Diversity and Ecology of Algae from Melen River (Western Black Sea River Catchment) in Turkey

Özet

Algae are among the key organisms of aquatic ecosystems. While there have been a large number of importantalgological studies on different river basins in Turkey, the use of algae in biomonitoring is a new approach. Epiphytic andepilithic algae in the Melen River were studied between May 2003 and April 2004. A total of 148 taxa, with 101 belonging toBacillariophyta, 18 to Chlorophyta, 9 to Charophyta, 13 to Cyanobacteria, 5 to Euglenophyta, and 2 to Miozoa, wereidentified in this study. Members of Bacillariophyta were the dominant taxa at all sites, with oligohalobious-indifferents andalkaliphiles being the most common. Among the non-diatom taxa, there were more species with oligohalobious-indifferentand indifferent properties. The river water was alkaline and temperate, with low salinity characters. Bio-indications(autecology) of the river were studied. From the results, organic pollution indicators of Watanabe‟s classification (46 species,31.1%) constituted three groups (saproxen, eurysaprobe and saprophile). Based on the classification (according to Watanabe‟ssystem) and RPI (River Polluted Index), the ecological conditions of Melen River were assessed as low, with a moderate levelof organic pollution, and lightly to moderately polluted, respectively.