Marine Litter and Alien Species in the Mediterranean: Third Sampling of Our TÜBİTAK-Funded Project Completed
The third sampling of our TÜBİTAK-funded project entitled “Investigation of the Amounts, Distribution and Composition of Floating Macro-Mega Marine Litter along the Southeastern Coasts of Türkiye and Their Effects on the Transport of Alien-Invasive Species” has been successfully completed. The project, coordinated by Prof. Dr. Cem Çevik, addresses an issue that has never before been studied in the Northeastern Levantine Sea: floating marine litter and its role in the dispersal of alien invasive species.
Globally, more than 80% of marine litter consists of plastics, with an estimated 5 trillion plastic particles currently floating in pelagic habitats. The Mediterranean Sea, due to its unique circulation patterns, dense population, and heavy maritime traffic, is one of the most affected regions by this pollution pressure. Türkiye’s Mediterranean coasts are no exception to this threat. Our seas are not only renowned for their natural beauty but are also under increasing pressure from pollution. Within the scope of our research, we are investigating in detail the quantities and distribution of floating litter in the Mediterranean, as well as its potential role as a vector for invasive species.
In our third sampling campaign, intensive field studies were conducted in the offshore areas of İskenderun and Mersin Bays using the research vessel GÖZLEM-1 of Çukurova University Faculty of Fisheries. Preliminary observations on the collected samples have already begun to provide valuable insights into both the composition of marine litter and the communities of organisms colonizing these substrates.
Sampling Findings
- First field survey: 26,997 – 647,948 items of floating litter per km².
- Second field survey: 26,997 – 917,926 items/km².
- Third field survey:
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- Observations with pelagic trawl: 44.97 – 719.15 items/km².
- Visual observations: 54 – 1,052 items/km².
Across all surveys, the most frequently observed litter type was J79-coded unidentified plastic fragments measuring between 2.5 cm and 50 cm.
First Scientific Publication
The findings of our project have already reached the international scientific community. As a team, we published our first article in Marine Pollution Bulletin:
“Floating plastics as a vector for range expansion: First record of Lepas (Lepas) pectinata Spengler, 1793 (Cirripedia: Lepadidae) in Turkish waters (Eastern Mediterranean)”. In this study, the small goose barnacle (Lepas pectinata) was recorded for the first time in Turkish waters, found attached to floating plastic debris. The research revealed that this species may act as a vector for the dispersal of invasive species. These results highlight that floating plastics in the Mediterranean not only pose a pollution problem but also represent a potential ecological risk by facilitating biological invasions.
Why Is It Important?
Marine litter does not only degrade ecosystems; it also plays a role in transporting invasive species into new habitats, thereby posing a significant threat to biodiversity. For this reason, the data obtained will contribute not only to the scientific literature but also to the development of environmental policies aimed at protecting our seas.
