The Echinoderm Fauna of Gokceada Island (NE Aegean Sea)

The Echinoderm fauna of Gokceada island (NE Aegean sea) was studied in 2011 from 22 stations at depths ranging from 0.5-45 m by means of bottom trawling and snorkeling. Additionally, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, TDS and conductivity of water were measured on board. A total of 626 specimens belonging to 25 species (7 Asteroidea and Echinoidea, 6 Ophiroidea, 4 Holothoridea and 1 Crinoidea) were identified. The dominant species was the echinoid Psammechinus microtuberculatus (Blainville, 1825). According to the result of cluster analysis based on the precence/absence of Echinoderm species, Gokceada island had a species composition similar to that of Bozcaada island while both islands were different from the Canalckale strait. However, ANOSIM they were not found to be statistically different (p = 0.3).