Statistical approaches to evaluate the aquatic ecosystem qualities of a significant mining area: Emet stream basin (Turkey)

• Published in: Environmental earth sciences Vol. 71; no. 5; pp. 2185 - 2197
• Main Authors: Tokatli, Cem, Çiçek, Arzu, Emiroğlu, Özgür, Arslan, Naime, Köse, Esengül, Dayioğlu, Hayri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.03.2014; Springer Berlin Heidelberg; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal tissues; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Aquatic ecosystems; Barbus; Barbus oligolepis; Biogeosciences; Biological and medical sciences; calcium; Capoeta; Chromium; cluster analysis; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth, ocean, space; ecosystems; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental Science and Engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Factor analysis; fish; Food and Agriculture Organization; Fresh water ecosystems; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geochemistry; Geological structures; Geology; Hydrology/Water Resources; kidneys; Lakes; liver; magnesium; manganese; Marine and continental quaternary; Mines; mining; muscle tissues; nickel; Original Article; Pollution sources; Pollution, environment geology; River systems; rivers; Sediment samplers; sediments; Squalius; Streams; Surficial geology; Synecology; Terrestrial Pollution; Tinca; Water analysis; Water quality; water quality criteria; Water sampling; Turkey (country); Middle East; Asia; Turkey; Chromium; Statistical techniques; Sediment quality; Emet stream; Water quality; rivers; chromium; Chordata; fresh-water environment; accumulation; streams; pollution; factor analysis; hardness; mines; Vertebrata; conductivity; correlation; water quality; Pisces; ecosystems; fish; pH; lakes; cluster analysis; mining area
• ISSN: 1866-6280; 1866-6299
• DOI: 10.1007/s12665-013-2624-4

Emet Stream is one of the most important branches of Uluabat Lake (Ramsar area) and also one of Turkey’s most important river systems. In addition to the geologic structure of the basin, Harmancik Chromium Mines are one of the most important inorganic pollution sources for the basin and also for Uluabat Lake. In the present study, water, sediment and fish (Squalius cii, Capoeta tinca and Barbus oligolepis) samples were collected seasonally from eight stations (one of them was on the Kinik Stream where the Harmancik Chromium Mines is located on and one of them was on the Dursunbey Stream) on the Emet Stream Basin. Some limnological parameters (pH, conductivity and total hardness) in water and Cr, Ca, Mg, Ni and Mn levels in biotic (muscle, gill, liver and kidney tissues of fishes) and abiotic (water and sediment) components of basin were determined to evaluate the effects of Harmancik Chromium Mines on the system. Cluster Analysis, Factor Analysis, Pearson Correlation Index, One Way Anova Tests, Scatter dot Comparing and Matrix plot Distribution Diagrams were applied to the results in order to estimate the data properly. Water samples were evaluated according to the water quality criteria for Turkey and sediment samples were evaluated according to the sediment quality criteria. According to data obtained, statistically significance differences were identified between Kinik and Emet Streams according to Cr and Ni accumulations in water and sediment. Chromium levels of Kinik Stream were extremely higher an average of 153 times for water and 10 times for sediment than uncontaminated stations. Water and sediment quality of Emet Stream were decreasing after falling the Kinik Stream and increasing after falling the Dursunbey Stream. It was also determined that, the amount of chromium in muscle tissues of three fish species were much higher than the limit value of 0.15 mg kg⁻¹ that FAO identified.