Temporal Changes in Ichthyoplankton Abundance and Composition of Babadıllimanı Bight: Western Entrance of Mersin Bay (Northeastern Mediterranean)

In this study the temporal changes in ichthyoplankton abundance and composition of Babadillimani Bight (Northeastern Mediterranean) were identified and simultaneously the spawning periods of sampled teleost fishes were observed. Thus, monthly samplings were performed at nine stations by using Hensen Net with 300 µm mesh size during one year period between May 1999 and April 2000. Throughout the studying period, early life stages of 23 teleost fish species were observed. The mean egg and larval abundance were calculated as 46, and 20 individual 10 m - ³ respectively. While the maximal egg abundance was observed in summer, larval abundance was the highest in early autumn. Only temporal changes in egg abundance (P<0.01) were significant; however spatial-temporal changes in larval abundance were not. Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index values were obtained as highest in summer for eggs, and in autumn for larvae as also being abundance.