Investigation of zooplanton fauna in streams and stagnant waters of Yayladaği district of Hatay province

In this study, some water quality parameters and zooplankton fauna were investigated from 20 different dam-ponds, rivers and wells in Yayladağı District of Hatay Province. As a result of the study conducted between October 2015 and July 2016, a total of 85 taxa were determined including 53 from Rotifera, 17 from Kladosera and 15 from Kopepoda. The percentage of zooplankton groups was found to be the highest with 62,35% and the second with Cladosera with 20% and the lowest with 17,65% of Kopepoda. Thirty rotifers, 12 copepods and 9 cladoserans (total 51 species) in wells; 42 rotifers, 11 cladoserans and 3 copepods (56 species in total) in dams and ponds, and 29 rotifers, 10 cladoserans and 5 copepods In the streams (44 species in total) were identified. From rotifer Keratella cochlearis and Trichocerca similis are in 13 aquatic environment, from Cladocera Bosmina longirostris in 16 aquatic environment from kopepoda Tropocyclops prasinus in 13 aquatic environment defined and these species were the most common species. It was determined that the species showing the least spread only in one aquatic environment were Anuraeopsis fissa, Branchionus quadridentatus, Cephalodella ventripes, Euchlaris lyra, Filinia longiseta, F. opoliensis, Lecane aculeata, L. furcata, L. pumila, L. acanthinula, Mytilina unguipes, Notholca squamula, Rotaria neptunia, Trichocerca pusilla, T. taurocephala, T. elongata, Testudinella elliptica, Daphnia sp., Leydigia acanthocercoides, Monospilus dispar, Ilyocryptus sordidus, Simocephalus vetulus, Bryocamptus minutus, B. zschokkei, Diacyclops bicuspidatus and Eucyclops serrulatus. The most species were found in the Görentaş Dam Lake (36 species), followed by the Kasım Bey Creek with 31 species and the Hoplar Creek with 30 species. The study area with the least species was found to be wells 10 with 2 species. While the most abundant species in the dams and ponds were found to be Asplanchna priodonta, Polyarthra vulgaris, Bosmina longirostris in all seasons, Cephalodella gibba, Colurella adriatica, Euchlanis dilatata and Lepadella ovalis were most abundant species in rivers. On the other hand, in the wells, it was determined that the species which were intense from time to time were Trichocerca similis, Bosmina longirostris and Tropocyclops prasinus. Key Words : Zooplankton, lake, river, well, Yayladağı,Hatay Page Number : 57 Supervisor : Prof. Dr. Ahmet BOZKURT