Basında ODTÜ, Eymir
METU EKOSAM Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Meryem Beklioğlu stated that sudden heat waves caused by global warming lead to the rapid growth of phytoplankton in the lake, which in turn lowers the oxygen levels in the water. Prof. Dr. Beklioğlu emphasized that lakes should not be seen as discharge areas for domestic wastewater or agricultural runoff, saying, "Lake ecosystems cannot manage the excess nitrogen and phosphorus. This inability leads to serious issues like 'eutrophication' (the deterioration of aquatic ecosystems), which harms biodiversity and causes events like these fish deaths. Under eutrophic conditions, fish species like carp proliferate. The most harmful effect of these fish on the system is that they feed on bottom sediments. They stir up the sediments, causing oxygen levels to decrease and suspended solids and phosphorus to mix into the water. This negative feedback increases nitrogen and phosphorus levels. If temperatures are also favorable, primary producers increase. The recent risk we observe is the increase of 'cyanobacteria,' which are toxic primary producers. These not only consume oxygen as they decompose, causing fish deaths, but their presence also raises the toxin load in the system. Through both mechanisms, they severely damage the biodiversity in the water. This is now a common sight across Turkey. The situation we observed in the İzmir Gulf is no different," she said.
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