Abstract

The potential of the sequential anaerobic-aerobic system for decolorization of azo dye Reactive Black 5 (RB 5) was investigated in this study. The synthetic wastewater contained 150 mg/L dye and 3000 mg/L glucose-COD. An upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor and continuously stirred aerobic reactors (CSAR) were used to the remove color and COD. The methane gas production efficiencies were also investigated under the anaerobic conditions. The UASB - CSAR were operated at different organic loading rates (OLR= 2.4-22.5 kg COD/m³.day) and hydraulic retention times (HRT= 3.2-30.1 h). The COD removal efficiencies decreased from 61 to 36.7% with increases in organic loadings from 2.4 to 22.5 kg COD/m³.day in the anaerobic UASB reactor. The color removals decrease from 99.8 to 90.7% when the HRT decreased from 30.1 to 3.2 hours. The methane production efficiencies obtained were 75 and 38.3% at the organic loading rates of 2.4 and 22.5 kg COD/m³.day respectively, in the anaerobic reactor. The effects of both sludge retention times (SRT) and the food to mass (F/M) ratio on the COD removal efficiencies was investigated in the aerobic reactor. COD removal efficiencies of 62.2 and 86.3% were obtained at 2 and 19 days SRT in the aerobic reactor. The COD removal efficiencies were found to be 86.3 and 62.2% at F/M ratios of 0.112 and 1.569 kgCOD/kgMLSS.day. The color and COD removal efficiencies obtained were 99.8% and 95% by using 150 mg/L of RB 5 dye concentration in the sequential anaerobic-aerobic reactor.

Abstract

The Organochlorine pesticide residues in the drinking waters of the Afyonkarahisar province of Turkey were investigated. The study was based on 72 specimens collected from twelve stations, wells, and advancement centers, between 2006-2007. In the study of the pesticides, liquid-liquid extractions were carried out and GC-ECD was performed. In total, eighteen different pesticides were detected. β-HCH, 4,4’-DDT, endrin keton and methoxychlor (0.281, 0.138, 0.120, 0.102 µg/l, respectively) concentrations were found to be higher than the acceptable limits of EC, the drinking water quality standard in some period between 2006-2007. Aldrin, α-HCH, δ-HCH, endosulfan sulfate, heptachlor epoxide, and α-endosulfan levels were found to be in trace amount.

Abstract

Pollution sources and emissions, and their interactions with terrain and the atmosphere are necessary in developing appropriate air pollution management plans and action strategies. In this study, we will investigate the relationship between the total suspended particulate matter (TSP) concentration and meteorological parameters such as wind speed and direction, temperature, air pressure, precipitation and relative humidity. The TSP measurements of the past two days, sunshine duration, and sunshine amount in the winter season (November through March) in the city of Erzurum between the years 1990 and 2007 were investigated. The artificial neural network (ANN) models were constructed using a mixed autoregressive relationship to realize the stochastic nature of the TSP levels for each month of the winter season. The impact of wind direction on TSP concentration was introduced to the model by defining two variables. Linear regression models were also constructed to check the performance of the neural networks. The most significant factors affecting the TSP concentration are found to be the TSP level of the previous day (TSP_t−1), expected temperature (temp), wind speed (w), air pressure (p), and precipitation (pc).

Keywords: Autoregressive, meteorological parameters, particulate matter, neural network, Erzurum.

Abstract

Abstract

Weekly field samplings were performed at the Kepez Harbor located at the Dardanelles Strait for temperature, salinity, Secchi disk, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a and nutrient concentrations, zooplankton abundance, and community structure from 26 April 2005 to 25 April 2006. Zooplankton samples were collected using a plankton net with a mesh size of 180 µm for the mesozooplankton and vertical tows were conducted between 0-5 m, 10-15 m, and 15-20 m. Whole water samples were also collected for microzooplankton. All mesozooplankton groups increased in number starting at the end of May through June. Copepoda dominated the surface and mixed layer during the early spring and Acartia clausi was the most abundant species when compared to the others. Cladocera showed a clear seasonal succession pattern in the study site and were mainly composed of Penilia avirostris, Pleopsis polyphemoides, and Evadne nordmanni. Oikopleura dioica, the only representative of the appendicularians, reached its maximum abundance during mid summer. The zooplankton species composition in the sampling site was diverse and a unique two layer flow regime of the system allowed us to observe both the Mediterranean and the Black Sea influence on the organisms.

