Effects of domestic pollution in Izmir Bay (Turkey)

Abstract

The untreated domestic sewage of 650,000 people and wastes from industries and ships are discharged into the inner Bay of Izmir daily. Since May 1977 physico-chemical and biological effects of pollution in the bay have been examined at 10 stations. The hydrographic studies included measurements of temperature, transparency, seston, salinity, nitrate, phosphorus and dissolved oxygen. The benthic animals collected belong to 108 species; most of them were polychaetes. Comparison of the stations reveals that species richness increases from very polluted regions towards cleaner waters. © 1980 Biologische Anstalt Helgoland.