The Ecology of The Ostracoda (Crustacea) Species Obtained From Erdek Bay (The Marmara Sea, Turkey)

The aim of this study was to determine the ecology of the Ostracoda species in the sediments collected from the Erdek Bay and to observe the relationship between ecological parameters with the number of Ostracoda species and individual numbers. Sediment and water samples have been collected seasonally from 8 stations of the study area from six different depths (0.3; 1; 5; 10; 20; 30 m). Ecological features (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, mud percentage, total organic carbon, and total calcium carbonate) of 92 Ostracoda species were obtained. The abundance of recent Ostracoda species and their distributional situation according to seasonal environmental factors were evaluated. The highest number of Ostracoda species and individuals were observed between 10-30 m deep stations with the highest salinity and muddy sediments. Loxoconcha rhomboidea and Xestoleberis margaritea species showed a wide distribution in different ecological environments in the research area. Also species and individual numbers of Ostracoda showed a positive correlation with ecological parameters except temperature and dissolved oxygen.