The first record of Phyllorhiza punctata von Lendenfeld , 1884 from the southern Aegean Coast of Turkey

The Australian spotted jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata was reported in September 2011, in Sülüngür Lake, Muğla, on the Southern Aegean coast of Turkey. This is the second record from Turkey. The first record was in 2010 in Iskenderun, on the Levantine coast of Turkey.

It was first observed in the Mediterranean Sea in 1965.Since then it has been reported from different locations in the Mediterranean Sea (Galil et al. 1990(Galil et al. , 2009;;Abed-Navandi and Kikinger 2007;Boero et al. 2009;Fuentes et al 2011).In 2010, the species was recorded from İskenderun Bay, SE Turkey (Çevik et al. 2011).In this study, we discuss the presence of P. punctata in the southern Aegean Sea by reporting the species from that location for the first time.

Materials and methods
Sülüngür Lake is part of the Köyceğiz-Dalyan lagoon system, a protected natural reserve in the province of Muğla, southwestern Turkey (Ekdal and Tanık 2008).Sülüngür Lake is connected with both Köyceğiz Lake and the Mediterranean Sea.The lake has two salinity layers.An upper salinity layer, which moves from Köyceğiz Lake to the Mediterranean Sea shows seasonal variations whereas a bottom salinity layer moving from the Mediterranean Sea to the Köyceğiz Lake is constant (Gürel 2000).Maximum depth of the lake is about 10 m.
In September 27, 2011, ten specimens of P. punctata were collected from two stations in the Sülüngür Lake.The individuals were weighed and their umbrella diameters were measured (Table 1).The specimens were preserved in 4% formalin solution and deposited in Muğla University, Faculty of Fisheries (Collection number: MUSUM/CNI/2011/3-13). Temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen values of the lake were measured with YSI Multiprobe System (Table 2).

Results and discussion
Medusae were counted along three direct lines, each of them was 2 km in length and 10 m wide.The observation was carried out from both sides (5 m transect width off each side) of a boat whilst the boat drove at the lowest speed.Abundance of Phyllorhiza punctata individuals was determined as 4 ind./10m 2 .Medusae swarmed during four weeks (September 8, 2011 -October 2, 2011) and 1-2 dead individuals were   seen every 10 m along the coast line of the Sülüngür Lake (September 27, 2011).Phyllorhiza punctata averaged 45 cm in bell diameter with a maximum reported size of 62 cm (Graham et al. 2003).In our study, maximum size of P. punctata in bell diameter was measured at 50.3 cm.
No jellyfish were previously detected in Sülüngür Lake (personal communications with people living in Dalyan and working in fish farms).
Fishing and fish farming of some fish families (Mugilidae, Sparidae, Moronidae, Cyprinidae, Anguillidae, Serranidae, Siluridae, etc.) are  Atherina and Tilapia species are the most abundant species in Köyceğiz-Dalyan Lagoon System.Also, fishing is carried on with fish traps and cages in Sülüngür Lake (Buhan 1998).
Sea bream and sea bass farming are performed in fish cages in the lake (Buhan et al. 1998).
Therefore, Sülüngür Lake is an important habitat for P. punctata which feeds on fish eggs and larvae.In October and November when strong winds and waves come from the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean water enters the Köyceğiz-Dalyan Lagoon System through the bottom of the system (Gürel 2000).Water exchange between the system and the Mediterranean Sea, and strong winds and currents at the entrance of the system could effect the entrance of P. punctata to the system.