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A dense grid of high-resolutions multichannel seismic reflection profiles from the northern basins of the eastern Mediterranean (Rhodes, Finike, Antalya, Cilicia, Adana and Latakia basin) allow documenting a Messinian evaporite succession of variable thickness, bounded at its base and top by two strong seismic reflectors named respectively BS/BES (or the N-reflector) and TS/TES (or the M-reflector). Messinian evaporite succession is thickest in the deep Antalya Basin (2000–2400 ms twt), but is notably thinner in across the Rhodes and Finike basins in the west and the Adana, Cilicia, Latakia basins in the east. Five acoustically distinctive Messinian subunits are identified in the Antalya Basin (2e–2a): three of these subunits (2e, 2c, 2a) are acoustically stratified with strong laterally continuous reflections while two (2d, 2b) are acoustically transparent with few coherent reflections. Interval velocities and the internal acoustic character of subunits are used in conjunction with correlations with borehole data to suggest the lithological composition of the subunits. Subunit 2e is possibly composed of detrital sediment and resedimented primary lower gypsum, associated with the intensive subaerial erosion immediately after the onset of the Messinian drawdown. Correlations with the DSDP Sites 375 and 376 suggest that the acoustically transparent subunits 2d and 2b are likely composed of massive halite with interbeds of anhydrite, magnesium and potassium salts and minor siliciclastics. Subunit 2c is probably composed of interbedded siliciclastic and evaporites and/or trapped fluids. Subunit 2a probably corresponds to the gypsum horizons interbedded with carbonates and siliciclastics. Comparison between the Messinian subunits in the eastern and western Mediterranean shows remarkable acoustic similarities. In both regions there is a stratified lower subunit (2e), sequentially overlain by a thick transparent subunit (2d), thin stratified subunit (2c) and thick transparent subunit (2b), which are all capped by a mainly stratified subunit (2a). These similarities strongly suggest similarities in the sedimentary evolution of basins in the eastern and western Mediterranean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper reports the abundance and biomass of Dasyatis centroura (Mitchill, 1815), D. marmorata (Steindachner, 1892), D. pastinaca (Linnaeus, 1758), and D. tortonesei Capapé, 1975 at various depth levels and seasons in the Gulf of Antalya, and total length-weight (TL-W), disc length--weight (DL-W) and disc width--weight (DW-W) relationship of 391 individuals of D. pastinaca, 21 individuals of D. marmorata, and five individuals of D. centroura, caught in trawling surveys. A total of 116 hauls were carried out, between August 2009 and April 2010 seasonally in the Gulf of Antalya, at six stations and six depth levels (25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200 m) using a commercial bottom trawl. Dasyatis species were sampled from 65 hauls and the frequency of occurrence was 56.03% for D. pastinaca, 11.21% for D. marmorata, 2.59% for D. centroura and 0.86% for D. tortonesei. The overall mean abundance and biomass was 55.32 ind./km2 and 107.53 kg/km2 for D. pastinaca; 2.54 ind./km² and 2.56 kg/km² for D. marmorata, 0.50 ind./km2 and 25.97 kg/km² for D. centroura and 0.25 ind./km² and 1.34 kg/km² for D. tortonesei. The general TL-W, DL-W and DW-W were described by the equations: W = 0.023*TL2.76; W = 0.0999*DL2.74 and W = 0.037*DW2.97 for D. pastinaca; W = 0.002*TL3.23; W = 0.034*DL3.02 and W = 0.0045*DW3.59 for D. marmorata; and W = 0.00001*TL4.04; W = 1.481*DL2.16 and W = 0.141*DW2.59 for D. centroura. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper reports the abundance and biomass of white grouper, Epinephelus aeneus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817), (Pisces: Serranidae) according to depth levels and seasons in the Gulf of Antalya, and the length-weight relationship parameters of 350 individuals. A total of 116 hauls were carried out, between August 2009 and April 2010, seasonally in the Gulf of Antalya, at six stations and six depth levels (25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200 m), using a commercial bottom trawl. E. aeneus was sampled from 60 hauls and the frequency of occurrence was 51.72%. The overall average biomass of E. aeneus was 55.78 kg/km2 and the mean abundance was 60.60 ind./km2 . The smallest total length (TL) was 10 cm and the maximum TL was 101 cm. The mean TL was calculated as 34.99 cm. The general length-weight relationship was described by the equation: W = 0.040*L2.657 (r 2 : 0.958; p<0.001). Mean TL and weight of the specimens, b-value and mean biomass per abundance were highest in summer. The mean biomass per abundance was higher in Sts. D, E and F than Sts. A, B and C, located in the eastern part of the gulf. The mean abundance decreased as the depth level increased, however, mean biomass per abundance and mean TL and weight of the individuals increased constantly from 25 m to 100 m depth. The percentage of the mature fish decreased as the depth decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]