Comparative analysis of biotic indices for assessment of water quality of Balaban Stream in West Anatolia, Turkey

Drinking water basins are freshwater resources that need to be protected and sustained of water quality. However, these areas are lately facing pressures such as agricultural, industrial and urbanization activities. This study was carried out to determine water quality of Balaban Stream and to compare the performance of the indices. Five sampling stations were determined and the samplings were carried out seasonally. Biotic and diversity indices based on benthic macroinvertebrates have been applied using Asterics software. By using UPGMA analysis, the similarities between the stations were clustered based on benthic macroinvertebrates. Pearson's based correlations were applied to the indices in order to determine the proper biotic indices. A total of 62 taxa which belong to Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Diptera, Odonata, Coleoptera, Arhynchobdellida, Haplotaxida, Basommatophora and Amphipoda were detected. The most dominant group between the benthic macroinvertebrates (51 taxa) was found among Insecta. The 4(th) and 5(th) stations were the most similar according to the benthic macroinvertebrates assemblages. As a result of this research, the water quality of Balaban Stream was determined as unpolluted-slightly polluted. BMWP- O, BMWP- S, BMWP- H, ASPT- O, ASPT- H and ASPT- C indices were more proper than SI, FBI and BBI indices to determine the water quality of Balaban stream.