The pressures and the ecological quality status of the Marmara Sea (Turkey) by using marine macroalgae and angiosperms

In the present study, the Marine Floristic Ecological Index (MARFEI) was tested to assess the impacts by using marine benthic macrophytes and pressures by using the Macroalgae-Land Uses Simplified Index (MA-LUSI) in the Marmara Sea (Turkey). Sampling of benthic macrophytes was made from 0-5 m depth at 29 different sites during the summer periods of 2017, 2018 and 2019. The study revealed good ecological status class (ESC) for 6 sites, moderate for 11 sites, poor for 8 sites and bad for 4 sites. MARFEIeqr showed a negative linear relationship with the pressure index MA-LUSI.