Investigation of Changes in Salt and Microalgal Population Status in Çevlik (Samandağ, Hatay), Pompei (Mezitli, Mersin) Coastal Region Marine Water Resources
Abstract
Earthquakes remain among the most devastating natural disasters, and despite technological advancements, accurate prediction regarding their timing, location, and magnitude is still unattainable. Recent research highlights the significance of remote sensing indicators, such as chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations, sea surface temperature (SST), and salinity, as potential earthquake precursors. This study aimed to investigate variations in these marine parameters in the aftermath of the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake and its aftershocks, particularly focusing on coastal areas in Samandağ (Hatay) and Mezitli (Mersin), Türkiye. Marine water samples collected from Pompei and Çevlik beaches. Key physicochemical parameters, including pH, temperature, and electrical conductivity(EC), were measured immediately upon collection. Samples were also processed for Chl-a analysis through acetone extraction and spectrophotometric measurements, and a portion was transferred to nutrient media for algal isolation. Microscopic analyses revealed significant differences in algal compositions between the two sites. While samples from Mezitli primarily showed the presence of Cylindrotheca closterium and other pennate diatoms, those from Samandağ exhibited higher species diversity, including Thalassionema, Syracosphaera, Grammatophora, and various flagellates and amoebae. Notably, despite lower pH and EC values in Samandağ, the site showed more diverse algal presence, suggesting a complex response of microalgal communities to post-seismic marine conditions. The findings emphasize the dynamic interplay between environmental parameters and biological diversity in marine ecosystems affected by seismic activity. The measured environmental parameters serve as vital indicators of ecosystem health and may influence physiological functions such as osmoregulation in marine algae. This study contributes to understanding the relationship between seismic events and coastal marine ecosystems. It underscores the importance of long-term monitoring to track ecosystem changes and the potential use of Chl-a concentration, and algal diversity as early indicators of environmental stress. Such insights are vital for marine conservation strategies in earthquake-prone regions.
Keywords
Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) Algal diversity Environmental stress Marine water quality Seismic activity
Ethical Statement
Ethics committee approval was not required for this study because of there was no study on animals or humans.
Thanks
The authors thank to Prof. Dr. Elif Eker Develi for the macroscopi analyses and characterisation of the algal species.
References
- AFAD, T.C. İçişleri Bakanlığı Afet ve Acil Durum Yönetimi Başkanlığı, 2023. 06 Şubat 2023 Pazarcık (Kahramanmaraş) Mw 7.7 Elbistan (Kahramanmaraş) Mw 7.6 depremlerine ilişkin ön değerlendirme raporu, ss: 83.
- Alvan HV, Azad FH, Omar HB, 2012. Chlorophyll concentration and surface temperature changes associated with earthquakes. Nat Hazards, 64: 691–706.
Investigation of Changes in Salt and Microalgal Population Status in Çevlik (Samandağ, Hatay), Pompei (Mezitli, Mersin) Coastal Region Marine Water Resources
Abstract
Earthquakes remain among the most devastating natural disasters, and despite technological advancements, accurate prediction regarding their timing, location, and magnitude is still unattainable. Recent research highlights the significance of remote sensing indicators, such as chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations, sea surface temperature (SST), and salinity, as potential earthquake precursors. This study aimed to investigate variations in these marine parameters in the aftermath of the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake and its aftershocks, particularly focusing on coastal areas in Samandağ (Hatay) and Mezitli (Mersin), Türkiye. Marine water samples collected from Pompei and Çevlik beaches. Key physicochemical parameters, including pH, temperature, and electrical conductivity(EC), were measured immediately upon collection. Samples were also processed for Chl-a analysis through acetone extraction and spectrophotometric measurements, and a portion was transferred to nutrient media for algal isolation. Microscopic analyses revealed significant differences in algal compositions between the two sites. While samples from Mezitli primarily showed the presence of Cylindrotheca closterium and other pennate diatoms, those from Samandağ exhibited higher species diversity, including Thalassionema, Syracosphaera, Grammatophora, and various flagellates and amoebae. Notably, despite lower pH and EC values in Samandağ, the site showed more diverse algal presence, suggesting a complex response of microalgal communities to post-seismic marine conditions. The findings emphasize the dynamic interplay between environmental parameters and biological diversity in marine ecosystems affected by seismic activity. The measured environmental parameters serve as vital indicators of ecosystem health and may influence physiological functions such as osmoregulation in marine algae. This study contributes to understanding the relationship between seismic events and coastal marine ecosystems. It underscores the importance of long-term monitoring to track ecosystem changes and the potential use of Chl-a concentration, and algal diversity as early indicators of environmental stress. Such insights are vital for marine conservation strategies in earthquake-prone regions.
Keywords
Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) Algal diversity Environmental stress Marine water quality Seismic activity
References
- AFAD, T.C. İçişleri Bakanlığı Afet ve Acil Durum Yönetimi Başkanlığı, 2023. 06 Şubat 2023 Pazarcık (Kahramanmaraş) Mw 7.7 Elbistan (Kahramanmaraş) Mw 7.6 depremlerine ilişkin ön değerlendirme raporu, ss: 83.
- Alvan HV, Azad FH, Omar HB, 2012. Chlorophyll concentration and surface temperature changes associated with earthquakes. Nat Hazards, 64: 691–706.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Microbiology (Other) |
| Journal Section | Research Articles |
| Authors | |
| Early Pub Date | July 9, 2025 |
| Publication Date | |
| Submission Date | April 22, 2025 |
| Acceptance Date | May 25, 2025 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2025 Volume: 8 Issue: 5 |
