Macrobentic marine flora of the Üç Adalar (Antalya gulf)

In this master's thesis study, members of macrobenthic marine flora (marine macroalgae and seagrasses) scattered on the coasts of the Üç Adalar (Gulf of Antalya) were identified; distribution areas were determined, and the lower and upper depth boundaries of the existing facies and the seabed conditions related to depth were examined. The study area is the coast of the Üç Adalar, located off the coast of Tekirova neighborhood of the Kemer district of Antalya province. Üç Adalar, which cover Martı, Mağara, Piknik and Küçük Islands, is an important SCUBA diving center where people actively dive all year long. Marine studies were carried out in 2018-2019 at a total of 12 stations. Sampling studies were carried out in 0-46 m depths in the form of SCUBA and free dives, and as vertical and horizontal scans. Quadrat (20x20 cm) (400cm2) and photo-quadrat methods were used to identify the distribution areas and calculate the covering values of macro flora members. As a result of the study, a total of 67 taxa were identified at the "species" and "under species" level, including 35 red algae, 12 brown algae, 17 green algae, 1 cyanobacterium, and 2 seagrasses. Among them, the Schmitziella endophloea species has been identified as a new record for the Turkish coasts, whereas the Pseudocodium okinawense species for the coast of Antalya. It was observed that the species namely Caulerpa cylindracea, Caulerpa prolifera, Caulerpa racemosa f. requienii, and Caulerpa taxifolia var. distichophylla were scattered in the area. It has been observed that the Caulerpa taxifolia var. distichophylla species reached the highest covering value on the northern coast of the island whereas the Caulerpa prolifera species on the west coast of the island. Cymodocea nodosa and Halophila stipulacea species among seagrasses are scattered in the region and have been observed to reach their highest covering value on the north and west coasts of the island.