Page 121 - Çevre Şehir İklim İngilizce - Sayı 3

Zeki Ünal Yümün - Erol Kam - Melike Önce

of the oxygen existing in the water, and creates an oxygen-free environment
during this decomposition process. Most fish and other creatures living in an
oxygen-poor environment die, and the residues of dead creatures merge into
mucilage. These residues within mucilage may contain viruses and bacteria,
and may create a dangerous situation in the environment (Yıldız and Gönlüal,
2021). Protistas from microorganisms use mucilage to move, and their
movement is in the opposite direction of mucilage (Kayhan and Yön Ertuğ,
2022, Yüksek and Sur, 2010). This secretion in plants plays a role in the storage
of water, nutrients and germination of seeds. There is a very rich mucilage
in aleo vera, Cactus and flax seeds (Rodriguez et al. 2006; Wani et al. 2010;
Lancelot 1995). Sea snot is a problem that can emerge in other seas as in
the Marmara Sea. Mucilage enriches in terms of bacteria such as E-coli and
can threaten marine life. Sea snot can occur during long periods of warm
and windless weather in the seas with a large amount of nutrients (nutrients)
(Genç et al. 2021; Özyurt et al. 2001). Sea snot can clot in large masses, which
can cover large areas such as 200 km in diameter. Mucilage is produced by
phytoplankton that come under stress for various reasons (Mecozzi et al. 2012;
Breitburg et al.1999). In addition, the oxygen ratio of the sea decreases due
to the sulfur gas released intensively from the faults under the sea. Sea snot
can also form in these oxygen-deprived environments (Mackenzie et al. 2002).
Mucilage was first recorded in the Adriatic Sea in 1789 (Danovaro, Umani and
Pusceddu, 2009). Warmer and stagnant waters increase mucilage formation
and cause it to accumulate in large masses (Cozzi et al. 2004). The Deepwater
Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico caused a large amount of mucilage
formation (Dell’amore, 2010). The mucilage outbreak in the Marmara Sea in
2021 accumulated on the coasts, especially in the bays, causing environmental
pollution. The mucilage observed in the Marmara sea was examined and
investigated for its causes by Yümün and Kam (2021). In this study, previous
studies were compiled and also the pollutants causing the contamination of
sea were investigated. Fishermen in Marmara Ereğlisi, Bandırma, Tekirdağ
and Silivri who were interviewed, emphasized that mucilage accumulates
especially on the seabed and damages the nets by sticking to them. Sea water
and waste water samples collected from various points of the Marmara Sea
were analysed in terms of organic and inorganic matters, and their potential
to create pollution was evaluated.
This study aims to reveal the causes mucilage formation and to provide
recommendations for preventing the recurrence of mucilage in the future.

106 Journal of Environment, Urbanization and Climate