Abstract

A project was conducted on to collect data regarding four groupers [Epinephelus aeneus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817), E. costae (Steindachner, 1878), E. marginatus (Lowe, 1834), and Mycteroperca rubra (Bloch, 1793)] abundance in the six No-Fishing Zones (NFZs) in the Datca-Bozburun Special Environmental Protection Area (SEPA). Surveyed sites included natural habitat distributed across a range of depths from 6 (A-2) to 12 (A-3) meters. E. aeneus, E. costae, and E. marginatus were observed during all seasons of the year and were present during 50.0, 91.7, and 62.5% of all surveys (24), respectively. The maximum number of E. aeneus observed during a single survey ranged from 0 to 11. The mean number observed per site was ranged from 0.0 (A-1) to 4.3 (A-2). There was no significant seasonal effect on presence (p>0.05); however, the highest numbers of individuals were observed during the summer months (n= 13). The maximum number of E. costae observed during a single survey ranged from 0 to 21. The mean number observed per site was ranged from 3.3 (A-1) to 16.5 (A-2). There was no significant seasonal effect on presence (p>0.05); however, the highest numbers of individuals were observed during the spring months (n= 60). The maximum number of E. marginatus observed during a single survey ranged from 0 to 11. The mean number observed per site was ranged from 0.0 (A-4) to 8.3 (A-2). There was no significant seasonal effect on presence (p>0.05); however, the highest numbers of individuals were observed during the summer months (n= 22). M. rubra was observed only in autumn and spring seasons of the year and were present during 12.5% of all surveys (3/24). The maximum number of M. rubra observed during a single survey ranged from 0 to 3. The mean number observed per site was ranged from 0.0 (A-1, A-3, A-4, and A-6) to 1.3 (A-2). There was no significant seasonal effect on presence (p>0.05); however, the highest numbers of individuals were observed during the autumn (n= 3) and spring months (n= 3). The information collected during the course of this project should provide insight regarding the ecology of those groupers within the study area and can potentially assist with future management efforts involving these protected species.