PRELIMINARY SPAT SETTLEMENT OF FAN MUSSEL PINNA NOBILIS LINNAEUS 1758 ON A MESH BAG COLLECTOR IN KARANTINA ISLAND (EASTERN AEGEAN SEA, TURKEY)

WOS: 000296690400001The study regarding the annual pattern of Pinna nobilis settlement in Karantina Island (Izmir Bay, Turkey) was conducted using artificial polyethylene-mesh bag collectors (onion bag). The samples were collected by a SCUBA diver at intervals of 4 weeks, also replacing the collectors during 12 months at 8-m depth. In addition, environmental parameters, such as temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a, particulate organic matter and particulate inorganic matter in water column, were monthly measured. Fifteen bivalve species were recorded, and among these, Ostrea edulis, Pinctada radiata, Chlamys varia, Chlamys glabra, Modiolus barbatus, Mytilus galloprovincialis, Arca noae, and Anadara inaequivalvis have a commercial value. P. nobilis represented 0.84% of total amount. Settlement was observed only in August (122 individuals/0.4 m(2)) and spat data showed significant variations between outside (8%) and inside (92%)of each mesh bag collector but also the deployed time (P