Title: Ecosystem quality assessment of an aquatic habitat in a globally important boron reserve: Emet Stream Basin (Turkey)

Authors: Cem Tokatlı; Esengül Köse; Naine Arslan; Özgür Emiroğlu; Arzu Çiçek; Hayri Dayıoğlu

Addresses: Department of Laboratory Technology, Ipsala Vocational School, Trakya University, İpsala/Edirne, Turkey ' Department of Environmental Protection and Control, Osmangazi Vocational School, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey ' Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey ' Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey ' Applied Environmental Research Centre, Anadolu University, Eskişehir, Turkey ' Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Dumlupınar University, Kütahya, Turkey

Abstract: In this study, ecosystem quality of Emet Stream Basin was evaluated by investigating some water quality parameters and trace toxic element accumulations. According to data observed, the contaminated areas had much higher concentrations, an average of 20 times for water and 40 times for sediment in terms of arsenic and 30 times for water and 10 times for sediment in terms of boron than the uncontaminated areas. The amounts of arsenic in muscle tissues of Squalius cii, Capoeta tinca and Barbus oligolepis were much higher and the amounts of zinc in muscle tissues of C. tinca and B. oligolepis were higher than the limit values of Turkish Food Codex. According to results of factor analysis, three factors named as 'mining, agricultural and climate factors' explained 75.41% of the total variance and according to results of cluster analysis, three statistically significant clusters named as 'low, moderate and high polluted areas' were formed.

Keywords: Emet Stream Basin; arsenic; zinc; boron reserves; factor analysis; cluster analysis; Turkey; ecosystem quality; quality assessment; aquatic habitats; ecosystems; environmental pollution; water quality; water pollution; trace elements; toxic elements; mining; agriculture; climate factors.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2016.079896

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2016 Vol.59 No.2/3/4, pp.116 - 141

Received: 04 Dec 2015
Accepted: 11 Mar 2016
Published online: 20 Oct 2016 *

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