Mucilage and Climate Change

Mucilage is not closely related with events associated with productivity of system such as eutrophication. However, although climate change and mucilage relationship has been neglected for years, some of the findings are pointing out that there might be a linkage between these topics. An analysis conducted by Robert Danovaro and their team, pattern of climate anomalies are coherent with mucilage outbreaks.

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 4: Relationships between mucilage occurrence in the Mediterranean Sea and climate change( based on temperature anomalies) CITATION Rob09 \l 1055 (Roberto Danovaro, 2009)

Mucilage have been occurring earlier recently than it was before, usual occurrence was May to July whereas in recent years it has started to be recorded in November/December and January depending on the area it is formed. However, usually the time period of formation of mucilage is really hard to estimate since there are cases in both seasons as winter and summer.

In the last years and, in fact, currently Turkey has dealt with this huge problem in the midst of pandemic.

In Turkish seas, the first observation report of marine mucilage was from Sea of Marmara in 2007. Recent findings indicated that the occurrence was happening pretty frequently through Turkish coasts, including Istanbul and Canakkale Strait.

Figure 5: Map of the study sites (Özalp, 2021)

In Figure 5 , the study stations can be seen , 1 being Eceabat Station and 2 being Nara station and D is the only largest reef site of the endangered coral Cladocora caespitosa in the Turkish Straits System.

This spot and overall Çanakkale Strait is so important because it connects the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara, creates a vital habitat for a large variety of the Mediterranean-originated marine animals through the coastal depths on both these sides. It is one of the rarest biodiversity hotspots.

Before the incidence of mucilage, the healthy coral environment was photographed and filed. It can be seen in Figure 6 below. 

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 6: Healthy communities from Eceabat and Nara regions CITATION HBa21 \l 1055 (Özalp, 2021)

References

BIBLIOGRAPHYERGÜL Halim Aytekin, A. S. (2018). Assessment of the consecutive harmful dinoflagellate blooms during 2015 in the Izmit Bay (the Marmara Sea) . Acta Oceanol, 91-101.

Halim Aytekin Ergul1, N. B.-O. (2021). The early stage of mucilage formation in the Marmara Sea during spring 2021. J. Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment, 232-257.

İ. Destan Öztürk, S. M. (2021). Vertical distribution of mucilage typology in the water column after a massive mucilage formation in the surface waters of the Sea of Marmara . J. Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment , 184-201.

Lancelot, C. (1995). The mucilage phenomenon in the continental coastal waters of the North Sea. The Science of the Total Environment, 83-102.

Melek İŞİNİBİLİR OKYAR, F. Ü. (2015). Changes in abundance and community structure of the zooplankton population during the 2008 mucilage event in the northeastern Marmara Sea. Turkish Journal of Zoology, 28-38.

neslihan balkis, h. a. (2011). Role of single-celled organisms in mucilage formation on the shores of Buyukada Island (the Marmara Sea). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 771-781.

Özalp, H. B. (2021). First massive mucilage event observed in deep waters of Çanakkale Strait (Dardanelles), Turkey. J. Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment, 49-66.

Roberto Danovaro, S. F. (2009). Climate Change and the Potential Spreading of Marine Mucilage and Microbial Pathogens in the Mediterranean Sea. PlosOne, 1-8.

Vildan TÜFEKÇİ, N. B. (2010). Phytoplankton composition and environmental conditions of a mucilage event in the Sea of Marmara. TUBITAK, 199-210.