SPATIAL AND SEASONAL WATER QUALITY ANALYSIS OF THE MUDURNU RIVER BASIN BASED ON MACROINVERTEBRATE INDICES

Abstract

This study investigated the relationships between the macroinvertebrate communities in the Mudurnu River Basin and water quality parameters. Pollution levels in different parts of the river were identified by comparing the quality criteria for the Inland Surface Water Resources (RMSWQ) and the quality criteria of biotic indices (TBI, BBI, BMWP, and ASPT). Moreover, the study aimed at determining the most suitable season for biomonitoring of the Mudurnu River Basin with macroinvertebrate communities. Water and macroinvertebrate samples were gathered from six stations simultaneously twice each month between November and April in winter and between May and October in summer. The measurements were performed on the samples for water quality parameters. The benthic macroinvertebrate samples obtained were identified according to species and family. As a result, the relationship between the identified benthic macroinvertebrates and the physico-chemical parameters were investigated using T-Test.