IESc PhD alumna, Dr. Merve Sıvacı, has been successfully funded under the TÜBİTAK 3501 – Career Development Program.

We are pleased to announce that our new research project led by one of our PhD alumni, Dr. Merve Sıvacı, has been successfully funded under the TÜBİTAK 3501 – Career Development Program.

The project entitled “Comparison of the upper and lower layers’ biodiversity of the Sea of Marmara using environmental DNA metabarcoding”, will be conducted at our Institute. The project team includes Prof. Dr. Raşit Bilgin as consultant and Dr. Ünsal Karhan as a researcher.

The research focuses on the unique and complex ecosystem of the Sea of Marmara, a ‘Special Environmental Protection Area’ characterized by its distinct two-layer structure. In this study, the biodiversity differences between the upper and lower layers of the Sea of Marmara will be determined utilizing environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding for the first time in literature. The distribution of fish and invertebrate taxonomic groups between layers will be investigated as well as how these are affected by seasonal vertical mixing. As the first application of eDNA metabarcoding specifically aimed to compare the vertical biodiversity in the region, the project serves as a pioneering methodology for marine biodiversity and environmental monitoring in the Sea of Marmara. By establishing this molecular framework, the project aims to provide data for the conservation of this unique marine ecosystem.