air temperature, dissolved oxygen, wind direction and degree) in relation to the rich species diversity and species diversity changes in the regions were determined in the study. During the study, the total number of ichthyoplankton obtained was 5065, of which 4399 are fish eggs and 666 are fish larvae. In total of 59 taxa, 10 orders, 21 families, 28 species belong to teleost fish were identified from the samples gathered. Given by the samples collected in the study of species abundance, distribution, occurrence, the seasonal changes in abundance of ichthyoplankton were examined. When the distribution of the species was investigated, Engraulis encrasicolus took the first place with a share of 51%. August had the most distribution of species (43%) by month whereas the Nose of the Fish (the 6th station) had the most distribution of the species by station. The samples of fish eggs and larvae in the species determined by the sampling were observed mostly in May, yet the sampling contained the eggs of the E. encrasicolus species most (1200 individual/100m3) in August. Based on the results of Bio-env, water temperature, wind speed, and oxygen levels were found to be effective in the formation of the grouping. When seasonal variation of ecological index values was examined, the relationship between the number of species and abundance observed was in parallel. The Shannon-Wiener Index, which usually has the higher values in Spring and Summer, were found to be lower in Fall and Winter. Pielou Regularity Index was encountered lowest in the Spring. The results obtained from the Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) were supported the results of cluster analysis. The most of the similarity regarding the formation of MDS diagrams were observed in the Winter season with 60% of similarity. The results of this study revealed that the Akliman, which was not included in the previous ichthyoplankton studies, has found for most of the species to be greatly important in terms of ovulation, nursery and shelter areas, and the future of Fisheries. This study therefore clearly points out the need for the protection of this significant area.