Environmental Drivers of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Assemblages in Mediterranean River Basins of Türkiye


MERCAN D., Saber A. A., Solak C. N., ÖZEL KADILAR G., Alharbi H. M., Abu-Elsaoud A. M., ...Daha Fazla

Diversity, cilt.17, sa.9, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 17 Sayı: 9
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.3390/d17090624
  • Dergi Adı: Diversity
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Geobase, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: benthic macroinvertebrates, climatic change, environmental parameters, freshwater bioindicators, Mediterranean region
  • Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study investigated the influence of physicochemical water parameters on benthic macroinvertebrate communities across 11 sampling stations located in the Western, Antalya, and Eastern Mediterranean Basins of Türkiye. Field studies were conducted in April, July, and October of 2018–2019. Water quality variables, such as temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand, ammonia nitrogen, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus, were measured. A total of 177 taxa and 5331 individuals were identified, with Insecta being the most dominant class, especially the order Diptera. Statistical analyses, including detrended correspondence analysis (DCA), revealed clear relationships between environmental gradients and species distribution. Species such as Paratendipes albimanus, Microtendipes pedellus, and Potamanthus luteus showed strong correlations with DO and other water quality parameters. This study emphasizes the importance of specific macroinvertebrate taxa as indicators of environmental conditions and suggests that certain species may serve as bioindicators for ecological monitoring and management in Mediterranean freshwater ecosystems in the context of ongoing global climate change.