Applications of various biodiversity indices to benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in streams of a national park in Turkey

Abstract

The present work aims to find which biodiversity indices applied to benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages can be used more effectively in determining habitat qualities of undisturbed streams in a national park. 2. Samples were collected at 10 sites in Yedigoller National Park in June 2007. Benthic macroinvertebrate taxa were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible. The benthic macroinvertebrate samples consisted of 137 taxa and 14184 individuals belonging to nine classes which were Turbellaria, Gastropoda, Bivalvia, Hirudinea, Gordioida, Arachnida, Malacostrata, Entognatha and Insecta. Species composition and quantitative characteristics of the benthic macroinvertebrates have been assessed by using Shannon Diversity Index, Simpson Diversity Index, Margalef Diversity Index and McIntosh Diversity Index and two evenness indices, Pielou Evenness Index and McIntosh Evenness Index. 3. The water quality of collecting sites and conditions of reference habitats were determined by application of biodiversity indices to benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and physico-chemicals variables. According to the results, Site 1, Site 4, Site 5, Site 6, Site 7, Site 8 and Site 9 were found as reference sites. 4. As a result of this study, it was indicated that each biodiversity indices had their own different purposes and they based on different variables such as number of species, number of individuals etc. The results of all biodiversity and evenness indices in this study were close and highly resemble to each other, and thus all of these indices can be used in studies of determining habitat qualities in streams of undisturbed areas.