Keywords: mesozooplankton, species composition, environmental parameters, nutrients, Kepez Harbor, Dardanelles.

Abstract

Arsenic occurs naturally in the water in many parts of the world. The coagulation and flocculation method is used for arsenate removal from drinking water using ferric chloride, ferric sulfate, and ferrous sulfate. The effects of coagulant type and dosage on removal efficiency of arsenate are determined by considering the residual iron after sedimentation and filtration in the effluent. At the same time the impact of the type (cationic, anionic, and nonionic) and dosage of organic polymers on the removal efficiency of arsenate was investigated. Residual arsenate concentrations were decreased below 10 m g L^-1 for ferric chloride and ferrous sulfate concentration of 30 and 80 mg L^-1, respectively. Ferric chloride provided minimum and acceptable residual iron concentration (175 m g L^-1) after sedimentation and filtration and it was determined as the most effective and economic coagulant type because it requires lower amounts than the others and produces minimum residual iron. The addition of cationic polyelectrolyte aided maximum arsenate removal efficiency although all types of polymers increased the efficiency of the treatment method. The percentage of removal reached a maximum level at the cationic polyelectrolyte concentration of 2.5, 2, and 3 mg L^-1 for ferric chloride, ferric sulfate, and ferrous sulfate, respectively.

Keywords: Arsenate removal, drinking water, coagulation, iron salts, organic polymers, residual iron.

Abstract

Keywords: Arsenite (As(III)), adsorption, layered double hydroxide (LDH), Mg-Fe-based hydrotalcites (FeHT).

Abstract

This research was carried out to determine the steppe vegetation between the Ereğli-Karaman. The steppe vegetation of the area was analyzed by the tree dimensional ordination technique based on the Braun-Blanquet approach. A new alliance and three new associations were determined and classified syntaxonomically from the area which is under the influences of a semi-arid, very cold type of mediterranien climate. Associations and their higher units are as follows:

Class: Astragalo-Brometea Quezel 1973
Order: Onobrychido armeni-Thymetalia leucostomi Akman, Ketenoğlu, Quezel 1985
Alliance: Cousinia iconici-Artemision santonici all. nova
Association: Gaudiniopso-Nepetetum congestae ass. nova
Association: Bufonio-Alyssetum desertorum ass. nova
Association: Cyathobaso-Peganetum harmalae ass. nova

Phytosociological and phytoecological features of the associations had been discussed and compared with the similar associations.

Keywords: Ereğli, Karaman, ordination, syntaxonomy, steppe vegetation, new alliance.

Abstract

Epipelic diatoms and some physico-chemical features of Tortum streams were studied in the samples collected montly from four sampling-stations during June 2005-February 2006. A total of 113 taxa of epipelic diatom were determined. According to cluster analysis, dominant diatom species constituted two groups (eutrophic and polluted). Cocconeis placentula var. euglypta in I. group (eutrophic) and Nitzschia palea ve Navicula cryptocephala in II.group (polluted) were established to be the most explicit dominant species. N. palea and N. cryptocephala were correlated positively with nutrient concentrations. Significant correlation was found between C. placentula var. euglypta and conductuvity. The composition of dominant taxa and results of chemical analysis indicated that Tortum streams was organically polluted.

Keywords: Epipelic diatom, physico-chemical features, Tortum Stream.

Abstract

This study aimed at determining the effectiveness of public recreation opportunities generated by active green spaces and cultural places in Iskenderun city. The public recreation area assets were obtained as green space values per capita and indexed at the neighborhood level. The effectiveness of public recreational area opportunities for each neighborhood were estimated by distances between the centers of neighborhoods and the threshold distance between any active green space and the furthest residential housing. And firstly, the effectiveness change values were obtained for each neighborhood from these estimation results. The effectiveness change values were associated with per capita recreation area opportunities (per capita resource value) and thus effective public recreation area opportunities values were found. The received findings indicate that the active green spaces have an unbalanced allocation and this unbalance changes effectiveness of opportunities in the neighborhood. With reference to these findings, being a neighborhood close to other neighborhoods that have higher per capita resource values brings increasing effective opportunities for this neighborhood. On the contrary, to be close to neighborhoods that have high population density and less opportunities decrease effective opportunities because of high user density.

