Stable C and N Isotope Composition of European Anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus, from the Marmara Sea and the Black Sea

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the stable isotope ratios of anchovy caught in the Black Sea and Marmara Sea. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N) of European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) were estimated at four sampling sites (İğneada, İstanbul, Trabzon and Hopa) in the Black Sea and Marmara Sea (Turkey). δ13C and δ15N values of European anchovy ranged from -22.31 to -19.19 ‰ and from 3.81 to 12.79 ‰, while C/N ratios ranged from 2.01 to 6.21 in muscle tissue of European anchovy, respectively. İğneada station had more depleted δ13C values and more enriched δ15N values than other stations. This difference might be due to the terrestrial input and agricultural activities in this region.

Weight - Length Relationships (WLRs) of Anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus with the Evaluation of Overfishing Effects on the Slope (b) in the Black Sea (Turkey)

“…So the knowledge of its biological properties including the WLRs parameters is necessary for fisheries management. The WLRs parameters of this Black Sea' key fish species were previously reported from different geographic regions and different fishing seasons in the Black Sea (Erkoyuncu & Özdamar, 1989;Karacam & Düzgünes, 1990;Ünsal, 1989;Mutlu, 1994;Özdamar et al, 1995;Kayalı, 1998;Mutlu, 2000;Gözler & Çiloğlu, 1998;Samsun et al, 2004;Samsun et al, 2006;Aka et al, 2004;Bilgin et al, 2006;Şahin et al, 2008;Erdoğan Sağlam & Sağlam, 2010). Moreover, previous research into the WLRs parameters of Anchovy has been rather fragmentary in the Black Sea.…”

“…Within the spawning season one average female can produce about 50 batches of more than 200,000 eggs (Lisovenko & Andrianov, 2006). The maximum total length of Anchovy was reported as 16.85 cm in 1986-1987 fishing season by Karacam & Düzgünes (1990) and also four age groups (0, I, II and III) were reported by different authors in different fishing seasons in the Black Sea (Erkoyuncu & Özdamar, 1989;Karacam & Düzgünes, 1990;Ünsal, 1989;Mutlu, 1994;Özdamar et al, 1995;Kayalı, 1998;Mutlu, 2000;Gözler & Çiloğlu, 1998;Samsun et al, 2004;Samsun et al, 2006;Aka et al, 2004;Bilgin et al, 2006;Şahin et al, 2008;Erdoğan Sağlam & Sağlam, 2010). All reproductive, growth and also mortality parameters of Black Sea Anchovy are very variable seasonally and annually (Bilgin, 2006;Lisovenko & Andrianov, 2006;Bilgin et al, 2016).…”

“…In all result of the previous studies (a total of 20 fishing seasons results), except for 11 fishing seasons results, conducted between 1985-1986 and 2013-2014 fishing seasons in the Black Sea, the b values were reported regardless of fish sexes (Table 1). Karacam & Düzgünes (1990);3: Ünsal (1989); 4: Mutlu (1994); 5: Özdamar et al, (1995); 6: Kayalı (1998); 7: Mutlu (2000); 8: Gözler & Çiloğlu (1998);9: Samsun et al, (2004);10: Samsun et al, (2006);11: Aka et al, (2004);12: Bilgin et al, (2006);13: Şahin et al, (2008); 14: Erdoğan Sağlam & Sağlam (2010); 15: Present study. 6 1985-1986 1986-1987 1988-1989 1993-1994 1994-1995 1996-1997 1996-1997 1997-1998 1997-1998 1998-1999 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 2001-2002 2001-2002 2004-2005 2004 The reported b values for combined specimens ranged between 2.5078 and 3.4157 (mean: 2.9439±0.05021, n = 20) (Table 1).…”

Exploitation shifted trophic ecology and habitat preferences of Mediterranean and Black Sea bluefin tuna over centuries

“…anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus , Engraulidae: ca. −20‰ δ 13 C, 6‰ δ 15 N) (Bănaru et al, 2007; Çoban‐Yıldız et al, 2006; Das et al, 2004; Lenin et al, 1997; Mutlu, 2021). Contextual δ 34 S isotope data from this region is limited, though we theorise that ancient BFT foraged on benthic‐pelagic prey of Marmara, NW shelf ecosystems of the Black Sea and the Azov Sea, because BFT δ 34 S values were lower than the pelagic zones of these habitats (ca.…”

“…The quality of δ 13 C and δ 15 N values for the remaining 118 samples was controlled by confirming atomic C:N ratios (3.0-3.4) fell within the accepted ranges for archaeological and modern samples (Guiry & Szpak, 2020, 2021. Since variation in lipid content between samples can potentially drive differences in δ 13 C values (Guiry & Szpak, 2020), we studied the relationship between C:N Ratios and δ 13 C which revealed a non-significant correlation (Pearson's r = −.12, p = .23, Figure S3).…”