Posidonia oceanica

Sponges on Posidonia oceanica A few number of studies have been carried out on sponge species associated with P. oceanica meadows on the coasts of Türkiye. The only study regarding sponge species on rhizomes of P. oceanica was carried out by Sarıtaş (1973) in Ayvalık, who listed a total of 22 species. However, three of these species (Prosuberites epiphytum, Rhabderemia indica and Tethya lyncurium) were considered invalid for the Mediterranean Sea (WPD, 2024). Evcen and Çınar (2017) also reported 25 sponge species associated with P. oceanica along the Aegean coast of Türkiye. In the present study, a total of 35 species were found in association with rhizomes of P. oceanica along the eastern coast of Türkiye. The most common species were Aplysina aerophoba, Spirastrella cunctatrix, Crambe crambe, Chondrilla nucula, Ircinia variabilis and Sarcotragus foetidus.