Flora and Fauna of the Aegean Sea
Ichtyofauna
Every sea is a living organism - it is not just a media where you sail through, or a background of sunrises and sunsets. The sea reveals a whole new world in front of you and if you have the eyes, the attitude and the proper equipment you may discover wonders, which you've never had expected. The delight one gets from being in contact with wildlife cannot be explained - you have to experience it.
Aegean Sea is a relatively small sea, adjacent to the Mediterranean. It shares much of the biodiversity of the Mediterranean and still it has endemic and rare species (endemic - species that inhabit only a particular place of the planet).
One of the very first things that will strike you is the crystal clear, blue-turquoise and so transparent water. There is no phytoplankton, which probably has influenced this state of the water. The absence of the plankton does not mean that nutrients are short and life is scarce. Just on the contrary - in the Aegean Sea you can spend much time exploring and relishing nature beauties.
You can scuba dive and do snorkeling as well sail, cruise or just lie on the beach.
However, in order to appreciate better and fully what you will see, you have to know a little bit for the richness of flora and fauna of the sea.
Fish are one of the most interesting part of the sea fauna, they are diverse and colourful.
Most notable are, of course, the endemic fish, because you can see them only there in the Aegean Sea. The Blennies (the family of Bleniidae) can be found in shallow waters along the romantic rocky shores with small bays. These fish have distinguishable bulgy eyes, long dorsal fin. They behave like pelagic fish - sit on the bottom and their long tail fin curves to one side. Blennies are small and colourful. They stick to bottom freshwater springs; also the behaviour of these tiny beautiful fish is odd - they are not scared by swimmers, just on the contrary, they swim around you. The most common blenny, which happens to be the biggest as well, is very easy to be seen - it dwells in shallow water and is not very keen on moving, they prefer to rather stick to the bottom.
If you see a goldfish in the sea, at first you might be very surprised - what is a decorative fresh-water fish doing in the sea? But don't worry, this animal only looks like the goldfish. It is another fish, called Cardinal Fish (from the family of Apogonidae). Their eyes are also bulgy and their body rarely exceeds 15 cm.
The two types of eels (conger and moray) in the Aegean sea are extremely aggressive, so don't mess with them - they attack anything that moves, even things that are much bigger. They are nocturnal animals and great hunters. They wait in ambush in rock crevices and attack very fast and unexpectedly. In the Aegean they seldom exceed 1.3 m.
With two distinctive tubular nostrils near the front of their nose and another pair near their eyes, this is about all you will see during the day as they peer from their lair waiting for unsuspecting passing prey. When open, their huge mouths extending even back their eyes, and display two impressive rows of sharp teeth.
The damsel fish (Chromis chromis) has age dimorphism - which means its outer appearance changes through time and the stages of its development. During its young years it is light blue and then it becomes darker and dark until it becomes almost black. One interesting fact from their behaviour: they can be seen rarely just floating in the water, without conscious motion - looking dead. But this is not true, they simply save energy.
The Garfish (from Lepisosteidae, species name B. belone) - these fish are remarkable for they look very ferocious with their long jaws and numerous teeth, but this is only camouflage, they are harmless to people. They reach up to 30 cm.
The groupers or "dusky perch", as they are also called, (Serranidae) are considered some of the most intelligent representatives of the ichtyofauna - they avoid rather successfully being caught, and reach 1.2 m in length. Their body is easily distinguishable dark green colour and ovoid shape. The fins have pale edges and are generally darker than the body. Some might say this fish looks scary, but it is not dangerous to swimmers.
Another rather spectacular species is the lizard fish, which in the Aegean Sea can reach up to 2 m! It is very common; in its behaviour it reminds of the sheat-fish. The lizard fish just rests calmly and motionless onto the bottom and suddenly out of the blue attacks and grabs the prey.
The parrot fish from the family of Scaridae is very very common, it dwells in pairs or small groups. Its front teeth and jaw is so tough that it can break the hard surface of a coral or even rocks. The most curious fact about the parrot fish is that it produces a kind of shell called "cocoon", where they hide themselves during the night, probably they use this against the powerful nocturnal predators like the eels, which have intricate sense of smell.
The picarel (Maena chryselis) is also a very frequent guest of the reefs and rocky areas. They are especially attracted to people who dive, they have no fear to approach, and they can escort you all the way of your nice cool swim.They have a rather big dorsal fin, a short anal one and they both end in sharp spines. The sea beam (Pagellus bogaraveo) can easily be confused with the more numerous picarel. The adults have a large dark spot at the back behind the gills. The so called rays (order Batiformes) consist of seven families - very easily distinguishable by their flattened appearance and rather big pectoral fins. They secrete a poison only when they are attacked, which is not deadly, but the bite can be very painful.