Abstract

In recent years, consumers’ reliable food consuming demand makes the use of non-hazardous inputs and production technologies for human health and the environment unavoidable. Nowadays, the production in greenhouses is being as dependent upon ecological conditions and some efficiency and quality losses in production are occurring because of the dependency. Because greenhouses are intensive agricultural lands, synthetic chemicals are used intensively to reduce the losses in product. These substances, which make environmental pollution, harm natural balance and threaten human health, are plant growth regulators (hormones), commercial (chemical) fertilizers, and pesticides. The objective of this research was to analyze the producers’, who produce greenhouse vegetables in Antalya, Mersin, Muğla, and İzmir, use of input (fertilizer, pesticide, hormone, labor, seed-seedling etc). For this purpose, the current input usage levels of 204 growers, who have been included in the extent of the research by random sampling, was examined.

Keywords: Greenhouse growing, vegetable production, input usage, sustainable agriculture.

Abstract

In this study forty six epiphytic lichen species were found on Uludag fir from five localities within an altitudinal range of 1500-1900 m in the Abietum zone on Mt. Uludag and were recorded. The most common species were Bryoria capillaris, B. fuscescens, Caloplaca herbidella, Hypogymnia tubulosa, Lecanora saligna, Parmelia sulcata, Phlyctis argena, and Pseudevernia furfuracea. The results indicate that the distribution and species composition of epiphytic lichens was related to altitude. Bacidia globulosa, Evernia prunastri, Phlyctis argena, Ramalina farinacea, Rinodina capensis, Usnea glabrescens and U. rigida were the characteristic species at 1500-1600 m. Arthonia mediella, Bryoria fuscescens, B. implexa, Buellia disciformis, B. griseovirens, Caloplaca herbidella, Lecanora saligna and Parmeliopsis ambigua were the characteristic species at 1700-1900 m. Altitude is one of the main factors controlling the diversity and distribution of epiphytic lichens on Uludag fir on Mt. Uludag.

Keywords: Abies nordmanniana subsp. bornmuelleriana, altitudinal gradient, epiphytic lichens, Mt. Uludag.

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the surface water quality of the Atikhisar Reservoir and Sarıçay Creek. Multivariate statistical techniques such as cluster analysis (CA), principal component analysis (PCA), multidimensional Scaling (MDS), and univariate statistical techniques such as two-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data. Three different groups were formed based on Cluster analysis. Two-way ANOVA test results showed that interaction effects of any variables of the reservoir were non-significant but the interaction effects of pH in the creek were significant. Temperature (T), electrical conductivity (EC), oxygen saturation (OS), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphate (TP), total nitrate (TN), salinity (Sal), pH, Chl-a, and total suspended solids (TSS) of the reservoir were significantly different among seasons. While differences of T, EC, DO, TP, Chl-a, and TSS of the Sarıçay Creek were significant among seasons, only the differences of temperature among the stations were significant. Multi dimensional scaling (MDS) analysis results revealed that the variables such as EC, Sal, OS, T and TN affected the differences among the sites, while the other variable groups were showing a similarity with the COD, BOD, TSS, AD, TP, pH, DO and Chl-a. The principle component analysis (PCA) results showed that the eigenvalues of the first 5 PCA were larger than 1.00, suggesting that they explained 98 % of the total variation.

Keywords: Surface water quality, atikhisar reservoir, sariçay, cluster analysis, principal component analysis, multidimensional scaling.

Abstract

Salinity was the important factor that determined the composition of diatoms in the five separate wetlands of the Salt Lake Basin. Diatoms were divided into six groups with 40 taxa belonging to freshwater forms, 19 to freshwater-brackish, 21 to brackish, 9 to brackish-saline, and 16 to saline forms. Also, 45 taxa with a wide range of tolerance for salinity were identified.

