The Aquatic Oligochaeta (Annelida) Fauna of the Karasu Stream

Sakarya River is defined hydrologically in three parts: upper, middle and lower Sakarya River Basin. This study was carried out in lower Sakarya River (Karasu). Aquatic Oligochaeta samples were collected from four chosen stations between January 2008 and October 2008 seasonally. In total, eight Oligochaeta species were identified during the study period. These species belong to Naididae family and to Tubificinae subfamily (Tubificoid Naidid) [Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri Claparède, 1862; Limnodrilus udekemianus Claparède, 1862; Limnodrilus claparedeianus Ratzel, 1868; Potamothrix hammoniensis (Michaelsen, 1901); Psammoryctides deserticola (Grimm, 1877); Tubifex blanchardi Vejdovsky, 1891; Tubifex ignotus (Stolc, 1886); Tubifex tubifex (Müller, 1774)]. Also, it was observed that Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri and Tubifex tubifex, were found to be dominant, and thus indicator species for pollution in the river.