Abstract The aim of this study was to support the development of ecological stream quality assessment tools in order to provide a method for sustainable water management in Turkey. Therefore, we present two new or adapted indices based on benthic invertebrates. To develop and adapt the indices, 17 streams were studied and separated into three quality classes, which were supported by four community indices (EPT [%], EPTCBO [%], number of Individuals, evenness), and 23 taxa were identified as indicators for these three quality classes. As a first biological index, we adapted the Hindu Kush-Himalaya biotic score (HKHbios) to the Euphrates catchment by establishing a new and ecoregion-specific score list (Euph-Scores) by scoring 93 taxa depending on their distribution between the quality classes. Based on these scores, several average score per taxon values (ASPT value) were calculated. All ASPT values of the Euph-Scores separated the quality classes significantly. After a comparison of the different ASPT values we recommend to use the weighted ASPT, because the weighting enabled a sharper differentiation between the quality classes and named it Euphrates Biotic Score (EUPHbios). As a second biological index, we propose the proportion of habitat specialists. To calculate this index, a habitat score was developed by analysing the habitat preferences of several benthic invertebrates. Habitat score values were assigned to the 20 most common taxa from the streams in the best quality class (natural streams). The proportion of habitat specialists, identified using the new habitat score, differed significantly between the three quality classes, with higher values in natural streams than in polluted streams. In the light of the results, the presented methods appear to be suitable for developing a multi-metric index for assessment programs for the mountainous regions of the Middle East.

中文翻译：

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基于幼发拉底河支流大型无脊椎动物的生态河流质量评估的可能指标（土耳其）

摘要 本研究的目的是支持生态河流质量评估工具的开发，以便为土耳其的可持续水资源管理提供一种方法。因此，我们提出了两个基于底栖无脊椎动物的新的或改编的指数。为了开发和调整指数，研究了 17 条河流并将其分为三个质量等级，这些等级得到了四个社区指数（EPT [%]、EPTCBO [%]、个体数量、均匀度）的支持，并确定了 23 个分类群作为指标对于这三个质量等级。作为第一个生物指数，我们根据 93 个分类群在质量等级之间的分布，通过对 93 个分类群进行评分，从而将兴都库什-喜马拉雅生物评分 (HKHbios) 调整到幼发拉底河流域，从而建立了一个新的特定生态区的评分表 (Euph-Scores)。根据这些分数，计算了每个分类单元值（ASPT 值）的几个平均分。Euph-Scores 的所有 ASPT 值都将质量等级显着分开。在对不同的 ASPT 值进行比较后，我们建议使用加权的 ASPT，因为加权能够在质量等级之间进行更清晰的区分，并将其命名为幼发拉底生物评分 (EUPHbios)。作为第二个生物指标，我们提出了栖息地专家的比例。为了计算该指数，通过分析几种底栖无脊椎动物的栖息地偏好，制定了栖息地评分。栖息地得分值被分配给来自最佳质量类别（自然流）的溪流中的 20 个最常见的分类群。使用新栖息地评分确定的栖息地专家比例在三个质量等级之间存在显着差异，自然流中的值高于污染流中的值。根据结果​​，所提出的方法似乎适合为中东山区的评估计划开发多指标指数。