Cyanobacterial Diversity and Physicochemical Characteristics of Thermal Springs in The Kütahya Province of Turkey

Sevi̇Lay Öztürk

doi:10.3329/bjpt.v28i2.57137

Abstract

Thermal springs are very difficult environments for organisms due to the high temperature, and physicochemical parameters. Cyanobacteria, which are photosynthetic prokaryotes, are best adapted to these environments. Kütahya is an important thermal area in Turkey. The aim of the study was to determine the cyanobacterial flora with a morphologic and ecologic approach in the 11 thermal. The physicochemical properties of the thermal springs in Kütahya province were measured. The thermal springs are alkaline (pH6) with an average temperature of 52°C. As a result, 54 cyanobacteria taxa were identified. Oscillatoriales were the predominant order in terms of taxa diversity (24 taxa) and biomass size. Statistical analyses were conducted to reveal the physicochemical properties of the thermal springs and the distribution of cyanobacteria in detail. According to these analyses, the thermal springs were classified into two main groups with a Piper. As a result of the RDA analysis under CANOCO 5.0, the total variation was 55.45455, and the first two axes explained a total of 57.43% of the variance. There was a significant difference (P0.001) in the comparison of the physicochemical parameters including pH, EC, TDS, and temperature values of the thermal springs in the Kruskal Wallis tests. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 28(2): 413-428, 2021 (December)

Highlights

Cyanobacteria are ecologically important because of their role in oxygen production and in assimilation of carbon and nitrogen
The results indicate that the thermal springs were alkaline, the average temperature was 52°C, and they were transparent
It was found that nutrient elements were high, and sulphate and ammonia were below the measurable values in the thermal springs

Summary

Introduction

Cyanobacteria are ecologically important because of their role in oxygen production and in assimilation of carbon and nitrogen. Life is difficult in thermal springs, the cyanobacteria are the most adapted organisms for this environment. Cyanobacteria are the most commonly reported microbial groups constituting thermophilic mats and considered the major primary producers in these type of habitats (Castenholz, 1973). Due to their abilities, the determination of diversity of cyanobacteria in thermal springs is gaining importance. Studies of thermal springs allow us to know which cyanobacterial taxa can adapt to the thermal environment. The diversity of cyanobacteria in thermal springs depends on two basic factors: i) the temperature of the thermal spring, ii) the dissolved chemicals in the thermal spring

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