Gencer Turkmen

The aim of this study was to examine the community structure of the order Ephemeroptera in the Eastern Part of the Black Sea Region of Turkey by using multivariate analyses such as Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) and Two-Way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN). For this purpose, 12,117 individuals of Ephemeroptera belonging to seven families, 11 genera and 28 species were sampled at 24 collecting sites and identified. Environmental variables measured at each collecting site were dissolved oxygen (DO), water temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, PO 4-P, NO3-N, NO 2-N, NH 4-N and SO 4. The study area covered the eastern part of the Black Sea Region of Turkey, as it is a sub-ecoregion of the Caucasus Biodiversity Hotspots. With CCA analysis, the relationship between the mayfly species and the environmental variables was analysed for the first time for the region. In addition, TWINSPAN analysis determined the indicator species at the collecting sites. According to the results of CCA, Baetis milani, B. gemellus, Alainites muticus and Electrogena quadrilineata were positively related to PO 4-P but negatively related to temperature. Baetis rhodani, B. lutheri, B. fuscatus, Electogena affinis, E. starmachi, Caenis macrura, C. luctuosa and Epeorus zaitzevi were positively related to SO 4 , NO 2-N, EC and pH but negatively related to dissolved oxygen. Rhithrogena iridina, R. zelinkai, Ecdyonurus picteti, E. helveticus, Epeorus sylvicola, E. znojkoi, E. caucasicus and Habroleptoides confusa were positively correlated with DO but negatively correlated with SO 4 , EC, NO 2-N and pH. Rhithrogena semicolorata, R. puytoraci, R. beskidensis, Seratella ignita and Potamanthus luteus were positively correlated with temperature but negatively correlated with PO 4-P. In addition, according to the results of TWINSPAN, the collecting sites divided into two main group (Group A and B). Epeorus sylvicola, E. znojkoi and E. caucasicus were assigned as the indicator species for the sites in Group A. However, there were no indicator species assigned for Group B.

Epeorus (Caucasiron) turcicus sp. nov. is described based on larvae from NE Turkey. The new species can be distinguished
from other Caucasiron by a unique combination of several diagnostic characters: the presence of a rounded hypodermal
medial femur spot, colouration of abdominal terga and sterna, narrow gill plate VII, fine hair-like setae on the
surface of abdominal terga, and absence of postero-lateral projections on tergum X. In addition to morphological analysis,
two single-locus analytical approaches are employed for delimiting the new species using COI sequences (Automatic Barcode
Gap Discovery, ABGD; and General Mixed Yule Coalescent Model, GMYC). Both approaches unambiguously recognized
E. (C.) turcicus sp. nov. as a distinct species. Our molecular dataset contains all Caucasiron species occurring in
the Caucasus and the delimitation of individual species mostly follows the morphologically defined species. This study
confirms the suitability of the GMYC approach for species delimitation within Caucasiron.

1. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diversity of benthic macroinvertebrate fauna of Çekerek Stream. 2. For this purpose, benthic macroinvertebrate samples were collected from 17 sampling sites in Çekerek Stream in 2009 and 2010. From these sites, 14185 individuals belonging to 56 families and 78 taxa were identified. In the benthic fauna, Insecta Class showed high abundance and richness for both individual numbers and taxa numbers (84.58% of all and 76.79% of all, respectively). 3. Within the Insecta Class, Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera and Diptera had the highest abundance among the other members of Insecta (52.6%, 29% and 15.8%, respectively). Diptera, Trichoptera and Ephemeroptera had the highest richness among the other members of Insecta (30.2%, 16.3% and 15.8%, respectively). 4. To evaluate diversity of benthic macroinvertebrate in the collecting sites, four different diversity indices (Shannon-Weaner, Simpson, McIntosh and Margalef) and two different evenness indices (Pielou and McIntosh) were applied. In addition, Pearson Correlation Analysis were applied to reveal the similarities between the indices. 5. According to the results of the correlation analysis, Shannon-Weaner, Simpson and McIntosh Diversity Indices were highly correlated with each other (r = 0.95-0.97). However, Margalef Diversity Index showed low correlation with the other three diversity indices (r = 0.46-0.68). 6. Evenness indices were also highly correlated with each other (r = 0.98). All evenness indices showed high correlation with Shannon-Weaner, Simpson and McIntosh Diversity Indices (r = 0.90-0.98), however, they showed very low correlation with Margalef Diversity Index (r = 0.34-0.35). The reason of this is that the Margalef index is related to the number of species, rather than the equal distribution of individual numbers.

Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey is a subecoregion
of the Caucasus Ecoregion, and its Plecoptera
fauna is similar to fauna of Caucasus with unique endemic
species of the region. The Caucasus Ecoregion is one of the
‘‘WWF Global 200 Ecoregions,’’ and it is also included in
the list of top 25 hotspots in the World. Running water
ecosystems of Eastern Black Sea sub-ecoregion are the
most sensitive to land use change and global climate
change. High-altitude aquatic ecosystems are more
strongly threatened by global climate change in the region.
Plecoptera constitute the most important part of the biodiversity
of running waters in the region. Among the
benthic macroinvertebrate taxa, Plecoptera is the best
indicator of ecological conditions of running waters. The
influence of environmental variables on the distribution of
twenty Plecoptera species in running water ecosystems
(headwaters, crenon, epirhithron, metarhithron) was
assessed using canonical correspondence analysis. Sampling
was carried out in 2009 and 2011. Eleven end groups
were generated from the TWINSPAN analysis. Isoperla
rhododendri, Isoperla grammatica, Protonemura bifida,
Protonemura eumontana and Perla caucasica were closely
related to pH, dissolved oxygen and riparian vegetation.
Brachyptera transcaucasica transcaucasica, Nemoura
martynovia, Nemoura taurica and Protonemura eumontana
were related to Mg and Cu. The results show that the
Plecoptera assemblage composition was affected by DO,
pH, EC, temperature, nitrite, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Al,
riparian vegetation, altitude and stream width

1. BMWP biotic index is one of the most commonly used biotic index based on benthic macroinvertebrates in Europe. Many countries, even out of Europe, use this index by modifying it according to the benthic macroinvertebrate fauna that adapts to their running water ecosystems. 2. TR-BMWP biotic index consists of 142 families belongs to benthic macroinvertebrate fauna of Turkey.

1. Determination of fauna and flora of aquatic habitats is important for monitoring and conservation. Because of their wide range of habitat preferences and their representation of these habitats, Diptera species are one of the most important bioindicators.

1. Transboundary Çoruh River is one of the biggest rivers in Turkey and located in the NorthEastern part of Turkey. Up to now, there were not any studies concerning its benthic macroinvertebrate fauna and their relationship about water quality. 2. This study was conducted at Çoruh River in 2006. Benthic macroinvertebrate individuals were collected from five sites. Some physico-chemical variables were also measured to determine the water quality classes of these sites. 3. In this study, we aimed to investigate the benthic macroinvertebrate fauna of Çoruh River and its water quality, by applying BMWP biotic index. 4. Land use effects on these collecting sites were detected by using benthic macroinvertebrate data, BMWP results and physico-chemical variables. 5. The unimpacted site (Site 26) was characterized with rich fauna and high BMWP score, while the impacted sites (Site 41, 42, 43 and 44) were characterized poor fauna and low BMWP scores.

In this study, we aimed to determine the reference sites and their reference Ephemeroptera communities according to the Water Framework Directive methods in the Eastern Part of Black Sea Region of Turkey between 2008-2011. From the area, twenty-four collecting sites were chosen. There were thirty Ephemeroptera species identified, belonging to seven families and eleven genera. Cluster analysis based on Bray-Curtis similarities were applied. Reference habitat conditions of the studied sites and their reference Ephemeroptera communities were determined by combining both ecological and statistical results. As a result, sixteen sites had reference habitat conditions and their reference Ephemeroptera species were identified.

The Hirudinea species were collected from various running waters and lakes in Turkey. The sampling sites were located on Yeşilırmak River, streams in Yedigöller National Park, Büyük Menderes River, Lake Beyşehir, Lake Işıklı, Karamuk Marsh and Karadut Spring of Acıgöl Lake. Recorded species were evaluated with physicochemical variables such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, nitrite nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, orthophosphate phosphorus and substratum structure. In this study, eight Hirudinea species were determined. These are Helobdella stagnalis, Erpobdella octoculata, Erpobdella testacea, Erpobdella vilnensis, Dina stschegolewi, Hirudo verbana, Limnatis nilotica, Haemopis sanguisuga. The relationships between leech species and water quality variables were assessed with canonical correspondence analysis. The results show that leech species which are found in the present study are able to live in different saprobic levels in streams and trophic levels in lakes, but they usually prefer polluted environments. Knowledge of ecological characteristics of leech species must be improved to use them in water quality assessment much more effectively.

