Tintinnid (Protozoa: Ciliophora) species in the Edremit Bay

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the tintinnid species living in the coastal waters of the Edremit Bay of the Aegean Sea. In this study, the samples were collected from the surface and 3 stations on seasonal basis between 2003 and 2004 using a plankton net with 55 µm pore size. In the identification of species made on the basis of Lorica shape, 16 tintinnid species belonging to 6 families and 10 genera were determined. Besides, this first study performed in the Edremit Bay on this subject also includes the basic hydrographic conditions of the environment such as temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen.