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Comparative Performance of Physicochemical- and Diatom-Based Metrics in

Assessing the Water Quality of Mert Stream, Turkey

Article in Journal of Ecological Engineering · October 2020

DOI: 10.12911/22998993/127392

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 Journal of Ecological Engineering Received: 2020.08.15
Revised: 2020.08.30
Volume 21, Issue 8, November 2020, pages 18–31 Accepted: 2020.09.15
Available online: 2020.10.01
[Link]

Comparative Performance of Physicochemical and Diatom-Based

Metrics in Assessing the Water Quality of Mert Stream, Turkey

Faruk Maraşlıoğlu1, Serdar Bektaş2, Arda Özen3

1
Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Science, Hitit University, Çorum, 19040, Turkey, e-mail:
2
Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Science, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Kurupelit, Samsun, 55139,
Turkey, e-mail: serdarbektas@[Link]
3
Department of Forest Engineering, Faculty of Forestry, Çankırı Karatekin University, Çankırı, 18200, Turkey,
e-mail:ardaozen@[Link]
* Corresponding author’s e-mail: farukmaraslioglu@[Link]

ABSTRACT
In this study, the authors aimed to compare the performance of the physicochemical-based water quality metrics
(WQI, SWQMR) and diatom-based diatom metrics (TDI, BDI, GDI) to evaluate the water quality and ecological
status of the Mert Stream. A total of 104 epilithic diatom species, belonging to 44 genera, were recorded during
the study period. Navicula was the most dominant diatom in the sites near intensive farming areas, while Gom-
phonema was the most dominant species in the sites in vicinity of urban and industrial settlements. According to
the water quality indices based on the physicochemical parameters and diatoms, the water quality in the upper
and middle parts of the Mert stream was better than in the lower parts (higher amount of total suspended solids
and higher conductivity). The structure of the epilithic diatom community was mostly shaped by total suspended
solids, electrical conductivity and nutrients according to Canonical Correspondence Analysis results. The obtained
results revealed that diatom metrics, especially GDI, and water quality metrics, especially WQI, can be used for
the monitoring of lotic systems and provide useful complementary information on the ecological status of rivers in
medium rainfall regions such as Samsun.

Keywords: diatom index; water quality index; epilithic; pollution; stream; CCA

INTRODUCTION WQI provides a single number ranges from 0 to

100 which show better water quality with higher
Anthropogenic eutrophication becomes a index values. WQI turns complex water quality
serious problem, which threatens the freshwater data, which consist of several numbers of param-
ecosystem worldwide due to the enrichment of eters, into the information that is understandable
water nutrients resulting from the industrial and and usable in the management of water [Chaura-
intensive agricultural activities and leads to the sia et al. 2018]. However, the indices using only
deterioration of the water quality of rivers and physical and chemical parameters may not con-
lakes [Vörösmarty et al. 2010]. The bioindicator- vey the information on the impacts of environ-
based indices provide a valuable complement to mental stresses on organisms. Several different
the traditional physicochemical measurement- organisms such as phytoplankton, macrophytes,
based indices to evaluate the ecological health of macro-invertebrates, are also used for represent-
aquatic systems [Pandey et al. 2018]. ing the whole picture of the biological health of
The Water Quality Index (WQI) is an im- lotic ecosystems [Chen et al. 2016].
portant tool for determining and categorizing The diatom indices are extensively used to as-
water quality based on the use of physicochemi- sess the ecological status of rivers because of the
cal standard parameters [Hanh et al. 2011]. The ubiquitous presence of diatoms in lotic systems

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 Journal of Ecological Engineering Vol. 21(8), 2020

[Sebastiá et al. 2013] as well as their rapid and physicochemical-based indices is still question-
varied response to changing bottom-up and top- able. Although there are many studies, which
down control factors [Liu et al. 2016, Stevenson compared different biotic indices [Ravera 2001,
et al. 2008]. Therefore, they can be used for the Semenchenko, Moroz 2005, Hering et al. 2006],
past, present, and future water quality assessment there are few studies, which compared the effec-
since they reflect the ecological status comprehen- tiveness of WQI and diatom indices [Pham 2017,
sively [Almeida et al. 2014]. Diatoms have been Pandey et al. 2018]. Maraşlıoğlu et al. [2018]
used as bioindicators since the 1970s. Nowadays, used the physicochemical parameters with modi-
the diatom indices are widely used for evaluating fied WQImin to evaluate the water quality of
the water quality all over the World [Descy, Coste Mert Stream. They found that there were signifi-
1991, Prygiel, Coste 1993, Lenoir, Coste 1996, cant variations in water quality index from poor
Kwandrans et al. 1998, Smol, Stoermer 2010]. quality to good quality.
Among the several biological indices based on In the studies carried out in Turkey; firstly,
diatom assemblages, the Biological Diatom Index TDI, SI, GI, and DAIpo indices were used by Gür-
[Lenoir, Coste 1996, Coste et al. 2009] has been büz, Kıvrak [2002] in the Karasu River, and they
widely used in the world, especially in France for concluded that TDI and SI were better suited to the
monitoring of water quality. However, there are physicochemical parameters. The TDI, BDI, SI
still disagreements on the transferability of the and PTI diatom indices were used in the Pazarsuyu
diatom indices to rivers in different geographic Stream by Temizel et al. [2017] and they stated
regions [Gomà et al. 2005, Tan et al. 2013]. that TDI, BDI, and SI reflected the water quality
The standardized BDI was first developed in the Pazarsuyu Stream, while the PTI index does
and applied in France [Lenoir, Coste 1996] and not reflect the actual status of the stations on the
revised (BDI-2006) [Coste et al. 2009] for the Eu- studied system. However, DI-CH and TI better
ropean Water Framework Directive (WFD) and it reflected the changes in the Isparta and Darıören
has been used widely in Europe [Almeida et al. stream’s water quality [Kalyoncu et al. 2009],
2014], China [Chen et al. 2016], and Africa [Bere while DESCY seems to be the best for the Akçay
et al. 2014] for the evaluation of water quality, stream [Solak et al. 2007]. Furthermore, TDI, SI,
due to its usefulness in the ecological assessment. and TDIL indices had a high correlation with phys-
Trophic Diatom Index (TDI) was developed for icochemical parameters in the Acarlar Floodplain
English streams and rivers [Kelly et al. 2001] and Forest [Ongun-Sevindik, Küçük 2016].
have been used in Australia, Europe, North, and In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the
South America, and Asia [Prygiel, Coste 1993, merits of different physicochemical-based met-
Lobo et al. 1995, Jüttner et al. 1996, Kelly, Whit- rics (WQI-SWQMR) and diatom-based metrics
ton 1995, Gómez, Licursi 2001, Newall, Walsh (BDI-TDI-GDI) in assessing the water quality of
2005], and Turkey (Gürbüz, Kıvrak 2002, Ongun- a set of human-impacted sites in the Mert basin,
Sevindik, Küçük 2016, Temizel et al. 2017]. The Turkey by comparing the reliability and suitabil-
generic diatom index (GDI) proposed by Rumeau ity of these indices. The diversity of epilithic dia-
and Coste [1988] is also based on the generic tom algae and factors that control their distribu-
composition of assemblages. tion was also evaluated in our study.
In Turkey, the use of physicochemical pa-
rameter-based indices is also the traditional tool
to monitor and evaluate the surface water qual- STUDY AREA
ity. Water Pollution Control Regulation (WPCR)
[Anonymous 2008] and Surface Water Qual- Mert Stream is located within the border of
ity Management Regulation (SWQMR) [Anon- Samsun Province in the Central Black Sea Region
ymous 2016] are currently being used for these of Turkey (between 41̊09̍’02”‒41̊17̍’04” N and
purposes. Although numerous phycological stud- 35̊48̍’04”‒36̊21’50” E). The west of the stream
ies using algae as bioindicators have been con- is located by Kızılırmak River and Mert River
ducted in different Turkish rivers, the use of dia- Basins, the south by Yeşilırmak River Basin and
toms in biomonitoring is relatively new in Turkey the east by Abdal Creek Basin. Mert stream origi-
[Solak et al. 2012]. nates from the Karadağ locality, known as Top-
However, the efficiency of biotic indices in tepe, located at 1150 m altitude in the Ladik dis-
assessing the water quality in comparison to the trict. In the Kavak district, after the stream merges

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Journal of Ecological Engineering Vol. 21(8), 2020

with Karataş Creek, 24 km from the sea and it is village and 4th station (41̊ 15’54ʺ N, 36˚20’35ʺ E)
the largest tributary, it takes its name, which is is at the point where the Mert stream merges with
called the Mert. Mert stream is very important Yılanlı creek in the Canik district (2.3 km from
for the region since it is the irrigation resource the Black Sea). The study area (Mert Stream) and
of some villages on the route. Its maximum flow sampling locations are shown in Figure 1 [Modi-
is 750 m3/s. The width of the stream bed is 50 m, fied from Maraşlıoğlu et al. 2018].
while the depth of the stream decreases to less
than 50 cm in the summer months, in winter the
depth reaches again 4–5 m. The alluvium thick- MATERIALS AND METHODS
ness of the Mert stream ranges between 10–40 m.
Physicochemical analyses
The alluvium is usually composed of gravel, san-
dy coarse gravel, blocky gravel and clay layers The surface water collection and in situ water
[Bakan, Şenel 2000]. quality measurements such as water temperature,
The samples were taken at four stations, along pH, DO, and EC were performed monthly be-
with Mert Stream at two regions with different tween July 2011 and June 2012 at four sampling
land-use types: intensive farming is present in stations in Mert Stream [Bektaş 2016]. Moreover,
the upper (St1-St2) and middle (St3) course sites total suspended solids (TSS) and dissolved nu-
and urban and industrial settlements present in the trients, i.e. ammonia (NH4+), nitrate (NO3-), and
lower course site (St4). The stations in this study orthophosphate (o-PO4) were analyzed according
were determined as follows to represent the entire to Bektaş [2016] in the laboratory of Ondokuz
stream; 1st station (41̊09’50ʺ N, 36̊05’59ʺ E) is a Mayıs University.
location between the Küçükçukur and Ahurlar vil-
lages which is 67 km from the Black Sea, 2nd sta- Diatom analysis
tion (41̊03’38ʺ N, 35˚58’41ʺ E) is at the point where
the Mert stream merges with Çamlıdere creek, 3rd At each site, the samples of epilithic algae
station (41̊ 07’13ʺ N, 36˚09’41ʺ E) is in the Mert were collected monthly from randomly selected

Figure 1. Study area (Mert Stream) and sampling point locations

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 Journal of Ecological Engineering Vol. 21(8), 2020

cobbles (n = 4) in the riffle zone of streams be found in Maraşlıoğlu et al. [2018]. WQI is
from July 2011 to June 2012. On each cobble, a a number between 0 and 100. Water quality is
sampling area of an algal patch of 12.5 cm2 was classified as very poor (0–60), poor (61–80),
scraped with a toothbrush (total surface area medium (81–90), good (91–95), and excellent
of 50 cm2 for four algal patches). The cobbles (96–100) [Akkoyunlu, Akiner 2012].
were subsequently washed with 50–100 mL of Water quality classes, determined according
distilled water and fixed with 4% formaldehyde to the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agricul-
[Yu, Lin 2009]. ture and Forestry [Anonymous 2016] based on
In order to identify the diatom frustules, some physicochemical parameters, are shown
the diatom valves were cleaned using hydro- in Table 1.
gen peroxide to eliminate organic matter and Trophic Diatom Index [Kelly, Whitton
with hydrochloric acid to dissolve calcium 1995, Kelly et al. 2001], Generic Diatom In-
carbonate [Della Bella, Mancini 2009]. Clean dex (based on genera) [Coste, Ayphassorho
diatom frustules were mounted in Entellan and 1991], and Biological Diatom Index (the new
a minimum of 400 valves were counted and version of BDI-2006) [Coste et al. 2009] were
identified to species or variety level in each used to characterize the epilithic community at
sample using a light microscope (Olympus each site [Agrawal, Gopal 2013]. The trophic
BX51) at 400 X magnification. Species iden- status and water quality classes, belonging to
tifications were based primarily on Krammer, the BDI, GDI, and TDI values [Kelly, Whitton
Lange-Bertalot [1991–1999] and Round et al. 1995, Szulc, Szulc 2013] are given in Table 2.
[1990]. AlgaeBase web [Guiry, Guiry 2020] The relationship of the physicochemical
and Turkishalgae web [Maraşlıoğlu, Gönülol variables at each station with months, seasons,
2020] were used for the classification and ver- and total organisms was tested through Spear-
ification of the currently-accepted taxonomic man’s correlation. The difference levels be-
names of phytoplankton. tween physicochemical variables and stations,
months, seasons and total organisms were test-
ed by one-way variance analysis (ANOVA).
DATA ANALYSIS Additionally, the relationships among metrics
(TDI, BDI, GDI, WQI, SWQMR) and the sea-
The values of electrical conductivity, pH, sonal and station-based relationship with met-
dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, and rics were tested through Pearson correlation.
temperature have contributed to the calcula- All these correlation and difference tests were
tion of WQImin, by the method of Akkoyunlu, performed in SPSS 22.0 program.
Akiner [2012]. Following the calculation of The main environmental factors that
the WQImin value by the related formula, the shape the epilithic diatom community were
WQI value of the stream is obtained practical- determined by means of Canonical corre-
ly by placing the WQImin value in the second spondence analysis (CCA) using the Multi-
formula. Detailed information on the calcula- Variate Statistical Package (MVSP) program
tion of the water quality in the Mert Stream can version 3.1 [Kovach 1998]. All data were

Table 1. Water quality classes according to Water Quality Management Regulation of Turkey for Inland Surface
Waters (SWQMR)
Water quality classes
Water quality parameters I II III IV
(excellent) (good) (fair) (poor)
Water Temperature (°C) ≤ 25 ≤ 25 ≤ 30 > 30
pH 6–9 6–9 6–9 6–9 6–9
EC (µs/cm) < 400 1000 3000 > 3000
Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) >8 6 3 <3
Ammonium nitrogen (mg/L) < 0.2 1 2 >2
Nitrate nitrogen (mg/L) <3 10 20 > 20
Orthophosphate (mg/L) < 0.05 0.16 0.65 > 0.65

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Journal of Ecological Engineering Vol. 21(8), 2020

Table 2. Class limit values and trophic status for diatom indices (BDI, GDI, TDI)
BDI score GDI score TDI score
Water quality class Ecological status Trophic status
(1–20) (1–20) (0–100)
> 17 > 17 < 35 I. class High Oligotrophic
15–17 14–17 35–50 II. class Good Oligo-Mesotrophic
12–15 11–14 50–60 III. class Moderate Mesotrophic
9–12 8–11 60–75 IV. class Low/ Poor Eutrophic
<9 <8 > 75 V. class Bad Hypertrophic

log-transformed to maintain their normal RESULTS

distributions before the analysis. If the abun-
dance of the taxa were less than 10% of the Physico-chemical and nutrient variables
samples, they were excluded from the analy- The values of physicochemical param-
ses to minimize the influence of the rare ones eters are listed in Table 3. According to the
[Lavoie et al. 2009]. Spearman correlation analysis, while the TSS

Table 3. The seasonal values of physical and chemical variables measured at the sampling sites on Mert Stream
water
Parameters Summer Autumn Winter Spring Mean
Water Temperature (oC) 18.4 10.8 3.9 13.7 11.7
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) 9.4 11.2 13.1 10.4 11
pH (pH unit) 7.9 7.6 8 7.2 7.7
Station 1

Electrical Conductivity (μs/cm) 1087 923 807 860 919

Total suspended solids (mg/L) 2.8 3.4 0.7 0.6 1.9
Nitrate (NO3) (mg/L) 1.1 2.9 1.1 0.4 1.4
Ammonium (NH4+) (mg/L) 0.2 0 0 0 0.1
Orthophosphate (o-PO4) (mg/L) 1.3 1 0.9 0.6 1
Water Temperature ( C) o
24.9 14.2 4.2 16.5 15
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) 8 10.4 13.3 9.9 10.4
pH (pH unit) 7.4 7.8 7.7 7.1 7.5
Station 2

Electrical Conductivity (μs/cm) 873 743 603 720 735

Total suspended solids (mg/L) 2.8 3.4 0.7 0.6 1.9
Nitrate (NO3) (mg/L) 0.5 0.7 1 1 0.8
Ammonium (NH4+) (mg/L) 0.01 0 0.02 0 0
Orthophosphate (o-PO4) (mg/L) 1.3 0.3 0.8 0.7 0.8
Water Temperature (oC) 21.8 10.8 4.2 15.5 13.1
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) 8.7 11.3 13 9.9 10.7
pH (pH unit) 7.3 7.9 7.9 7.5 7.7
Station 3

Electrical Conductivity (μs/cm) 1173 940 763 907 946

Total suspended solids (mg/L) 35.3 13.7 6.7 13.3 17.3
Nitrate (NO3) (mg/L) 3.3 0.8 1.3 1.3 1.7
Ammonium (NH4+) (mg/L) 0 0 0 0 0
Orthophosphate (o-PO4) (mg/L) 1.1 0.6 0.7 0.3 0.7
Water Temperature (oC) 25.4 15 6.1 15.8 15.6
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) 8.2 10.3 12.4 9.9 10.2
pH (pH unit) 7.1 7.6 7.4 7.8 7.5
Station 4

Electrical Conductivity (μs/cm) 1410 1020 723 920 1018

Total suspended solids (mg/L) 121.7 87.7 45.0 96.7 87.8
Nitrate (NO3) (mg/L) 1.6 3 1.6 0.6 1.7
Ammonium (NH4+) (mg/L) 0 0 0 0 0
Orthophosphate (o-PO4) (mg/L) 1.2 0.4 1.2 0.3 0.8

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 Journal of Ecological Engineering Vol. 21(8), 2020

parameter showed a positive correlation at the dominant species in the stations 1 and 2 while
1st and 2nd stations monthly, this parameter Cymbella ventricosa, Epithemia turgida, Gom-
showed a positive correlation only with the 4th phonema olivaceum, Gomphonema parvulum,
station on a seasonal and total organism basis. and Psammothidium hustedtii were commonly
The Temperature and DO parameters showed a found species in the samples collected at sta-
positive and negative correlation with seasons tions 3 and 4.
at all four stations (p <0.05), while they showed
a correlation only with stations 2 and 4 with to- Diatom abundance
tal organisms (Table 4). There were significant
differences for TSS and conductivity between The seasonal abundance of epilithic diatoms
stations (p<0.01). There were also significant at the sampling stations of the Mert Stream is giv-
differences for temperature and DO between en in Figure 2. There was a significant seasonal
months and seasons (p<0.01), (Table 5). variation in the epilithic diatom community with
high cell density in summer and low abundance
Diatom community structure in winter. The highest diatom abundance (1987
cells/cm2) was observed in the summer season
A total of 104 epilithic diatom species, while the lowest (134 cells/cm2) was found in the
belonging to 44 genera, were identified in the winter season at the same station (St2).
Mert Stream. The six most dominant taxa were The summer diatom abundance of the second
Cymbella, Encyonema, Fragillaria, Gompho- station was distinctly different from other sta-
nema, Navicula, and Nitzschia. The most domi- tions. Three different “zones” were determined
nant diatom was Navicula in other stations. from low to high abundance, according to the
Among the diatoms, Diatoma vulgaris, Navic- epilithic diatom abundance: St4, St3 and St1, and
ula veneta, Navicula cryptocephala, Eolimna St2. However, there was also a seasonal differ-
minima, and Cymbella affinis were the most ence in the epilithic diatom abundance: winter

