The Effect of Fish Farming on Zooplankton Fauna in Kozan Dam Lake

Abstract

The effect of aquaculture on water quality (Dissolved Oxygen, temperature, pH, conductivity, NO2-N, NO3-N, NH4-N, PO4-P and chlorophyll-a) and zooplankton fauna was investigated in Kozan Dam Lake. As a result of the study, it was determined that fish farming did not have a statistically effect on zooplankton fauna and water quality parameters, but it caused some minor changes. In the study, a total of 50 zooplankton species were identified, including 29 from rotifers, 15 from cladocerans and 6 from copepods and Asplanchna priodonta, Polyarthra dolichoptera, Bosmina longirostris Ceriodaphnia pulchella were found in both stations every month during the study. While the reference station had more species in January, February, March, April, May, June, August, October and November than in the cage station, more species were found in the cage station only in September and November than in the reference station. The annual zooplankton abundance was 3.118±3.927 ind/m 3 at the cage station and 2.552±2.452 ind/m 3 at the reference station. Rotifer species and abundance were higher at the cage station whereas cladocer and copepod species and abundance were higher at the reference station. In the study, the species found only in the cage station were Lecane bulla and Disparalona rostrata while the species found only in the reference station were Cephalodella gibba, Filinia terminalis and Macrothrix laticornis.