Comparative study of epiphytic algal communities on Typha latifolia L.and Phragmites australis(Cav.)Trin.ex Steud in the shallow Gala Lake(European Part of Turkey)

The aim of this study was to determine the species composition, biodiversity and, relative abundance of epiphytic algae and their relationship with environmental variables on Typha latifolia and Phragmites australis at Lake Gala(National Park). Epiphytic algae were gathered monthly by collecting aquatic plants between March 2014 and November 2014. In the epiphytic flora were a total of 133 taxa were identified, 107 taxa were identified on T. latifolia and 96 were discovered on P. australis. While the mean species richness, species diversity and evenness values of the algae identified on T. latifolia were 46, 1.85 and 0.51 respectively, these values were respectively 43, 1.51 and 0.43 on P. australis. While diatoms were generally dominant, other dominant groups in the epiphytic flora included green algae and blue-green algae. The algae that had the highest relative biovolume on T. latifolia were Spirogyra affinis, Oscillatoria sancta and Gomphonema acuminatum, while the algae that had the highest relative biovolume on P. australis were E pithemia adnata, Oscillatoria sancta and R hopalodia gibba. Results show that species composition of epiphytic algae was different, but diversity values were similar on all the macrophytes. The hydrological pulse is one of the most important factors determining the physical and chemical environment of the epiphytic algal community. It was found that some environmental factors were highly eff ective on community distribution in the epiphyton. Additionally, it was observed that some epiphytic algae species had a substrate preference between T. latifolia and P. australis.