PLANKTONIC DIATOM ASSEMBLAGES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES IN LAKES OF SALT LAKE BASIN (CENTRAL ANATOLIA-TURKEY)

摘要

The relationship between planktonic diatom communities and environmental variables in 10 lakes of the Salt Lake Basin was explored using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The study area is a closed river basin in which the steppe climate of Central Anatolia is dominant and which is surrounded by wide agricultural fields. This region was selected to study the influence of water chemistry on planktonic diatoms. As a result of being close to these fields, the salt lake basin is under threat of excessive pollution. Furthermore because of its geological characteristics, it is known to have a hypersaline water quality. The principal water chemistry variables influencing the species composition of planktonic diatoms were found to be total nitrogen, sulphate and secchi depth.