Taxonomical and numerical comparison of epipelic algae from Balik and Uzun lagoon, Turkey.

ABSTRACT

The epipelic algae of Balik lagoon and Uzun lagoon were investigated from May 2003 to December 2004. A total of 106 taxa were identified. Of these, 85 were found in Balik lagoon and 78 were found in Uzun lagoon. Water temperature of the lagoons ranged from 6.5 to 24.5oC during the sampling period. Conductivity, hardness, dissolved oxygen an pH values varied between 0.70 and 8.00 mS, 26.00 and 86.60 of, 3.50 and 9.00 mg l -1 and 7.82 and 8.70 respectively. Nitrite nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, chloride, phosphate phosphorus and sulphate concentrations in the water were also measured and ranged from 0.01 to 0.14, 0.01 to 0.24, 2.41 to 48.70, 0.01 to 0.12 and 54.00 to 104.40 mg l -1 respectively. Species richness (d), diversity (Shannon – Weaver, H’) and evennes ( J’) were calculated for epipelic algae and the findings showed similar oscillations throughout the research period. Cluster analyses and multidimensional scaling (MDS) revealed a similar distribution pattern of epipelic algal flora in both lagoons.