Table 4. Spearman rank correlation coefficients between environmental variables and months, seasons and total
organisms at each sampling station (* p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01)
Months Seasons Total organisms
Parameters
St.1 St.2 St.3 St.4 St.1 St.2 St.3 St.4 St.1 St.2 St.3 St.4
Temp (ºC) -0.028 0.162 -0.084 0.266 -0.648 *
-0.587 *
-0.627 *
-0.583 *
0.252 0.817 **
0.186 0.643*
DO (mg/L) 0.025 -0.210 0.133 -0.252 0.695* 0.627 *
0.669 *
0.584 *
-0.253 -0.827 **
-0.196 -0.690*
pH 0.214 -0.133 0.448 0.105 0.357 0.476 0.173 -0.086 -0.298 -0.280 -0.594* -0.084
TSS (mg/L) 0.658 *
0.658 *
0.382 0.161 0.109 0.109 -0.324 -0.691 *
0.081 0.521 0.224 0.790**
Con (μS/cm) -0.091 -0.049 0.123 0.476 0.497 -0.194 0.552 -0.173 -0.238 -0.315 -0.424 0.056
NO3-N (mg/L) -0.146 -0.079 -0.042 0.151 0.230 0.012 -0.271 0.358 0.370 -0.337 -0.249 0.091
NO4-N (mg/L) 0.044 -0.285 - - -0.135 0.232 - - 0.218 -0.118 - -
o-PO4-P
-0.053 0.011 0.106 0.287 0.228 -0.065 0.240 0.328 -0.475 0.425 0.321 0.347
(mg/L)

Table 5. One way ANOVA analysis between parameter groups (* p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01)
F value
Parameters
Stations Months Seasons Total organisms
Temp (ºC) 0.597 40.563 **
33.301 **
0.541
DO (mg/L) 0.403 39.387** 33.296** 0.498
pH 0.532 3.281 1.869 0.791
TSS (mg/L) 69.154 **
0.260 0.959 798.461
Con (μS/cm) 5.127* 2.604 2.638 1.783
NO3-N (mg/L) 0.861 2.354 0.961 8.182
NO4-N (mg/L) 0.881 1.191 1.073 -
o-PO4-P (mg/L) 0.356 2.167 4.401** 80.659

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Journal of Ecological Engineering Vol. 21(8), 2020

Figure 2. Seasonal abundance of the epilithic diatoms at four stations in Mert Stream

(low density), spring and autumn (moderate den- groups. BDI ranged from 19.3 (high quality) to 11
sity), and summer (high density). (poor quality) in all stations (Figure 3a). Autumn,
with the average BDI value of 15.6, was the best
Water quality and diatom metrics season for water quality. BDI was significantly
different among the stations (p<0.05). The GDI
The monthly variations of the BDI (a), GDI and TDI indices ranged from 16 (good quality)
(b), TDI (c), and WQI (d) values during the sam- to 3.7 (poor quality) and from 94 (good quality)
pling period are shown in Figure 3. There were to 66 (poor quality) in four stations (Figure 3b
significant differences between the stations 1 and and Figure 3c). The WQI ranged from 94.4 (good
2 and stations 3 and 4 (p<0.05). In general, sta- quality) to 67.0 (poor quality) in four stations
tion 4 had the lowest rates of the metrics in all (Figure 3d).

Figure 3. The monthly variation of the BDI (a), GDI (b), TDI (c), and WQI (d) values

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 Journal of Ecological Engineering Vol. 21(8), 2020

Table 6. Ecological status results of four sites based on physicochemical and diatom indices
Ecological Status
Based on diatom Based on physicochemical
TDI BDI GDI WQI SWQMR Total org.
St.1 poor good moderate good poor 3279
St.2 poor moderate moderate good poor 3385
St.3 moderate moderate moderate moderate poor 2765
St.4 poor moderate poor poor poor 2003

