To investigate biomarker potentials and ecological properties of filamentous algae in Karkamış (Gaziantep) region

This study was designed to (i) explore biochemical response of filamentous algae and (ii) evaluate relationships between algae species and environmental variables the ecological preferences of species in different water bodies from November 2012 to December 2014, using multivariate approach in the southeast of Gaziantep. The relationship between biochemical contents of filamentous algae species and ecological variables has been determined. In the studied area, Cladophora, Spirogyra, Ulothrix, Oedogonium, and Zygnema filamentous algae of the species had been recorded. As a result, it was observed that each algal species for changing of environmental conditions and different biochemical content gave different specific answer. Significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA), H2O2, total thiol group, total phenolic compounds, and proline productions by filamentous algae and chlorosis phenomenon seemed to be an important strategy for alleviating environmental factors-induced oxidative stress as biomarkers. A total of 241 algal taxa were identified. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) exhibited a high correlation between environmental factors and species. Highly tolerant species were collected at the center of the CCA ordination. According to weighted average regression, most algal species showed their unique ecological preferences for different environmental conditions.