The electric ray (Torpedo marmorata) is not very common, but you may get the chance to see it in some sandy areas and shallow beaches. They are brown, with a circular disc about 60 cm, and enormous pectoral fins used for propulsion. The rays have the ability to produce an electric charge which it uses to kill small fish. They are not lethal or particularly threatening to divers, but they must be treated with respect and not teased.
The red mullet (Mullus surmueltus) is considered a delicacy with the people from the Aegean basin. They have sweet flesh, about 30 cm body-length. They have the intricate ability to change colour in accordance with the time of the day, or their emotional state (stressed, relaxed).
The scorpion fish (Scorpaena porcus) is very common, yet you might not get that, as it is a master of disguise. Like the mullet, it also has the wonderous ability to change colour. Their colour ranges from brown-green to light pink. Scorpion fish has a big head, large mouth and some feather-like tentacles just above the eyes.
They are not good swimmers and spend most of their time without moving on the bottom among the stones and weed in shallow water waiting in ambush for prey - usually small fish and crustaceans. Their assault is fast and deadly, and their big mouth allows them to take relatively big prey for their size. When disturbed they first raise their dorsal fins to warn the intruder and for defence, preferring to retreat a meter or so rather than to attack. They sometimes reach 30cms in length. In Turkey they make a traditional soup out of them. The poison can be neutralised by boiling for a few minutes.
Stargazer (from Dactlyoscopidae)
The European stargazer, (Uranosscopus scaber) is a rather usual inhabitant of the Aegean but because of its nature, it is very difficult to find. They cover themselves completely in sand, and only their bulgy eyes pop up (reminding of a hippo in a plash). Their gills is huge and sculptured very beautifully. It covers the whole rounded body, which looks almost "folded away", keeping inside the poisonous back fin, which is black and it rises when the animal feels threatened. The poison is not lethal, but unpleasant, so you must be careful if you have to stick or rest on the seabed.
Wrasse (from the family of Labroides)
In the Aegean shore waters, it is full of the common rainbow wrasse (Coris julis). It is harmless, beautiful and very inquisitive - it even follows swimmers and tries to "make friends". It's a lovely fish, about 18 cm long. During the first phase of its life it has a blue spot on the bottom gill and a yellow stripe from snout to the tail. In the second phase of the life it turns into spiny rays and a black spot on the dorsal fin.
The interesting thing about this species is that it is a hermaphrodite - in the first half of its life is it is female, then it turns to male.
Some species of wrasse are living in symbiosis with other species - that is they have a "leaning agreement" with them. The wrasse removes the outer parasites which irritate the host fish, but those parasites become food to the wrasse. So everybody's happy in the end. The big fish even "offers" itself for cleaning with a swinging motion and then staying motionless, it can also open its mouth for dental cleaning.
Seeing sea mammals in the coastal areas of Greece and Turkey (and all the other countries for that matter) is getting rarer and rarer, very fast. And that is of course because we, humans, kill animals and pollute their environment.
Dolphins
One of the most spectacular sights at sea is to see a passage of dolphins. Not only that they are the second cleverest organisms after us, people - they are so beautiful and elegant.
Unfortunately the large-scale killing of dolphins between the 50s and the 70s of the last century turned them into an endangered species, and now it is almost impossible to see them. The general state of the water in the Mediterranean, Aegean and Black Seas also furthers for the low number of dolphins - there is not much food for them.
Seals
Seals are extremely rare in the Aegean. The monk seal (Monachus monachus) is already considered extinct in the Black Sea and in the Aegean it has some recorded encounters, but we can't even speak of population.
Turtles
In the Aegean sea you can observe only the wonderful loggerhead turtle.
Sponges are the so called "sessile" animals. Their bodies consist of a single cavity with many many openings. The sponges we use in our bathroom are very often made up of a real sponge (or if it is synthetic, it looks like the real one, because the real one is no longer existing in commercial quantities). Their bodies consist of much calcium and siliceous spicules, many fibres. You can see them in various colours - we can even call them "the coral of the Mediterranean" . They are sometimes mistaken for plants for they don't move almost at all, and they also photosynthesize but actually they are animals.
BLACK SPONGE or DARK GREEN SPONGE
The most common and largest species of sponge in Turkey. It is normally attached to rocks, can be up to 120cm in diameter and often provides a comfortable resting place for the black green groupers.
