Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Fundamental and Applied Limnology, cilt.198, sa.1, ss.31-41, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Thermal springs create strong temperature and geochemical gradients that can act as environmental filters for aquatic biota. We assessed seasonal patterns of benthic macroinvertebrates and their relationships with water physicochemistry at four sites influenced by thermal and cold limnocrene springs in the Tuzla region (Çanakkale, NW Türkiye) during 2023. The system was highly saline (50.97– 62.53 ppt), and the thermal pool reached 73.3 °C, where no macroinvertebrates were detected. Across the remaining three sites (S1–S3), Diptera dominated and Ephydridae accounted for 61 % of all individuals. Physicochemical conditions showed seasonal variation, with significant differences in dissolved oxygen (F = 5.837, p = 0.0206) and total dissolved solids (F = 45.45, p = 2.27e−05), while salinity showed only weak evidence of variation (p = 0.0923). PERMANOVA indicated no significant overall differences in macroinvertebrate community composition among stations and seasons (R² = 0.435, F = 0.616, p = 0.935), consistent with the overlap observed in ordination space. Separate regression models showed that Simpson’s diversity index declined significantly with increasing total dissolved solids (p = 0.0212). Constrained ordination further suggested positive associations of Chironomidae with dissolved oxygen and pH, and of Ceratopogonidae with water temperature. Overall, the extreme thermal–salinity regime acted as a strong environmental filter, providing a baseline for biomonitoring and future comparative work in geothermal spring systems.