Keywords: Diatom, Salinity, Salt Lake Basin, Turkey.

Abstract

In this study, existing vascular plant species were determined and evaluated according to plant characteristics (esthetic & visual, functional, socio-cultural and ecological characteristics) in gardens of both detached house and site in the residential areas in the city center of Trabzon. Total of 125 sample gardens were surveyed with respect to different house age type (<10, 10-50 and >50 years) and housing density types (high, medium and low density type). During the study, the plants were pictured, measured, and sampled for species identification. We analyzed only the first 10 species that are most abundant for landscape preferences for each residential type. The study results showed that the gardens of detached house and site have an important floristic diversity with 232 plant taxa. In addition, it was determined that the non-native species are used widely in the study area and there is a significant relationship between plant species and the parameters used. According to our results; fruiting, form, texture and scent for the aesthetic-visual characteristics; direction, screening and accent for the functional characteristics and tolerance of air pollution and salinity in ecological characteristics along with the regional integrity came into prominence for landscape preferences based on the species characteristics. Our aim at this study was to determine plant species characteristics and their usage area in residential areas in order to help planting design in urban landscapes.

Keywords: Residential landscape, landscape use characteristics of plant species, urban floristic diversity, Trabzon.

Abstract

Küçükçekmece, is one of the important districts to define the city of Istanbul at the international level with its historical, cultural, and natural values. In this study, the parks in Küçükçekmece District were examined in terms of ecological quality, principles, and standards. Ecological quality is a composite of the structural and functional features determining the habitat values of a landscape. An objective evaluation on the ecological quality of parks is important from the point of rehabilitation from an existing situation, and providing areas which will have high habitat value in the future. Recovery in the existing park area will generate a livable urban atmosphere. In line with this basic comprehension, the ecological quality of the parks in Istanbul’s Küçükçekmece District was examined. There are four principles determining ecological quality of an area: vegetative production, water, permeability (soil), and natural vegetation cover (biological diversity). This research was done in two phases regarding the permeability and natural vegetation cover using ecological quality principles.

In the first phase of the study, a vegetation list was provided by the Park and Garden Department of the Küçükçekmece Municipality. The park names and size were acquired from the “Küçükçekmece District green corridor Transformation Project”. The space where the soil surface is covered by soil material, or is suppressed because of overuse and can not sustain plant growth is accepted as an impermeable soil surface.

Whether there is a relation between park areas and permeable surface areas was examined using the Spearman correlation test. Whether permeability ratio of parks changes according to their location was analyzed using the Chi-Square test.

In the second stage of the study, the existing vegetation cover was analyzed on-site. Existing vegetation cover analysis is made according to trees, shrubs, bushes, flowers, and trailings.

Result of this study will contribute to the sampling used for the ecological quality principles in other parks in other districts. The study reveals the importance of the ecological quality factors that need to be taken into consideration in the design and planning of parks.

Keywords: Ecological quality, vegetation, permeability, Küçükçekmece, parks.

Abstract

Halk Bahçesi has got an important role during the history of Çanakkale City and also an intense use for recreational requirements of the citizens. Because of these characteristics, quality criteria and ecological quality of the urban park were investigated.

In this study firstly to determine of the ecological quality of Halk Bahçesi, plan of the site was digitized and permeable surface in the area was determined as a ratio of % 58, the ratio of the impermeable surface and permeable surface was 1:1,38. The second step of the ecological investigation in the area is to bring out of ecological requirements and dendrologic characteristics of the plants. For this purpose, descriptive statistics of plants characteristics were presented by using SPSS 15.0 Windows. According to this data, ornament qualities of the plants used in the area were observed to be insufficient; effective types with the flowers, leaves, stocks or fruits were used rarely. Therefore in the park area quantity of the plant types that have attractiveness with their ornament effect was observed rarely, maintenance and reparation works were determined as insufficient.

In the study also the quality criteria of the area such as usage, accessibility, comfort and image, sociality were analyzed. According to this data, accessibility of the area was determined as sufficient; size of the area, capitation proportion of the area and the other criteria were determined as insufficient.

Keywords: Çanakkale, Ecological Quality, Halk Bahçesi, Urban Park.