Adıyaman University Biology Department Lecturer Assoc. Dr. The research team, including Serdar Sönmez, discovered a new species in West Antarctica.
FROM THE ARTHROPOD TYPE
Prof from Mersin University. Dr. Süphan Karaytuğ, Prof. from Balıkesir University. Dr. Serdar Sak and Prof. from Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University. Dr. The team, including Okan Külköylüoğlu, discovered a new copepod (arthropod with a very old evolutionary history) species as a result of examinations on three islands in West Antarctica.
This species, called Harpacticus tae, was discovered with samples collected within the scope of the 6th Turkish Antarctic Expedition carried out under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey and under the coordination of TÜBİTAK MAM Polar Research Institute (KARE). The results of the study, also supported by TÜBİTAK (Project No: 121Y372), were published in Polar Biology, one of the internationally respected journals.
The name Harpacticus tae is an abbreviation for “Turkish Antarctic Expedition” and was chosen as a reference to Turkey’s scientific activities and expeditions in Antarctica. The species, identified from the benthic habitat of Antarctica, is thought to play an important ecological role as a primary consumer. This discovery underlines Turkey’s contribution to a better understanding of ecosystems in Antarctica and to polar research.
