Assessing relationships between environmental stress and benthic diatoms in lentic habitats in the western Mediterranean basin (Turkey)

Hydrological (rainy and dry) periods can affect the water quality of lentic ecosystems, which may be useful for understanding their ecological condition in the watershed. Ecological status of various lentic ecosytems (both brackish and freshwater) in the western Mediterranean basin was evaluated by using various diatom metrics throughout rainy (May) and dry (August and October) periods to explain the diatom-stressor interactions using multivariate approaches. Canonical correspondence analysis separated freshwater habitats under the pressures of nitrate and total organic carbon from brackish ecosystems under the pressures of conductivity, nitrite, sulphate, calcium, and copper, which were characterized by different phytoplankton species. Ecological integrations of diatom species varied in the ecosystems throughout rainy and dry periods. Different ecological regional diatom indices were used to find the best index/indices indicating the ecological status of lakes and reservoirs in the basin during the two hydrological periods. The trophic diatom index developed for lakes was not found to be suitable for assessing lentic habitats. European diatom indices generally showed the distinction in the assessment of these ecosystems in the rainy and dry seasons, but others could not. Among the diatom indices, only the trophic index Turkey (TIT) showed a statistically significant correlation with TP. The TIT not only showed degradation of the water quality of ecosystems during the dry season compared to the rainy season, but it has also been successful in distinguishing the ecological conditions of lentic ecosystems.

Automated summary

Hydrological periods can impact the water quality of lentic ecosystems, leading to changes in the diatom species composition and ecological condition. Evaluating different diatom metrics can help identify the best indicators for assessing the ecological status of these ecosystems during different hydrological periods.