Application of the bentix index in assessing ecological quality of hard substrata: a case study from the Bosphorus Strait, Turkey

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Published: Jun 1, 2007
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.160
E. KALKAN
Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Bogazici University, Hisar Campus,TR-34342 Bebek, Istanbul
S.U. KARHAN
Division of Hydrobiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Istanbul University, TR- 34134 Vezneciler, Istanbul
E. MUTLU
Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology (DEU-IMST), Dokuz Eylul University, TR-35340 Inciralti, Izmir
N. SIMBOURA
Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 712, P.C. 19013, Anavyssos, Attiki
M. BEKOLET
Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Bogazici University, Hisar Campus,TR-34342 Bebek, Istanbul
Abstract
In this paper, a biotic index (Bentix) has been used for the assessment of ecological quality status of shallow water hard substrate benthic ecosystems affected by coastal sewage discharges in the Bosphorus Strait. A significant difference was observed between the control and the discharge stations with regard to Bentix values (Mann-Whitney U Test, p=0.002) and ecological quality status of the discharge stations was worse than that of controls. The index values revealed that sewage discharges caused serious disturbance in macrozoobenthic communities in the area investigated. Although so far it has been used for soft bottom communities, Bentix (with some species scoring modifications) also appeared to work successfully in hard substrates, at least for the present study.
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