Seasonal fluctuations on the macro benthic fauna of Yumurtalik Bight

This study was carried out in a very important part of Iskenderun Bay, Yumrutalik Bight, in order to find out seasonal fluctuations on the macrobenthic fauna between September 2007 and July 2008. As a result of the study 2652 individuals were found from 24 different species the distributions of which are given as follows: Nemertini 318 individuals from 1 species,; Polychaeta 620 individuals from 6 species,; Crustacea 51 individuals from 3 species,; Mollusca 1070 individuals from 11 species; Echinodermata 515 individuals from 2 species; Hemichordata 78 individuals from 1 species. Moreover ecological quality of the bight was determined using BENTIX and AMBI indices. Ecological quality of study area according to BENTIX index was calculated between 1.49 and 5.9 in autumn period, 1.66 and 2.47 in winter period, 2.70 and 5.54 in spring period and 0.34 and 5.7 in summer period. The ecological quality was calculated between 0 and 3.9 in autumn, 2.25 and 4.85 in winter, 0.86 and 3.29 in spring and 0 and 2.5 in summer periods by means AMBI index. Yumurtalık Bight was determined to be slightly disturbed in general.