17 Review of Hydrobiology RESEARCH ARTICLE www.reviewofhydrobiology.org 9,1: 17-36 (2016) ISSN 1308-4119 Habitat quality assessment of streams in Altindere Valley (Trabzon, Turkey) by using physico-chemical variables and various biotic indices based on benthic macroinvertebrates GENCER TÜRKMEN 1* AND NİLGÜN KAZANCI 1 1 Hacettepe University, Science Faculty, Biology Department, Hydrobiology Section, Ankara [ * Corresponding Author: Gencer Turkmen, email: gencerturkmen@gmail.com] ABSTRACT 1. Altindere Valley (Trabzon, Turkey) covers an area of 4800 ha. This area was declared as a national park and was taken under protection in 1987. The importance of this national park has been increasing rapidly due to a touristic area. Besides of the effects of tourism, trout farms and hydroelectric power plants which are considered to be built along the stream are the main threats to the natural structure of the national park. 2. In this study, 11 sites were chosen on the streams in Altindere Valley, and benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled in July 2006, July 2008 and June 2009. Some physico- chemical variables were measured simultaneously. Benthic macroinvertebrates were assessed using various biotic indices that are suggested to be used by the EU Water Framework Directive such as BWMP, EPT-Taxa, EP-Taxa and EPTCBO-Taxa. Hilsenhoff Family Index was also applied to the benthic macroinvertebrates. 3. The results showed that the water qualities of 11 sites, according to the physico-chemical variables, were between I. and II. class. However, it was determined that two sites had reference habitat condition according to biotic indices. It is predicted that presence of any kind of pollutants or habitat degradation at any level may cause signiicant changes on benthic macroinvertebrate composition in the streams in Altindere Valley National Park. 4. This study contained the irst research results concerning with the aim of determining the reference habitats of the streams in Altindere Valley National Park, and the habitat qualities of the streams using physico-chemical variables and benthic macroinvertebrates. KEY WORDS: Benthic macroinvertebrate, biological diversty, biotic index, family index, national park, reference habitat, WFD.