Investigation of the Levels of Bio-Indicator Bacteria in the Kınalıada Coastal Area, Istanbul, Turkey

Coastal areas have an important place in island ecosystems. These areas, which may be fragile depending on the impact of human activities exposed and other environmental factors and in addition to domestic, agricultural and industrial activities, it hosts intensive touristic use in spring and summer. In this study, the closest contact with the shores of a mainland like Istanbul, among the Prince Islands in the Marmara Sea which is under the influence of the vast majority of the pollution load Kınalıada has been selected as a research area. Total heterotrophic aerobic bacteria (HAB) levels were analyzed using spreading plate method. The levels of fecal coliform (FC), total coliform (TC) and intestinal streptococci (IS) examined using Membrane Filtration Technique in the surface water samples. Variable environmental parameters (dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, temperature) were recorded periodically using the Multiparameter (YSI 556 MPS) with seawater samples. Nutrient salts (nitrite nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, phosphate phosphor), trophic level indicator Chlorophyll-a were analyzed using spectrophotometric methods. While the highest TC, FC and IS level detected as 96x103 CFU/100 ml, 49x103 CFU/100 ml, 82x103 CFU/100 ml, respectively. The highest HAB level was determined as 92x1011CFU /ml .Variable environmental parameters recorded for seawater temperature between 25.7-6.89˚C, pH 11.55 -3.60, dissolved oxygen 19.98 -1.66 mg /l and salinity ‰ 29.11-21.18 during the study period. Nutrient salts; nitrite nitrogen detected to be 0.21-0.01 mg/l; nitrate nitrogen detected to be 9.90-0.13 mg/l; ammonium nitrogen detected to be 4.80-0.02 mg/l; phosphate phosphor detected to be 22.45-0.01 mg/l. The levels of FC, TC and IS determined in Kınalıada coastal area fluctuate depending on the seasons, but these levels are determined above the legal limits. The presence of bio-indicator bacteria detected above the border throughout the sampling shows that it poses a serious risk for ecosystem health and public health.