Composition of Eggs and Larvae of Fish and Macrogelatinious Zooplankton in Sinop Region (The Central Black Sea) During 2002

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to determine abundance and distribution of macrogelatinous organisms (Aurelia aurita, Pleurobranchia pileus, Mnemiopsis leidyi ve Beroe ovata) with respect to fish egg and larvae in Sinop region in 2002. Three stations were selected this region and plankton tows were made both verticallly and horizontally. In study the ctenophores M. leidyi between January and September, and B. ovata between August and December period were appeared. The cnidarian Aurelia aurita and the ctenophore Pleurobranchia pileus showed a wider distribution in 2002. A total of 857 eggs and 150 larvae were collected from ichthyoplankton samples and 8 species belonging to 8 families were identified. Most of ichthyoplankton included Sprattus sprattus phalericus 77.7%, Engraulis encrasicolus ponticus10% and Mullus barbatus 10% of total eggs, S. s. phalericus 51%, Blennidae family 15% and E. e. ponticus 13% of total larvae. The abundance and species number of ichthyoplankton were lower in the present study than found in 1999-2000. Overall in the warm period, the abundance of both macrogelatinous organisms and fish egg and larvae were found to increases. No correlations were found between macrogelatinous organisms and fish egg and larvae in this relatively short sampling (during a year) period (p>0.05).