EVALUATION OF ECOLOGICAL CHANGES IN LAKE HAZAR (ELAZIG, TURKEY) USING DIATOM-BASED PALEOLIMNOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES

Abstract

Sediment core samples (H002, H003, H005 and H006) recovered from the basin of Lake Hazar located in the South East Region of Turkey. Core samples were collected from the four sampling stations by UWITEC corer to determine diatom flora distribution in Lake Hazar. Diatom counts and identifications were made from the sediments sampled at 1-2 cm intervals. Total of 142 species of diatoms were recorded, most of them were pennate diatoms. Ulnaria ulna, Nitzschia gracilis, Synedra nana, and Cyclotella ocellata dominated the assemblage in the sampling points. Our objective was to investigate the environmental and ecological history of Lake Hazar, and to recover diatom microfossil profils using paleolimnological techniques.