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Abstract

In this study, the levels of pollution in the Ceyhan River (Turkey), subjected to agricultural and industrial pollution, and the effects of these pollutants on the gill and liver tissues, used as biomarkers of Cyprinus carpio were analyzed. Water and fish samples were taken from the polluted region of the Ceyhan River (station II; polluted region) and from the area under the crest of the Aslantaş Dam (station I; control region) located on the same river. The research was carried out during the summer months and 40 fish from each region were studied. The physico-chemical parameters indicated that the water at station II had higher chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrate, nitrite, pH, and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) than at station I. The biomarkers examined in the liver and gill tissues of the carp were superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) as well as glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (LPO). The activities of CAT, G6PD, GST and GSH were observed by  the high levels in the liver tissues of the fish in the polluted region. Also, SOD and LPO amounts (P<0.05 in gill and liver) were also detected as substantially high in the contaminated region.

Keywords: Biochemical indicators, Ceyhan River, Common carp (Cyprinus carpio), oxidative stress,physico-chemical parameters, pollution.

Abstract

We examined the abundance, food and microhabitat use of Proterorhinus marmoratus (Gobiidae) and Cobitis vardarensis (Cobitidae) during both day and night in two small temperate streams of the Black Sea region (North-West Turkey) between May and June 2005. Drift sampling catch per unit effort revealed significantly higher relative densities at night than during the day. Of the 110 fish captured during the seven sampling periods, 77 (88%) were C. Vardarensis with the Bıçkı Stream having the most fish specimens bothin frequency of occurrence and relative density. The main environmental variables that characterized theoverall microhabitat use were velocity, light, depth, and proportions of cobbles. The fullness frequency ofthe gut contents was at their peak between 22:00 and 04:00 a.m and the most active feeding time was usually after midnight. Surface insects composed mainly of chirinomid larvae were the dominant food item forboth species in the streams during the sampling period. Further studies are needed at multiple spatial scalesto assess how habitat use and feeding habits varies with fluctuating population densities.     

Keywords: Black Sea Region, chirinomid larvae, Cobitis vardarensis, feeding activity, Proterorhinus marmoratus, surface insects.

Abstract

In this study, purposing to determine water quality of Fırtına Stream located in between Ardeşen and Çamlıhemşin, Rize at Eastern Black Sea Region was investigated. The study was carried out between May,2006 and April, 2008. During the study, the water samples were taken periodically from seven chosenstations in every month. The measured data were given as following (minimum, maximum and average): pH(6.88-7.61-7.16±0.0121), total dissolved solids (TDS)(14.20-42.10-28.28±0.43 ppm), bicarbonate(HCO^-₃) (36.60-122.00-66.88±1.05 mg/L), carbon dioxide (CO₂)(0.88-4.10-2.28±0.05 mg/L), biochemical oxygen demand (BOI₅) (0.60-4.40-1.85±0.05 mg/L), calcium (Ca⁺⁺)(6.01-16.03-9.86±0.16mg/L), magnesium (Mg⁺⁺)(0.01-5.59-1.89±0.09 mg/L), total hardness (17.00-47.00-32.29±0.49 mg/L), nitrite nitrogen (NO^-₂ -N)(UDL-0.0083-0.0012±0.0001 mg/L), nitrate nitrogen (NO^-₃ -N)(0.0001-5.47-1.36±0.0873 mg/L), ammonium nitrogen (NH⁺₄-N)(0.0006-0.0140-0.0048±0.0002 mg/L), phosphatephosphorus (PO^-3₄ -P)(UDL-0.42-0.12±0.0084 mg/L), total suspended solids (0.60-78.30-11.37±1.21mg/L), alkalinity (10.00-85.00-46.04±1.20 mg/L), water temperature (4.00-18.96-10.53±0.40°C), dissolved oxygen (8.17-13.78-10.71±0.11 mg/L), dissolved oxygen saturation (75.20-82.50-79.54±1.97 %), turbidity (0.27-57.03-9.89±0.90 NTU) and conductivity (19.50-85.26-54.77±1.04 μS/cm). When the all physicaland chemical characteristics of Fırtına Stream were examined according to the inland water qualitystandards declared in water pollution law, it is obvious that the river has a high water quality standard (Class1) except for phosphorus and suitable for purposing human consumption . Thus, it can be said that FırtınaStream water can be used not only for drinking purpose by disinfecting it, but also for recreational aims,aquacultures and other aims.     

Keywords: Fırtına stream, physico-chemical properties, water quality.

