author(s)
Selçuk Altınsaçlı, Songül Altınsaçlı and Ferda Perçin-Paçal

abstract
The Ostracoda fauna of a volcanic Mediterranean lake (Lake Karagöl, Dikili, İzmir, Turkey) was studied in order to determine the annual and spatial variability of Ostracoda assemblage according to environmental conditions. We investigated the distributional patterns and habitat preferences of ostracods in Lake Karagöl, recording 10 taxa from the lake. The Ostracoda assemblage was sampled seasonally during May, June, September, and November in 2009 and water quality variables were monitored over the same period. The Ostracoda fauna of Lake Karagöl was found to be very limited with only 10 species. Potamocypris arcuata and Heterocypris salina were the dominant ostracod species, comprising 28.1% of the ostracod population. Salinity, pH, salinity conductivity, and water temperature seemed to be the main environmental factors affecting the Ostracoda community.