First record of Polydora cornuta Bosc, 1802 (Polychaeta: Spionidae) from the Sea of Marmara, Turkey basin

The present study reports the first occurrence of an alien spionid polychaete Polydora cornuta Bosc, 1802, in Izmit Bay, Sea of Marmara, Turkey. A dense population of P. cornuta (up to 170 ind.m-2) found at 7 sampling stations in the bay on 18 August 2006. Our findings show that currently this alien polychaete is a key species of polluted soft bottom benthic assemblages in Izmit Bay. © 2008 The Author(s).