Figure SEQ Figure * ARABIC 12: Creamy look on the Marmara Sea  surface CITATION İDe21 l 1055 (İ. Destan Öztürk, 2021)

The fundamental reasons behind this are extremely hard to determine. Although I have mentioned that eutrophication does not seem as a factor enhancing mucilage in some studies, according to the recent multiple studies, eutrophication originating from the terrestrial discharges coming from Black Sea region was presented as the main factor of this high planktonic density in Çanakkale Strait, which probably worsen the mucilage increase.

To mention temperature change and its effects, the below table can be examined, from the study of H.Barış Özalp.

Figure SEQ Figure * ARABIC 13: Temperature change in years CITATION HBa21 l 1055  (Özalp, 2021)

As considering the data Figure 13 , the temperature effect can be supported since even the littlest temperature change means so much for marine environment. On the other hand, again since the temperature differences are not very significantly abnormal, there are still suspicions about whether temperature change due to climate change is a reason of marine mucilage formation. As a suggestion, regular and transparent monitoring of these changes was presented.

According to another paper published by Melek İşinibilir Okyar et al in 2015 , the temperature rise cannot be the sole effect which triggers mucilage formation. Hydrodynamic regime, meteorological conditions and oxygen availability as well should be taken into account. In addition to that, profound changes as excessive fishing and bloom of jellyfish too should be added to the equation. Moreover, industrial and domestic discharges results in nutrient abundant effluents, which consequently feeds the environment of phytoplankton and alters the biodiversity and abundance ratio in many coastal areas.

 

In the case of  Marmara Sea, chemical oceanography of this sea is highly affected by two different seas the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea, and the basin of Marmara Sea includes two very different water masses , low salinity body coming from Black Sea and higher salinity originating from the Mediterranean Sea – which makes Marmara Sea a delicate environment.

To conclude, marine mucilage represents the natural response of damaged environments, of the marine environment to direct/indirect anthropogenic impacts on environment and it is a potential carrier of harmful substances which endangers human and marine organisms.

Unfortunately, current Turkish government was not very active to prevent or solve these problems, there is no current action towards neither preventing nor solving it. Although various scientists were trying to get society's and government’s attention on this topic through objective news channels, it was not enough. Currently, the after effects of mucilage event such as lack of oxygen in water bodies and nutrient excess is on the agenda of objective news channels and scientists.

Acting as if it never happened is unfortunately not helping environment and us as humanity. I hope neglecting and abandoning habitats will end someday with our efforts.

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.