It is with great pleasure and a sense of environmental urgency that we present this comprehensive volume, “Ecological Changes in the Sea of Marmara.” This collection of papers represents a collaborative effort from esteemed researchers and experts in major ecological fields to shed light on the intricate web of ecological transformations taking place in the Sea of Marmara.
As the gateway between the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara occupies a unique and crucial position between these contrasting marine ecosystems. Regrettably, a myriad of human-mediated challenges, with climate change at the forefront, has significantly impacted the delicate ecology of this semi-enclosed sea. The discharge of various pollutants, ranging from plastics to turbidity, coupled with the introduction of invasive species, has wrought considerable consequences. The mucilage crisis of 2020-2021 serves as a poignant illustration, vividly highlighting how unforeseen disasters can manifest when the cumulative effects of anthropogenic activities reach a tipping point.
The book unfolds with a geological perspective, delving into the Middle-Late Pleistocene paleoceanographic evolution of the Marmara Sea and its interconnectedness with neighboring Black Sea and Aegean Sea. The narrative then weaves through palynological and paleontological records, providing insights into the shifts from glacial-stage oxygenated brackish conditions to postglacial hypoxic, periodically dysoxic environments. |