Community structure of tintinnids (Protozoa: Ciliophora) in the eutrophic environment (the Golden Horn Estuary, Turkey)

The distribution of tintinnid species and their associations with environmental variables were evaluated in the eutrophic Golden Horn estuary ecosystem. The samples were collected from two stations monthly between October 2009 and September 2010. The study determined 17 tintinnid species belonging to five families and nine genera. In the study, the results of environmental variables such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, Secchi disk, chlorophyll-a, and nutrients were recorded synchronously with tintinnid samples. Also, the Shannon-Weaver diversity index, canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and the two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) were applied to the data. According to this statistical analysis, the diversity was high in spring and summer, and it was determined that temperature was the main factor affecting tintinnid composition. Also, Tintinnopsis beroidea could be used as a potential indicator species in ascertaining the NH4–N, and Codonellopsis schabi and Tintinnopsis acuminata were detected to be winter and spring seasons indicators. •Tintinnid diversity was high in spring and summer in the Golden Horn Estuary.•The temperature was the main factor affecting tintinnid composition.•Tintinnopsis beroidea could be used as a potential indicator species in ascertaining NH4–N.•Codonellopsis schabi, and T. acuminata were detected to be indicators of the winter and spring seasons.