Trophic Status Assessment in Some Lotic Ecosystem in Turkey (Sakarya Basin)

Abstract

Benthic diatoms constitute a very important group of organisms in terms of providing information about the water quality of the lotic ecosystems. This research was carried out in Istanbul creek, Aliaga creek, Bostancı creek and Orta creek in the Sakarya basin. The trophic states of these creeks were evaluated according to their diatomes. In the study, the epilithic diatoms were determined to consist of 42 taxa belonging to İstanbul creek, 28 to Bostancı creek, 25 to Orta creek and 20 to Aliaga creek. A total of 51 taxa were determined in the creeks. In this study, Cocconeis pediculus, Ulnaria ulna and Cymbella affinis were found to have the highest abundant at the stations. In the creeks, water temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH were determined as respectively 9.1-14.1 ℃, 8.2-9.4 mg L-1, 7.1- 7.5 and conductivity as 210.2 - 240.4 μS cm-1. Although different results were obtained according to the diatom indices criteria (IBD, SLA,IDSE,IDAP, TID, SID,CEE, WAT, TDI, SHE, TIT) the creeks were determined to be close to water quality class I -II according to the Surface Water Quality Regulation In general, according to the diatom index values, it has been determined that the creeks have good-medium quality water characteristics.