The ecological status of each site was deter- In station 1, Axis 1 was explaining 24.7% of
mined according to the diatom and physicochem- the observed variance. DO and conductivity had
ical parameters (Table 6). According to the val- high positive correlation with Axis 1(intra-set
ues of Pearson’s correlation between metrics and correlation coefficients: r = 0.41; r = 0.20, respec-
stations-seasons in Table 7, a negative correlation tively). The second axis was explaining 17.1% of
was determined between seasons and metric val- the observed variance and o-PO4 and tempera-
ues (p>0.05). There were positive correlations be- ture had a high positive correlation with Axis 2
tween TDI and SWQMR (p <0.01) as well as be- (Figure 4a).
tween TDI and GDI indices (p <0.05), (Table 7). In station 2, the first two axes explained about
39.9% of the variance for epilithic diatom assem-
Relation of phytoplankton assemblages blages (Axis 1 accounted for 20.2%, Axis 2 for
to environment variables 19.7% of the variance). The first axis is mainly
defined by a combination of EC (intra-set correla-
The relationship between the biomass of epil- tion coefficients: r = 0.68). Axis 2 was relatively
ithic phytoplankton community and environmen- correlated with NO3-, likely to represent the water
tal factors in the stream was assessed by using quality degradation gradient (Figure 4b).
the CCA analysis. Biplot of canonical correspon- In station 3, the first axis was significantly
dence analysis, relating abundance of dominant correlated with abiotic factors (0.38). Axis 1 was
taxa and physicochemical variables in St1, St2, positively correlated with the physical parameters
St3, and St4 stations were exhibited in Figure 4 of water, which may present a good to poor wa-
(a-d). Eight environmental factors (temperature, ter quality gradient (Figure 4c). Axis 2 is partially
pH, EC, DO, TSS, NH4+, NO3-, o-PO4) were cho- correlated with DO (intra-set correlation coeffi-
sen from the environmental matrix and were used cients: r = 0.58). NO3- well correlated with axis
in the CCA analysis of four stations. Out of the 1 (r = 0.52), while TSS contributed significant-
82 epilithic diatom species, identified in four sta- ly to axis 2 (r = 0.45) and also axis 2 (r = 0.42;
tions, 16 abundant taxa were used in the CCA r = 0.23), in station 4 (Figure 4d).
analysis (Figure 4).

Table 7. Pearson correlation coefficients between metrics and stations-seasons (* p <0.05; ** p <0.01)
Diatom indices Water quality indices
Parameters
TDI BDI GDI WQI SWQMR
St.1 -0.167 -0.917 *
0.000 -0.167 0.500
St.2 0.167 0.917* 0.000 0.167 -0.500
Station
St.3 -0.083 0.000 -0.167 0.833* -0.583
St.4 0.417 0.417 0.333 1.417* -0.750
Spring -0.167 -0.250 -0.167 0.167 -1.000
Summer 0.167 0.250 0.167 -0.167 1.000
Season
Autumn 0.250 -0.417 0.333 -0.250 0.167
Winter 1.083 0.500 0.333 -0.500 1.000
TDI 1.000 0.214 0.345* 0.100 0.436**
Diatom
BDI 0.214 1.000 0.183 -0.029 -0.048
indices
GDI 0.345* 0.183 1.000 0.115 -0.084

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Journal of Ecological Engineering Vol. 21(8), 2020

Figure 4. Biplot of canonical correspondence analysis, relating abundance of dominant

taxa and physico-chemical variables in St1(a), St2 (b), St3 (c), and St4 (d) stations

The epilithic diatoms were classified as three ventricosa, Gomphonema calcareum, Rhoico-
groups in four stations, according to the CCA sphenia abbreviata, Nitzschia hantzschiana, and
analysis. The first group species were present in Cymbella affinis.
stations 1 and 2 with higher o-PO4, NH4+ and lower
NO3-, TSS and EC conditions. These parameters
were highly associated with the Cymbella ven- DISCUSSION
tricosa, Navicula capitatoradiata, N. ventricosa,
Diatoma vulgaris, and Ulnaria ulna diatoms. The Although intensive agricultural activity in the
diatoms in stations 1 and 2, Cymbella affinis, Di- upper and middle sites and discharges from the
atoma elongata var. actinastroides, Fragilaria industrial and residential areas in the lower site of
the stream threaten the water quality of the Mert
construens, Gomphonema angustatum, G. calca-
stream, no monitoring study in the stream was no
reum, and Nitzschia hantzschiana, were not as-
conducted up to this study. Hence, this study is
sociated with any parameter. The second group
important since it allows determining the ecologi-
species were present in station 3 with higher
cal quality of the stream.
NO3- and, lower NH4+ and o-PO4 nutrients. Gom- The epilithic diatom biodiversity of the Mert
phonema calcareum, Navicula veneta, Cymbella Stream was positively correlated with water qual-
ventricosa, and Eolimma minima associated with ity. The total number of organisms in the lower
EC, NH4+, TSS, pH respectively, while all oth- site of the stream with lower water quality was
er organisms at this station were not correlated lower than the upper and middle sites with higher
with any parameters. Another group species were water quality. Similar results were reported else-
present in station 4 with high TSS, EC and tem- where [Rott, Pfister 1988, Yun et al. 2014].
perature Those species were positively correlated It was also found that there were significant
with NO3-, pH, TSS, and temperature, associat- correlations between the diatom indicator val-
ing with most other diatoms such as Cyclotella ues and most of the environmental variables. For
glomerata, Gomphonema olivaceum, Cymbella example, increasing temperature, EC, and TSS

