Research Information System
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, vol.35, no.8, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
Aquatic heteroptera, one of the large insect groups, is an important element of aquatic life and the aquatic food chain. Because it spends its entire life cycle in water, its feature of directly reflecting the properties and quality of water draws attention. In this study, the bioindicator role of heteroptera in water quality monitoring was investigated. For this purpose, aquatic heteroptera samples were collected simultaneously from 71 wetlands with different structures and elevations in the Western Black Sea Region and its surroundings (Turkey), and water samples were taken for 15 months in 2022-2024, and pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and electrical conductivity values were recorded. The water quality of wetlands was determined by determining the average values and correlating them with the aquatic heteroptera fauna of these areas. It was determined that the presence of Mesoveliidae and Veliidae species indicated Class I (very good) water quality, the presence of Micronectidae species indicated Class I (very good) and II (good) water quality, and aquatic heteroptera groups with narrow and wide tolerance to water quality changes were defined. In addition, the relationships between some physicochemical parameters in water were determined. As a result, it was clearly demonstrated that aquatic heteroptera species can be used as bioindicators and can be used together with physicochemical parameters in water quality studies.