Distribution and abundance of modern dinoflagellate cysts from Marmara, Aegean and Eastern Seas of Turkey.

Twenty-one surface sediment samples were collected from coastal areas of Turkey to determine horizontal distribution and abundance of the cysts. A total of 40 dinoflagellate cyst types were identified and recorded in the range of 34 and 31532 cyst g(-1) d.wt. in the sediments. The concentration of Lingulodinium machaerophorum, Polykrikos kofoidii, Quinquecuspis concreta, Dubridinium caperatum and Spiniferites bulloideus cysts dominated over other species. Although cysts of potentially toxic species of Alexandrium affine type and A. catenella/tamarense complex were found only in Izmir Bay. A. minutum type, Lingulodinium machaerophorum and Operculodinium centrocarpum were observed in the surface sediments of Marmara Sea and Fethiye Bay. The present study provides a database on the distribution and composition of dinoflagellate cysts in the Eastern Mediterranean sea coastal waters of Turkey where modern dinoflagellate cysts have been little studied.