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 Journal of Ecological Engineering Vol. 21(8), 2020

affected the diversity positively during the sum- highest water quality, while the cleanest season,
mer period. Temperature and oxygen were cor- based on TDI, was spring (71). There is a posi-
related with the seasons and total organisms in tive correlation between the TDI and GDI indi-
the Mert Stream. In turn, pH was correlated only ces (p <0.05), (Table 7). However, the BDI index
with the total organisms, TSS was correlated was not correlated with any other diatom indices
with three different factors (months, seasons (p> 0.05). According to all these results, it is con-
and total organisms). According to the ANOVA sidered that GDI could be better reflecting the
test, there were differences between months and trophic state of the Mert Stream. Standard param-
seasons in terms of temperature and oxygen as eters are used in the water quality index (WQI)
expected (p <0.01). TSS and conductivity values for surface water classification [Hanh et al. 2011].
also differed between stations (Table 5). It provides a basis with which the diatom-based
The GDI proposed in the present study char- indices can be compared. During the study, the
acterizes the water quality according to a ratio of average values of WQI for four stations (St1, St2,
only five dominant genera. This makes the use St3, St4) were categorized as poor water quality
of indicator simple and convenient. The ratio of for human use (93, 93, 88, 78 respectively) from
abundance of genera that occurred more often 2011 to 2012. The computed average WQI (91.3)
in the unpolluted environments (Cocconeis and for upper and middle sites of the stream (St1, St2
Cymbella) to those common in the polluted envi- and St3) indicate fairly good quality of water
ronments (Diatoma, Gomphonema, and Navicula) while the average WQI (78) for lower site of the
was taken as the GDI of the diatom assemblages. stream (St4) indicates poor quality of water due
The results of the diatom metrics showed that to the domestic and industrial discharges from St4
the water quality levels in the Mert Stream varied into the stream. This is not surprising as St1, St2
from good to poor status between stations. This and St3 are upstream, and at the edge of the part
has been corroborated for the biological indices of the stream that is unaffected by direct runoff
which reveal that the water quality in upper and from the waste dump. In contrast, St4 is located
middle sites has demonstrated a good status, dur- in the urban part of the stream that receives direct
ing the sampling period, while downstream it pre- runoff from the waste fill. Our results for the GDI
sented generally poor status. Increasing human index agreed with the WQI index. According to
pressures and municipal wastewater from upper both metrics, the water quality in stations 1, 2 and
to lower parts of the stream resulted in declining 3 were better than the station 4. However, accord-
index values, as it was observed in similar stud- ing to both TDI and SWQMR metrics, the water
ies [Lam, Vilas 2015, Le et al. 2016]. According quality was low in the whole stream. However,
to the BDI and GDI indices, all stations except there was a serious pollution in the river only at
one, poor and under eutrophication threat, are the 4th station. According to the results of Pear-
away from pollution and have good ecological son correlation analysis conducted between the
conditions. The measured physicochemical pa- diatom and water quality metrics (Table 7), there
rameters supported the diatom indices results, was a strong positive correlation between TDI
while the total number of organisms was decreas- and SWQMR (p <0.01).
ing to downstream sites. When considering three If the water quality was to be classified only
diatom indices values, the 4th station was slightly based on some physicochemical measurements
more polluted than the other stations. High EC, (SWQMR) as determined by the Ministry of Ag-
TSS and temperature concentrations in the 4th riculture and Ekstrafor, all stations of the Mert
station support these three diatom indices. Ac- Stream should be classified as 4th class (poor)
cording to the BDI index, the 1st station was the water quality. However, the stream water was not
cleanest station of the stream. However, the TDI so polluted according to organisms and WQI. Al-
and GDI indices indicated that 3th station was the though some studies [Pham 2017, Stevenson et al.
least contaminated site. When we evaluate the 2008] stated that the biological indices were more
diatom indices seasonally, it is seen that the pol- effective tools to monitor the biological quality and
lution increases in winter considering the TDI and ecological status of the lotic systems. We suggest
GDI indice values (71 and 11, respectively). The that some biological indices based on epilithic dia-
three diatom indices indicated that summer and tom community and WQI based on physico-chem-
spring were seasons with the least pollution. On ical parameters, may be able to differentiate sites
the basis of the BDI value (16), autumn has the of various degrees of contamination and, therefore,

