Arthropods (Mar 2014)
The effects of some domestic pollutants on the cumacean (Crustacea) community structure at the coastal waters of the Dardanelles, Turkey
Abstract
This study was carried out to determine the effects of sewage pollution on the cumacean assemblages found in the coastal waters of the Dardanelles. The samples were collected by a SCUBA diver between July 2008 and April 2009 and a total of 102 specimens belong to 5 cumacea species, Bodotria arenosa mediterranea, Cumopsis goodsir, Cumella limicola, Iphinoe maeotica and Pseudocuma longicorne was recorded. The dominant species, Iphinoe maeotica has the highest dominance value (36.66%). Multiregression approach resulted in statistically insignificant relationship between physical, chemical and biochemical variables of water and sediment and Bodotria arenosa mediterranea, Cumopsis goodsir, Cumella limicola, and Iphinoe maeotica. Based on multiple regression test, a significant relationship with R2 = 92.2%, F= 7.876 and p= 0.000 was found between six water and sediment quality constituents and numbers of Pseudocuma longicornis at the stations studied of the Dardanelles. On the other hand, water temperature (β= -0.114; t= -2.811, p= 0.016); sediment organic matter (β= -0.011; t= -2.406; p= 0.033) and water phosphorus (PO4) (β= 0.323; t= 3.444; p=0.005) were found to be the most important water and sediment parameters that affect Pseudocuma longicornis.
