ZOOPLANKTON OF KILAVUZLU DAM LAKE (KAHRAMANMARAŞ) AND THE EFFECT OF CAGE FISH FARMING ON WATER QUALITY AND ZOOPLANKTON FAUNA OF THE DAM LAKE

Abstract

Water quality parameters and zooplankton fauna of Kilavuzlu Dam Lake were determined. It was found that among water quality parameters, sechi depth, temperature, silica, Ca and CaCO 3 amounts were higher in the first (referans) station; while conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, chlorophyll a , nitrate and phosphate values were higher in second (cage) station. A total of 57 taxa were identified in the study. Of these taxa, 33 belonged to Rotifera, 14 belonged to Cladocera and 10 belonged to Copepoda. It was found that Keratella cochlearis , Daphnia longispina , Cyclops vicinus , Acanthodiaptomus denticornis were the most common throughout the year, while Ascomorpha ovalis , Dicranophorus epicharis , Keratella tecta , Notholca acuminata , Testudinella patina , T. mucronata , Trichotria pocillum , Disparalona rostrata , Scapholeberis kingi , Leydigia leydigi , Alona guttata , Eucyclops speratus , Paracyclops chiltoni were the least species. Monommata longiseta , Trichocerca porcellus , Diaphanasoma birgei , Eurycercus lamellatus were only found in the first station, while Ascomorpha ovalis , Notholca acuminata , Rotaria neptunia , Trichotria pocillum , Disparalona rostrata and Eucyclops speratus were only found in the second station. Rotifera was represented with higher number of species in first station for 5 months but Copepoda was represented with higher number of species in second station for 5 months. The abundance of groups according to months and stations revealed that Rotifera and Copepoda were abundant quantitatively in first station for 7 months; while Cladocera was abundant in first station for 8 months. On the other hand, amount of all zooplankton species were found to be more abundant in cage station in April (6605 ±4597.35 individual m -3 ) and more abundant in first station in September (1635 ±2384.852 individual m -3 ) (P > 0.05).