Research Information System
Aquatic Biodiversity International Conference (ABIC 5), Sibiu, Romania, 7 - 09 October 2015, vol.17, no.1, pp.29-38, (Full Text)
The species composition of Simuliidae are important to
measure environmental quality of freshwater ecosystems. Specially, filter
feeding larvae of blackflies use dissolved organic matter and play a key role
in nutrient cycle in lotic habitats.
Many studies demonstrated that the effects of anthropogenic
activities are heavily disturbed aquatic ecosystems in Turkey.
Simuliidae species that respond to various
environmental degradations are bioindicators and they are very useful tool for
assessment of water quality of running waters. Composition of Simuliidae
species can be used as indicators of agricultural, industrial and urbanization impacts
on aquatic ecosystems.
Yeşilırmak River is located in the Northern Turkey and
it is the third largest basin (38,730 km2) in Turkey. The habitat
quality of the river was affected by urban sewage, agricultural and industrial
activities. Hydroelectric power plants, regulators and dams are also serious
threats to water quality of Yeşilırmak River.
This research aims to investigate the Simuliidae fauna
of Yeşilırmak River Basin and find out the species composition of the
collecting sites. The study was
carried out in July 2008 and June
2009. Samples were collected at 16 sites and Simuliidae species were identified
to species and genus levels. One genus and eleven species (Metacnephia sp., Metacnephia
subalpina, Simulium (Eusimulium) angustipes, Simulium (Nevermannia) costatum,
Simulium (Simulium) argenteostriatum, Simulium (Simulium) bezzii, Simulium
(Simulium) ornatum, Simulium (Simulium) trifasciatum, Simulium (Simulium)
variegatum, Simulium (Wilhelmia) balcanicum, Simulium (Wilhelmia) lineatum and
Simulium (Wilhelmia) pseudequinum)
were recorded from 16 collecting sites. The distribution and abundance of
Simuliidae species reflect the changes in water quality of Yeşilırmak River.
All of these species were recorded from the sites effected by agricultural
activities and urban areas.
As a result of study, it was found that community
structures of Simuliidae were negatively affected by all activities disturbing
habitat quality of Yeşilırmak River.