Assessment of a Shallow Montane Lentic Ecosystem (Lake Golcuk, Izmir, Turkey) Using Benthic Community Diversity

Abstract

The macrobenthic invertebrate community of a shallow Mediterranean lake (Lake Golcuk, Izmir, Turkey) was studied in order to (a) describe the intra-annual and spatial variability in benthic communities, (b) relate possible community changes to environmental conditions and (c) evaluate the responses of the lake’s ecological status on community indices. The benthic assemblage was sampled seasonally at six sites during a period of 2 years (June 2008-March 2010). Additionally, hypolimnetic water quality variables were monitored over the same period at each site. The benthic fauna of Lake Golcuk was found to be very limited with 16 species belonging to four taxonomic groups. Potamothrix hammoniensis was the dominant benthic species and represented more than 72% of the total benthic fauna. Depth, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, transparency, and water temperature seemed to be the main environmental factors affecting community indices. Benthic communities are affected by human disturbances in Lake Golcuk shifting their composition to more tolerant taxa, reflecting also the eutrophic to hypertophic character of the lake