27
Journal of Ecological Engineering Vol. 21(8), 2020

both biotic and abiotic indices should be used in G. olivaceum was found throughout the study pe-
order to monitor the quality of surface waters. riod; however, the abundance of C. affinis spe-
Classification of the trophic state in lotic sys- cies increased with elevated concentrations of
tems is most appropriately based on algal bio- nutrients in the summer period. G. olivaceum
mass and secondarily on nutrients [Dodds et al. and C. affinis are considered as highly sensitive
1998]. However, diatom was also used in evaluat- species avoiding the conditions worse than the
ing the water quality since they were also sensi- β-mesosaprobic conditions [Van Dam et al. 1994,
tive to change in the water quality [Stevenson et Dokulil et al. 1997]. Other species were mainly
al. 2008, Chen et al. 2016, Szulc, Szulc 2013]. abundant during the wet period and were consid-
The diatom species diversity, found in the Mert ered moderately tolerant to pollution, oligosapro-
Stream, was similar to the one, found in other bic to polysaprobic [Van Dam et al. 1994]. The
Black sea regions [Soylu et al. 2011, Maraşlıoğlu second group, including Gomphonema calcare-
et al. 2016]. The diatom diversity and assemblages um, G. angustatum, G. parvulum, Diatoma elon-
in the Mert Stream were divided into two groups gata var. actinastroides, Cocconeis disculus, C.
based on their responses to environmental condi- pediculus, Cymbella affinis, Cyclotella glomera-
tions. For example, Diatoma vulgaris, considered ta, C. planctonica, Epithemia turgida, Fragilaria
to be moderately tolerant to organic pollution construens, Hippodonta hungarica, Nitzschia
originated from nutrients [Dokulil et al. 1997], hantzschiana, and Psammothidium hustedtii, was
were the dominant species in the stations 1 and 2; not associated with any environmental variables.
while Gomphonema parvulum species, thought to C. disculus were not abundant in all the stations
be tolerant of heavy pollution [Besse-Lototskaya and tended to increase in the first station. C. dis-
et al. 2011], were dominant in station 4. The epi- culus is considered as β-mesosaprobic [Van Dam
lithic diatom community in the Mert stream was et al. 1994]. The abundance of G. parvulum was
structured by TSS, conductivity, and nutrients. significant, especially in the station 4 where pol-
The diatom composition in station 1 and 2 was lution was higher during the dry period in epilith-
greatly influenced by high phosphate concentra- ic diatoms. G. parvulum has been considered both
tions due to the surface runoff from the pesticides α-mesosaprobic and polysaprobic [Lobo et al.
used in agricultural areas. In contrast, the diatom 1999]. The findings of Kobayasi, Mayama [1989]
community in station 4 was highly associated also supported our results, since they found that
with TSS and conductivity due to the emissions this taxon is highly tolerant to organic pollution.
of urban sewage [Maraşlıoğlu et al. 2018]. The indicator values in Van Dam et al. [1994] de-
A significant effect of water quality variables fine P. hustedtii as oligosaprobic and oligotrap-
(EC, DO, NO3- and o-PO4) on the distribution of hentic. This may explain the high number of indi-
diatom taxa was also the case according to multi- viduals of this species found at the fourth station,
variate analyses (CCA). Diatoms were separated where the levels of nutrients were not significant.
into two groups according to the CCA analysis. Within this group, high abundances were also
The first group, including Eolimma minima, Cy- observed for G. calcareum in the first and in the
clotella glomerata, Cymbella affinis, C. turgida, fourth stations and C. glomerata in the second and
C. ventricosa, Diatoma vulgaris, Gomphonema in the fifth stations. G. calcareum showed a wide
olivaceum, G. calcareum, Navicula veneta, N. tolerance [Patrick, Reimer 1966] and is consid-
capitata, Nitzschia hantzschiana, Ulnaria ulna, ered β-mesosaprobic; however, C. glomerata was
and Rhoicosphenia abbreviata, seemed to be considered α- mesosaprobic and polysaprobic
related with NO3-, o-PO4, DO, TSS, temperature [Van Dam et al. 1994]. F. contruens is described
and pH. D. vulgaris was an important species as an indicator species of β-mesosaprobic envi-
with high abundance, especially in the first and ronment, being present in the waters with high
second stations during the summer period in the concentrations of dissolved oxygen, according to
epilithic community. This species is reported as Van Dam et al. [1994]. This species is tolerant of
β-mesosaprobic [Van Dam et al. 1994]. It is also mild pollution and has an affinity for water of low
notable that the abundance of N. veneta was in- BOD [Van Dam et al. 1994]. In the present study,
creased with the elevated concentrations of o-PO4 F. contruens was found in all the samples, espe-
in July at the second station. G. olivaceum and C. cially in the second station; however, its density
affinis were other significant diatoms with high was not so high during the studied period. How-
percentages, especially in the upstream stations. ever, these species were found dominant in the

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 Journal of Ecological Engineering Vol. 21(8), 2020

meso-eutrophic Lake Skomielno [Toporowska et Acknowledgements

al. 2008]. Other species were mainly abundant
during the dry period and were considered mod- The authors sincerely thanks Dr. Lecturer G.
erately tolerant to pollution, β- to α- mesosapro- Karakaş, Department of Property Protection and
Security, Hitit Universtiy, for provided valuable
bic [Van Dam et al. 1994].
contribution to statistical analysis in the manuscript.

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