Aim The aims of this study are to establish a multi-locus phylogeny-based hypothesis for the biogeographical relationship of gastropods from the putative ancient Lake Eǧirdir, to test the respective null hypothesis, to estimate the timing of biogeographical events based on independent molecular clock approaches, and to interpret the data with respect to the putative ancient character of Lake Eǧirdir.Location Lake Eǧirdir, western Taurus Lake District, Turkey.Methods DNA sequences from the putatively only extant endemic taxon of Lake Eǧirdir, Falsipyrgula pfeiferi, as well as representatives of other pyrgulinid genera from Europe and western Asia are used for phylogenetic analyses based on Bayesian inference. The respective null hypothesis is tested utilizing parametric bootstrapping. The timing of evolutionary events is estimated based on two independent molecular clock approaches, which involve the modelling of judicious errors associated with branch-length calculations and calibration points.Results Bayesian inference indicates a very close relationship between the Lake Eǧirdir and Ponto-Caspian taxa. Parametric bootstrapping rejects the null hypothesis that these taxa are not monophyletic (P £ 0.01). The alternative hypothesis, namely monophyly of the Ponto-Caspian and Eǧirdir taxa, can therefore be accepted. The two independent molecular clock approaches show diversion times for the Ponto-Caspian/Eǧirdir taxa of 0.42 ± 0.18 and 0.43 ± 0.63 Ma.Main conclusions The present study shows that there is no close biogeographical affiliation between the probably only remaining endemic taxon of Lake Eǧirdir and taxa from central Europe or the Balkan region. Instead, there is a very close and relatively young (i.e. late Pleistocene) biogeographical relationship with the Ponto-Caspian pyrgulinids. However, fossil and comparative data from other invertebrates indicate that biogeographical connections between Lake Eǧirdir and the Ponto-Caspian region existed during various time periods, i.e. the Miocene/Pliocene, early Pleistocene, and late Pleistocene. Acknowledging the stillrestricted knowledge of the evolutionary history of the lake, the data presented here do not reject the putative ancient status of Lake Eǧirdir. Future studies utilizing endemic taxa of other lakes in the region need to show whether the western Taurus Lake District represents a melting pot of Pleistocene refuge biodiversity from different regions, and whether the admixture of divergent lineages has created a genetically distinct set of taxa that would warrant the designation of the area as a unique biogeographical subregion.

Sakarya River is defined hydrologically in three parts: upper, middle and lower Sakarya River Basin. This study was carried out in lower Sakarya River (Karasu). Aquatic Oligochaeta samples were collected from four chosen stations between January 2008 and October 2008 seasonally. In total, eight Oligochaeta species were identified during the study period. These species belong to Naididae family and to Tubificinae subfamily (Tubificoid Naidid) [Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri Claparède, 1862; Limnodrilus udekemianus Claparède, 1862; Limnodrilus claparedeianus Ratzel, 1868; Potamothrix hammoniensis (Michaelsen, 1901); Psammoryctides deserticola (Grimm, 1877); Tubifex blanchardi Vejdovsky, 1891; Tubifex ignotus (Stolc, 1886); Tubifex tubifex (Müller, 1774)]. Also, it was observed that Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri and Tubifex tubifex, were found to be dominant, and thus indicator species for pollution in the river.

Mollusk samples were collected between March 2018 and January 2019 through seasonal sampling at five stations [Riva (ST1), Kuzdere (ST2), Kanlıdere (ST3), Atdosun (ST4), Değirmendere (ST5)] of Riva Stream (Istanbul). In the study, 7,073 individuals, 7 taxa [1 species belonging to Prosobranchia (Bithynia sp.), 3 species belonging to Pulmonata (Planorbis planorbis (Linnaeus, 1758), Physella acuta (Draparnaud, 1805) and Gyraulus albus (O. F. Müller, 1774) and 3 species belonging to Bivalvia [Pisidium casertanum (Poli 1791), Pisidium amnicum (Muller, 1774) and Sphaerium corneum (Linnaeus, 1758)] were determined. Considering the dominance (%) of taxa, Bithynia sp. was determined as the most dominant species among all stations (5,479 individuals (77.46%)). During sampling, various environmental variables [depth (cm), width (cm), flow rate (m/s), water temperature ( o C), dissolved oxygen (%), pH, conductivity (μS/cm), salinity (ppm), NH 4 -N (mg/L), NO 3 -N (mg/L), NO 2 -N (mg/L), PO 4 -P (mg/L), TP (mg/L) and TSS (g/L)] were measured. The relationship between environmental variables and taxa was determined using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) using the Past Statistics Program, version 4.02. The clustering relationship between the five sampling stations and the unweighted pair group method (UPGMA) with arithmetic mean was shown.

This study was carried out by the streams of Tunceli province (Turkey) between June 2008 and May 2009 to determine Mollusca fauna. Samples were taken at 20 stations, seasonally. Mollusca fauna of the streams of Tunceli was represented by three species of Prosobranchia (Bithynia pseudemmericia, Bithynia tentaculata, Anadoludamnicola gloeri), four species of Pulmonata (Galba truncatula, Radix labiata, Physella acuta, Acroloxus lacustris), and two species of Bivalvia (Pisidium casertanum, Pisidium lilljeborgii). Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was applied to determine the relationships among the Mollusca fauna and physicochemical variables. CCA explained 31.897% of the species and environmental variation by the second axis. Water temperature (T), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and Ca +2were the most influential variables on the Mollusca fauna. The present study is the first research on the Mollusca fauna in the streams of Tunceli province. Molluscs species were recorded for the first time from the area.

Abstract. In this study, anthropogenic influences on the natural fresh water sources regarding the levels of indicator bacteria were investigated in the Eastern Anatolian, Turkey. The surface water samples (0-30 cm) were collected seasonally in the period between November 2008 and October 2009. The levels of total and faecal coliform bacteria were tested using membrane filtration technique. The detected coliform bacteria in the sampling region, where livestock raising activities are intense, revealed the region under the influences of bacteriological pollution inputs. The results also showed that freshwater sources of the region carry a potential risk for human health. This is the first data that can be used in the assessment of bacterial risks of these water sources in the Tunceli and Munzur Valley of the Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. Bacteriological monitoring studies are needed to be established for detecting of pollution sources and sustainable use of natural water resources.