Abstract

The aim of this research was to develop a methodological approach for greenway system planning and design in the case of Seyhan River, Adana.  Essence of the approach was to investigate the recreation-oriented land use possibilities. In this respect, the emphasize was given to the areas considered as focal points and have potential recreation focal points as a result of greenway development plans.  Multi-criteria analysis was utilized to determine the focal points. Five criteria were considered: (1) currentland use/cover, (2) land capability classes, (3) slope, (4) aspect and (5) distance to river. Recreational suitability map together with focal points were derived using multi-criteria analysis within Geographic information systems (GIS) environment. The focal areas in terms of recreational usage cover less than 5 da. were eliminated as it is inappropriate to consider whole focal points at the suitability map, and consequently 28 fields as focal point were determined within the research area.
"Gravity Model" and "Inverse Distance Weight" (IDW) methods were used to determine the recreation potential weights of the 28 focus areas. 28 focal areas and 44 residential units within the research area were included to the model. As a result of this, focal index map which was considered as base map forrecreational usage of focal points were created. The focal points were considered into three categories: Recreational usage; conservation based usage; conservation, in order to propose land uses on the basis ofthis map. Recreational usage proposals were developed for the focal points within these three categories considering area coverage, current land use/cover, transportation facilities, distance to the nearest settlement, and distance to the nearest focal point criteria.     

Keywords: Adana-Seyhan River, gravity model, greenway, multi-criteria analysis.

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the vegetation distributing behind the sand dune of Yeniköy which is located in South Marmara part of Marmara Region (Turkey). Research area is included in Euro-Siberian floristic region as phytogeographically and A2 square as David's grid scheme in Turkey. Five associationswere described from research area. Four of these associations are new for the world of science. The associations and their higher units are as follows:

Upperclass: Querco-Fagea Fukarek & Fabijanic 1968
                Class: Querco-Fagetea (Br.-Bl. et Vliegler 1937) Fuk. et Fab. 1968
                               Order: Populetalia albae Pawl. 1928 em. Fukarek & Fabijanic 1968
                                               1. Association: Alno glutinosae-Fraxinetum angustifoliae Kutbay et. al. 1998
                               Order: Rhododendro-Fagetalia orientalis Quezel, Barbero et Akman 1980
                                               2. Association: Tilio argenteae-Castanetum sativae ass. nov.
                                               3. Association: Rubo hirti-Fagetum orientalis ass. nov.    
                Class: Quercetea ilicis Braun-Blanquet 1931
                               Order: Quercetalia ilicis Braun-Blanquet 1936 em. Rivas-Martinez 1974
                                               4. Association: Arbuto unedinis-Quercetum cerridis ass. nov.
                                    Alliance: Quercion ilicis Br.-Bl. (1931) 1936 em. Rivas- Martinez 1974
                                               5. Association: Phillyreo latifoliae-Quercetum cocciferae ass. nov.

Keywords: Bursa, synecology, syntaxonomy, Yeniköy.

Abstract

In this study, lead (Pb) levels were investigated in liver and muscle tissues of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)  caught in the Gulf of Antalya in May-June 2007. Atomic absorption spectrophoto-meter (AAS) was used to determine lead mean levels in tissues. Lead levels were determined at levels of maximum 1.10 ppm, minimum 0.20 ppm in liver  and maximum 1.18 ppm, minimum 0.18 ppm in muscle tissue. Levels of lead are below the acceptable limits in almost all tissues.     

Keywords: Bluefin tuna, Gulf of Antalya, heavy metal, lead, pollution, Thunnus thynnus.

Abstract

Solid-liquid separation in Coal Washing Plants is carried out to decrease fresh water consumption in thickeners obtaining a dense-slurry and to decrease environmental pollution. In this study, settling characteristics of the samples were investigated using four different type anionic flocculants and Na⁺, K⁺,Ca⁺² electrolytes. The samples were taken from the thickener feed of Tunçbilek-Ömerler Coal WashingPlant. The dried feed samples of thickener contain 17.1% carbon, 70.2% ash and 2245 kcal/kg of lower calorific value. As a result of the settling experiments, it was determined that electrolytes together with suitable flocculants increase the settling rate. An increase of 38% in settling rate was observed by using 25gr/t-solid flocculants and 0.05M Ca⁺². This increase is due to bridge formation action of electrolytes between the clay surface and flocculants as well as the decrease in the repulsive forces between the particles.In conclusion, the thickener capacity will be increased by electrolyte and flocculants addition, and lessamount of fresh water will be used in the process.     

