Use of Epilithic Diatoms to Evaluate Water Quality of Murat Stream (Sakarya River Basin, Kütahya): Different Saprobity Levels and pH Status

Inthisstudy,�theepilithicdiatomsweremonthlyinvestigatedfromfivestationsbetweenSeptember�2007�andApril�2008�alongtheMuratStream� and�75�diatomtaxaweretotallyidentified.� Amongthestations,�Cymbella affinis inM1,�Gomphonema truncatum inM2,�Diatoma moniliformis inM3,�Gomphonema olivaceuminM4�andFragilaria ulnainM5 werethemostdominantspecies.�Also,�waterqualityoftheMuratStreamwas� determinedaccordingtodiatomtaxabyusingHakansson,�Lange-Bertalot,�Hoffman,�VanDamandWatanabeIndices.�Theresultsshowthat,� accordingtoHakansson'sIndex,�mostofthespecieswerealkalinecharacteristics;�accordingtoRoteListeofLange-BertalotIndexapproximately� 51%�ofindicatorspeciesweredescribedas�"eutrophent";�accordingtoHoffmanIndex,�themostoftheindicatorspecieswereintherangeofalfa-�>� beta-�>�βαmesosaprob;�accrdingtoVanDamIndex,�themostoftheindicatorspecieswerethemaingroupsofbeta-�thanalphamesosaprobionts;�and