Determination of macrophyte composition of the North Aegean Basin

Aquatic macrophytes, in other words hydrophytes, are one of the important components of wetlands. By definition, the term "macrophyte" is used for aquatic plants that can be identified by the eye to species level. According to Water Framework Directive; macrophytes are considered as one of the basic biological groups to monitor the fresh water biologically. The investigation and monitoring of macrophytes in the water provides information about the ecological quality of the environment. Our country; has 25 hydrological basins and it is important to know the macrophyte composition in these areas. In this study, macrophyte taxa collected from 16 river points in the North Aegean basin were examined. Sampling were performed along the 100 m transect at river points. The sampled taxa were taken to the press or preserved in Copenhagen Solution. Diagnosis of taxa was carried out by diagnostic keys and books. After the diagnosis the macrophyte composition of the basin was determined and IBMR calculations were made to evaluate the ecological status of the points for each sampling period. The calculations were compared with the results of the physicochemical evaluation provided by DOKAY Laboratory and Engineering Services (DOKAY-LAB). As a result of the study 72 different taxa were identified in the basin. Although the results of physicochemical evaluation with IBMR results are similar in 7 points, there are differences in 9 rivers.