new observations of alien foraminifera on the turkish coasts of the aegean sea (2008-2011)

Abstract

Invasion of the Mediterranean Sea by alien species is an ongoing process. Each year new alien species are being recorded in the Levantine basin. To date, 37 alien foraminifer species are known to inhabit Turkish coastline. Because of low water temperature it is hard ot survive for the thermophilic alien species in the Aegean Sea. Until 2008, only 12 alien foraminifers have been reported from the Aegean coasts, however the recent studies increasd this number to 31. The reports of İridia diaphana Heron-Allen and Earland, Quinqueloculina sp. C, Triloculina affinis d’Orbigny, Triloculina sp. A, Euthymonacha polita (Chapman), Coscinospira acicularis (Batsch), Polymorphina fistulosa Cushman and Brizalina simpsoni (Heron-Allen ve Earland) constitutes first records. Besides, Haddonia sp., Nodopthalmidium antillarum (Cushman), Spiroloculina antillarum d’Orbigny, Hauerina diversa Cushman, Triloculina fichteliana d’Orbigny, Peneroplis arietinus (Batsch), Sorites variabilis Lacroix, Cymbaloporetta plana (Cushman), C. squammosa (d’Orbigny), Amphistegina lessonii d’Orbigny are first records for the Turkish Aegean fauna.