Assessment of Ciliophora fauna in acigöl, in Konya (karapınar), and investigation of its relation to environmental variables

As a result of climate change and escalating anthropogenic pressures, the water resources, a vital natural asset, has endured significant degradation both in terms of its quality and quantity in recent times. Protecting and effectively managing water resources with a comprehensive perspective, one that duly acknowledges the significance of aquatic organisms, has become paramount for sustaining both life and economic endeavors. Within this framework, in this thesis, a thorough investigation was conducted in Acıgöl, situated in the Konya Closed Basin, to designate the relationships between physicochemical parameters and Ciliophora fauna, renowned for its resilience to osmotic stress, was considered a potential indicator species for assessing water quality. A comprehensive monitoring initiative spanning from January 2016 to December 2016 was undertaken, during which 91 taxa belonging to the Ciliophora fauna were meticulously identified in Acıgöl and 17 physicochemical parameters were measured. The average organism density observed in Acıgöl ranged from 1 to 240 individuals per liter. Observations revealed that Cyclidium glaucoma exhibited a relative abundance exceeding 50% during the months of January, February, and December, thereby establishing it as one of the species predominantly detected based on frequency ratios. Chlamydodon triquetrus, Euplotes sp.1, Fabrea salina, Frontonia fusca, Kahlilembus attenuatus, Litonotus lamella, Paranophrys magna, and Vorticella infusionum, despite exhibiting relative abundance rates below 50%, were categorized based on their frequency rates as generally, mostly, and continuously detectable species. To investigate the structure and dynamics of the ciliate community in Acıgöl, three distinct diversity indices and one evenness index were employed. The average values across 12 months of monitoring at three separate stations yielded the following results: a Shannon Diversity Index of 1.59, a Simpson Diversity Index of 0.67, a Margalef Diversity Index of 2.13, and a Pielou Evenness Index of 0.65. The physicochemical properties of Acıgöl were measured monthly in terms of water temperature (°C), electrical conductivity (mS/cm), total dissolved solids (g/l), salinity (‰), dissolved oxygen saturation (%), dissolved oxygen concentration (mg/l), pH, chloride (mg/l), bromide (mg/l), sulfate (mg/l), carbonate (mg/l), bicarbonate (mg/l), lithium (mg/l), sodium (mg/l), potassium (mg/l), magnesium (mg/l) and calcium (mg/l). Spearman Correlation Analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) were employed to synthesize spatial and temporal variations in water quality and ascertain the relationships between ciliates and physicochemical parameters. Within this framework, Aspidisca cicada, Fabrea salina, Thigmogaster oppositevacuolatus, Thuricola kellicottiana, and Tokophyra infisionum are posited as indicative species against pollution. Conversely, species such as Chlamydodon triquetrus, Frontonia fusca, Holophrya vorax, Kahlilembus attenuatus, Loxodes sp.1, Metacystis elongata, and Pseudocohnilembus pusillus are identified as potential pollution indicators. Cyclidium glaucoma, Paranophrys magna, and Vorticella infusionum, despite their heightened relative abundance and frequency ratios amidst extreme salinity and electrical conductivity conditions in Acıgöl, are not considered indicative of pollution due to their perceived adaptability across varying pollution levels. Additionally, species including Aspidisca lynceus, Litonotus crystallinus, Litonotus lamella, Metacystis tesselata, Thigmogaster oppositevacuolatus, Thuricola kellicottiana, Tokophyra infisionum, Vorticella infusionum, Vorticella octava, and Vorticella aquadulcis are deemed potential indicators capable of reflecting pH fluctuations.