Tatlı Göl, Hersek ve Paradeniz Lagünleri’nin Zooplankton (Cladocera, Copepoda, Rotifera) Türlerinin Tespit Edilerek, Mevsimsel Dağılımlarının İncelenmesi

Abstract

Within the scope of this study carried out in Tatlı Lake, Hersek and Paradeniz Lagoons, it was aimed to determine zooplankton species (Cladocera, Copepoda, Rotifera) and to determine their seasonal distributions and population dynamics together with environmental variables. During the study the physicochemical properties of the lagoon lakes were determined, the species forming the zooplankton community were identified, and these species were evaluated using environmental parameters such as frequency, relative abundance, similarity, species diversity, and species evenness indices. In addition, Spearman Correlation Analysis was performed to assess the relationship between environmental variables and zooplankton community indices, and RDA Analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between environmental variables and zooplanktonic organisms.Within the scope of the thesis study, a total of 44 taxa were identified in Tatlı Lake Lagoon, including 3 Cladocera, 1 Copepoda (at the genus level), and 40 Rotifera (5 at the genus level). In Hersek Lagoon, a total of 12 species were identified, including 2 Copepoda (at the genus level) and 10 Rotifera (1 at the genus level). In Paradeniz Lagoon, a total of 8 taxa were identified, including 1 Copepoda (at the genus level) and 7 Rotifera. In Tatlı Lake Lagoon, 1.38% of the total zooplankton consisted of Cladocera, 0.86% Copepoda, 5.37% nauplius, and 92.39% Rotifera whereas in Hersek Lagoon, 1.58% of the total zooplankton consisted of Copepoda, 60.63% nauplius, and 37.79% Rotifera. Finally, in Paradeniz Lagoon, 27.71% of the total zooplankton consisted of Copepoda, 57.63% nauplius, and 14.66% Rotifera. In Tatlı Lake Lagoon, species such as Asplanchna priodonta, Brachionus angularis, Brachionus urceolaris, Keratella quadrata, Polyarthra dolichoptera, and Polyarthra vulgaris were classified as definite fixed species. In Hersek Lagoon, Acartia sp. was classified as a definite fixed species, while in Paradeniz Lagoon, Calanipeda sp. was classified as a definite fixed species. In Tatlı Lake Lagoon, the dominant species were Chydorus sphaericus, Diaphanosoma brachyurum, Alona rectangula, Calanipeda aquaedulcis, Ascomorpha saltans, Brachionus angularis, Filinia longiseta, Hexarthra intermedia, Keratella cochlearis, Polyarthra dolichoptera, Synchaeta oblonga and Trichocerca iernis whereas in Hersek Lagoon Acartia sp., Brachionus plicatilis, Colurella obtusa, Epiphenes senta, Synchaeta grandis and Synchaeta oblonga were dominant. Last of all, in Paradeniz Lagoon Calanipeda sp., Keratella cochlearis, Keratella tropica, Synchaeta grandis ve Synchaeta pectinata were classified as real dominant species. Shannon Diversity Index (H') values in Tatlı Lake Lagoon ranged from 0.85 to 1.82, Margalef Diversity Index (D) values ranged from 1.13 to 1.40, and Pielou Index (J') values ranged from 0.29 to 0.73. In Hersek Lagoon, Shannon Diversity Index (H') values ranged from 0.16 to 1.09, Margalef Diversity Index (D) values ranged from 0.16 to 0.39, and Pielou Index (J') values ranged from 0.29 to 0.73. In Paradeniz Lagoon, Shannon Diversity Index (H') values ranged from 0.48 to 0.88, Margalef Diversity Index (D) values ranged from 0.20 to 0.34, and Pielou Index (J') values ranged from 0.54 to 0.92. Overall, it was confirmed that certain species were dominant in the community, and the species were not evenly distributed within the community. According to the Sorensen Similarity Index conducted separately for the three lagoon lakes, the similarity between stations was found to be high in all lakes. Finally, according to the results of the Spearman Correlation Analysis, it was found that certain environmental variables have positive or negative relationships with each other and with community indices. Additionally, the results of the RDA analysis revealed that environmental variables and sampling months have significant effects on the distribution of certain zooplankton species.