The Eastern part of Black Sea Region is a part of Caucasus Ecoregion. This ecoregion
is one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth.
2. Ephemeroptera fauna of this region is very diverse and has many pollution-sensitive
indicator species.
3. Larval Ephemeroptera species records were given from 24 sites on some streams in
Giresun, Trabzon, Rize and Gümüşhane provinces in the Eastern part of Black Sea
Region in 2008, 2009 and 2011.
4. In this study, 12252 individuals and 30 Ephemeroptera species belonging to 11 genera
and 7 families were recorded.
5. Many Ephemeroptera species in this region may face the danger of extinction because
of habitat loss, physical degradation and urbanization. For this reason, determining the
Ephemeroptera species and their location in this region has a great importance for the
aquatic ecosystem studies in the future.

In this study, a key was provided for the identification of Ephemeroptera larvae of the
Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey.
2. Total 12252 Ephemeroptera individuals were sampled. There were 30 species,
belonging 7 families and 11 genera, were found. Eight of them were the new records
for Turkey.
3. The Ephemeroptera fauna of Turkey consists of 14 families, 34 genera, 146 species
and 5 sub-species now.
4. Furthermore, the importance of Ephemeroptera were emphasized in the applications
of the Water Framework Directive in Turkey.

This study was conducted at 42 sites on the Yeşilırmak River in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Water samples were taken from these sites and NO3
, NO2
, NH4
and PO4 variables
were analyzed. According to the physico-chemical variables, the water qualities of
the 42 sites were determined.
2. Benthic macroinvertebrate communities were collected from the sites. 45850
individuals belonging to 72 families were identified.
3. The cluster analysis was applied to the data obtained from the benthic community
structure. As a result of the analysis, the sites which have similar benthic
macroinvertebrate community were grouped together.
4. BMWP scores of the families were re-arranged by considering the results of the
cluster analysis and physico-chemical data together. A new Yeşilırmak river-specific
biotic index (Yeşilırmak-BMWP, Y-BMWP) was created.
5. Original-BMWP scores and the new Y-BMWP scores were compared. As a result of
this comparison, new families were added to the original BMWP and the scores of
some families were changed. Furthermore, Score 9 was added to Y-BMWP.
6. It was determined that the results of the new Y-BMWP index were compatible with
the region and applicable for the further studies.

1. The Ephemeroptera fauna of the World consists of 42 families, 400 genera and 3000 species, while the Ephemeroptera fauna of the Turkey consists of 14 families, 39 genera, 138 species and 5 subspecies.
2. The Ephemeroptera species of Turkey constitutes 4,6% of the Ephemeroptera species in the World.
3. With respect to the genera number, Ephemeroptera genera of Turkey constitutes 9,75%
of the Ephemeroptera genera in the World.
4. Ephemeroptera species play a critical role in order to define the reference sites and their fauna concerning the application of European Union Water Framework Directive (EUWFD) in Turkey.

1. Marthamea vitripennis has been first captured from Çekerek Stream at Yeşilırmak Basin in Turkey since 1979.
2. Marthamea vitripennis is extinct in most of its geographical range. It is accepted as threatened species and included in red list. However, it was recently recorded again some parts of its old distribution area such as Croatia, Hungary.
3. The habitats of Marthamea vitripennis are hyporhithron and potamon zones of running waters. These zones are the most impacted parts of rivers and streams due to pollution and physical degradation.
4. The old and new collecting sites of Marthamea vitripennis were at hyporhithron and potamon zones of running waters at Sakarya, Kızılırmak and Yeşilırmak Basins.
5. The water quality of collecting site of Marthamea vitripennis were given by using of physicochemical variables and multimetric indices included in EU Water Framework Directive (WFD).
6. The water quality of habitat of Marthamea vitripennis was IV. class (polluted and deteriorated habitat) due to pollution and effects of dam. Yeşilırmak River and its tributaries were heavily affected by anthropogenic activities.
7. In this case Marthamea vitripennis is faced with the threat of extinction in Yeşilırmak Basin.