Te use of BMWP and ASPT indices for evaluation of water quality according to macroinvertebrates in Değirmendere Stream (Isparta, Turkey)

Abstract

This study was carried out between March 2011 and February 2012 on Değirmendere Stream in order to determine the waterquality of the stream, and to investigate the environmental quality and the applicability of both the Biological Monitoring WorkingParty (BMWP; Original, Spanish, Hungarian, Czech, and Polish versions) and Average Score Per Taxon (ASPT; Original, Hungarian,and Czech versions) indices. Te biotic and diversity indices were applied using the ASTERICS sofware program. As a result, a total of59 taxa were detected: 4 taxa from Gastropoda, 1 taxon from Bivalvia, 1 taxon from Oligochaeta, 1 taxon from Hirudinea, 2 taxa fromCrustacea, and 50 taxa from Insecta. Te water quality of Değirmendere Stream was found to be unpolluted/slightly polluted accordingto the physicochemical data and the diferent versions of the BMWP and ASPT. However, the score values of the diferent versions of theBMWP were diferent from each other because the versions of the BMWP were adapted based on the geological and ecological featuresof their source countries. Te results of this study suggest that there is still a need for much intensive investigation and further testing ofthe efectiveness of the BMWP and ASPT indices for use in the streams of Turkey. Te fndings also strongly indicate that these indicesshould be adapted based on the geomorphological and environmental features of Turkey.