Keywords: Characterization, clay settling, coal tailing, electrolyte addition.

Abstract

Agricultural terrains which are spontaneously irrigated by geothermal waters are affected by harmfulcontents of those waters especially boron. In the present study, Seferihisar-Doganbey Fault zone where thermal waters are exist, were selected as study area.  In date interval July 2005-December 2007, water samples were collected in a month period from determined stations. Radon measurements in water samples were performed by using collector method. Also analysis of pH, EC (electrical conductivity), Na₂CO₃,Na⁺, K⁺, Ca⁺⁺+Mg⁺⁺, Cl^-, HCO₃^-, SO₄⁼and B (Boron) have performed for those water samples. It isobserved that radon changes for Cumali Station in interval of 0.1Bq/L-16.67Bq/L, for Karakoç Station ininterval of 0.29Bq/L-10.26Bq/L, for Doganbey1 Station in interval of 0.33Bq/L -56.36Bq/L, for Doganbey2 Station in interval of 0.34Bq/L-7.7Bq/L. Unstable variations of radon values provide requirement of periodical radon measurements along the study.      

Keywords: Boron, chemical content, radon, thermal water.

Abstract

The bioconversion of soy stalk (SS) lignocellulose by three different starins of Pleurotus eryngii from various origins by solid state fermentation was studied during 40 days. The effect of rice bran ratio, 5% or 10% (w/w), on lignin degradation and laccase activity were measured througout the fermentations while, total crude protein and C/N ratio of the remaining substrate were determined at the end of the fermentations.The degradation of lignocellulose was found by the determination of acid soluble lignin (Klason lignin) content. All the strains degraded lignin with different extents. The amount of lignin degradation was decreased by the addition of the higher quantities of rice bran (SS+10% RB). The highest lignin degradation was obtained as 24.43% by P. eryngii var. ferulae (E) and the highest protein level was found tobe  %13.32 by P. eryngii (H). We determined that the laccase activity was generally decreased by the addition of the higher quantities of rice bran (10%). Maximum laccase activity (204.39 U/L) was obtained by P. eryngii (E) on SS  + 5% RB at the end of the fermentation.  This study showed that, after fungal treatment soystalk can be used as a feed for ruminants with its higher feeding value.     

Keywords: Pleurotus eryngii, bioconversion, biodelignification, laccase activity, ruminant feed.

Abstract

In this study, the phytosociological structure and ecological features of the Pinus pinea forests  in the Fistikli village of Yalova province in the north-west region of Turkey was investigated. From the phytogeographical point of view, it is situated in the Europe-Siberian floristic region. The vegetation of the study area was analyzed according to the Braun-Blanquet approach, and the plant associations were classified by considering the characteristic species. In this study, we will describe one plant association belonging to the forest vegetation types.

Association and its higher units are as follows:
Class: Quercetea ilicis Br.-Bl. 1947
Order: Quercetalia ilicis Br.-Bl. 1947
Alliance: Quercion ilicis Br.-Bl.(1931) 1936
Association: Lavandulo cariensis-Pinetum pineae ass. nova

Keywords: Ecology, forest vegetation, phytosociology, Pinus pinea, Yalova.

Abstract

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) is an issue of increasing public concern due to its recognized adverse effects on humanhealth. Therefore, accurate SO₂ prediction models are very important tools in developing public warningstrategies. The goal of this study is to identify the relevance of meteorological and air pollutant variablesusing a classical and widely used measure of dependence, Shannon's Mutual Information (MI), and to buildan accurate SO₂ prediction model using the relevant variables as inputs. Specifically, features ranked by MImeasure are tested on how much joint predictive power they have of the target using a popular machinelearning tool, support vector machines (SVM), and in comparison to multilayer perceptron (MLP), whichis the most commonly used machine learning tool in previous studies for the prediction and analysis of airpollutants.  It was found that the SVM model gave a higher correlation coefficient (r) and less root meansquared error (RMSE) than MLP for both test and validation sets.  The predictive model used 6 inputvariables for both data sets as the relevant features for maximum SO₂ concentration prediction at time t+1, which are the average SO₂, maximum SO₂, outdoor temperature (OT), average nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), average ozone (O₃), and average wind speed at time t.   The results of this study indicate that MI can beused efficiently in determining the importance of input variables in the prediction of SO₂ concentrationand SVM is a popular machine learning tool well suited for use in air pollution modeling.     

Keywords: Air pollution modeling, Istanbul, Mutual information, Sulfur dioxide, Support vector machines.