Recent podocopid ostracods from an alpine karst lake in Turkey

Abstract

Alpine (high mountain) ecosystems with extreme weather conditions and complex karstic geology, hosting extensive aquifers, are the two main characteristics of Taurus Mountain ranges, also affecting the distribution of living biota. Understanding these systems are important since they are potentially diverse but poorly explored habitats and are possible water source in the region, especially considering projected further aridification trends. Here, Lake Yeşilgöl (altitude 1815 m asl), a groundwater fed karstic lake at Mount Akdağ, is described in terms of its physical limnology and benthic freshwater ostracod assemblages for the first time. Three freshwater (podocopid) ostracod species were recorded: Fabaeformiscandona brisiaca (Klie, 1938), Neglecandona neglecta (Sars, 1887) Krstić, 2006 and Ilyocypris bradyi Sars, 1890 in the surface sediment. Ostracods are in high abundance. According to the population structure of those species, I. bradyi Sars, 1890 and N. neglecta (Sars, 1887) Krstić, 2006 are inhabiting this lake. Although F. brisiaca (Klie, 1938) is the most abundant ostracod species, it might be distributed/transported to the lake via groundwater. F. brisiaca (Klie, 1938) is the first record form Turkey and might be part of the meio-fauna of karstic groundwater of Taurus Mountains. Trace metals (Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, and Ni) were measured in the surface sediment of the main lake basin and in the subsamples of the littoral short core. They are detectable low concentration. Atmospheric contamination does not yet appear to be an environmental threat at this remote alpine site in Western Taurus Mountains, in the south west Anatolia.