TUBE SPONGES (Verongia aerophoba)
These bright yellow sponges grow to 40cms in height. It is a fairly common species and can be found both in shallow and deep water, attached to rocks or on sandy and shingle areas.
SURFACE ENCRUSTING SPONGES
Surface encrusting sponges are numerous and can be seen at all depths. They are distinctive, being smooth, often with a slimy feel and many exhalent holes over the surface. There are a wide range of species in Turkish waters in a variety of colours from bright red, green, brown and black.
BLACK SEA URCHIN (Arabacia lixula)
It seems that every shore side rock in this part of Turkey is home for the black sea urchin. They are usually between 5cm to 7cm in diameter when mature and the sharp spines are up to 3cm in length. The cleaned test of the animal is pink in colour with characteristic red lines marking the position of the tube feet pores, the oral opening is larger than most other species.
COMMON OCTOPUS (Octopus vulgaris)
These harmless, (to divers), and intelligent animals can be found on most dives, although during the day they are difficult to find because they hide in rock crevices and among stones. The entrance to their lair is usually camouflaged with an arrangement of stones and shells, and it is the neatness of their work that makes their habitats relatively easy to spot, when you know what to look for. Despite their affinity for rocky areas they can be found in sandy areas where they burrow into the sand forming a funnel shaped lair lined and reinforced with rocks and the shells of their unfortunate former victims.
Unfortunately they are heavily fished to supply the demand of local restaurants. Their strong arms bear two rows of suckers and are usually green/ brown in colour depending on their situation and rarely grow to more than 50cms in length in this region. On night dives in torch light the colour changes can be quite spectacular flashing from light blue to deep brown. At night they can be seen roaming over the rocks in search of prey instantly changing colour and altering their texture to match their surroundings.
During the early part of the season, around May and June, the female octopus builds a specially prepared nest in a hole in the rocks in which to lay her eggs. The entrance is blocked with rocks and it would appears that she does not feed during this time. Although the nurseries are easy to find, it is best to leave the mothers undisturbed.
LESSER OCTOPUS (Eledone cirrhosa)
This species of octopus is relatively rare during the daytime but can be seen on most night dives. They have long slender arms bearing only one row of suckers and they have a very soft texture. Coloured coral pink to red brown with white spots, they do not have the same ability as the common octopus to change colour or texture.
CUTTLEFISH and SQUID (order: Decapoda)
These cephalopods have cylindrically shaped bodies with lateral fins and have an internal shell or cuttlebone. The mouth is surrounded by 8 short and two longer tentacles.
COMMON CUTTLEFISH (Sepia officinalis)
The common cuttlefish is an intelligent and voracious nocturnal carnivore that can be seen on most night dives and occasionally during the day. They are able to change colour and shape to resemble their background. If threatened, they eject ink into the water in order to mask their escape. If observer at night by torchlight the pale underside reflects a myriad of colours.
Because of their similarity there is often a great deal of confusion among divers whether what they have observed is a cuttlefish or a squid. More often than not it will be a cuttlefish that they have seen because most species of squid are pelagic and do not often venture close to the shore.
Algae
Algae are nonvascular aquatic plants, which means they are unable to transmit or circulate fluid. They are a division of the plant kingdom and are generally green, brown or red in colour. They have a covering of mucus with a slippery feel, with a means of attachment, to the bottom, (not roots) and they often have a flat or feathery appearance. Species includes Kelps and seaweed and can range in size from phyphotoplankton to giant kelp.
Kelp
The predominantly rocky shores around the south western shores of Turkey provide a perfect habitat for many species of algae. The very clear waters around the Turkish coast allow plants to thrive at depth due to the availability of light, essential for photosynthesis to occur in plants.
There are so many common types of seaweed to be found in Turkish waters it is impracticable to include them within the scope of this guide. Anyone interested in identifying the various species of seaweed should obtain one of the many botanical books specialising in algae.
Kelp is rare in the relatively warmer waters of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas.
EEL GRASS or SEA GRASS (Zostera marina)
There are many fields of eel grass to be found in Turkish waters growing in sandy or muddy areas and between rocky outcrops, reaching as much as one meter in height. Eel grass is not an alga but one of a very few flowering marine plants related to seaweed and terrestrial plants. The flowers are inconspicuous in the leaf bases. Unlike algae it has a complex root system which is very important in the stabilisation of sediment and another reason for the exceptionally clarity of the water around this part of the Turkish coast.
Often eel grass is considered by divers to be uninteresting, but close examination will reveal that it provides shelter for a host of marine animals.
|
