Atabay Düzenli

First comprehensive assessment of the conservation status of the flora of the Çukurova Deltas, southern Turkey

The Cukurova Deltas on the southern coast of Turkey, with their high biodiversity, are one of the most important wetland and RAMSAR sites in the eastern Mediterranean basin. The total native flora comprises 600 plant taxa, including many endemic and threatened taxa. In an examination of this flora, 62 taxa (31 endemic and 31 rare taxa for Turkey) were categorized as having restricted distributions and being under threat of extinction. To assess the conservation status of the threatened flora, the IUCN Red List categories and criteria were applied at both a regional and global scale. The distribution of threatened flora in the study area was analysed in relation to four principle habitats: sand dunes (mobile or fixed) and sandy beaches (with 64.5% of all taxa), salt flats and salt water marshes (16.1%), river banks and fresh water marshes (9.7%), and field margins and roadsides (9.7%). Sand dunes and sandy beaches were identified as the most threatened habitats, being both sensitive to disturbance and heavily affected by humans. This Red Data List is a first step towards the recognition of conservation problems in the Cukurova Deltas and the need for more effective conservation of their flora.

Pyramidula Tetragona (Funariaceae) New to Turkey

Abstract Pyramidula tetragona (Brid.) Brid. is reported for the first time from Turkey. The species is described from material collected on wet soil in an archaeological site (Tilmen Höyük) in southeastern Anatolia.

Floristic Characteristics of the Karkamis Dam Reservoir Area and its Surroundings (Gaziantep-Sanliurfa: Turkey)

Abstract.The natural flora of Karkamis Dam lake area and its surroundings was studied in 2000 and 2001 before the dam construction was completed. During the floristic surveys, 464 species of 279 genera belonging to 70 families were recorded. The number of endemic species is 14. The phytogeographic elements are represented in the study as follows; Irano-Turanian 104 (18.2%), Mediterranean 66 (11.5%), Euro-Siberian 7 (1.2%), Cosmopolitan 9 (1.5%), Sharo-Arabian 1 (0.1%). The phytogeographic region of 383 taxa (67.1%) is unknown, or multiregional. The spectrum of the basic life forms is as follows; Therophytes 50.0%, Hemicryptophytes 33.4%, Phanerophytes 5.2%, Geophytes 5.2%, Chamaephytes 4.3% and Hydrophytes 1.9%. According to the IUCN Red List Categories, 28 threatened plant species were identified in the study area.

Early post-fire changes in Pinus brutia forests (Amanos Mountains, Turkey)

Early post-fire changes in Pinus brutia forests (Amanos Mountains, Turkey) We studied the species composition and soil nutrients in a Pinus brutia forest after a fire that occurred in 1989. Four permanent plots were created in the burnt and not burnt areas in the Amanos Mountains of Turkey. The floristic richness, biological spectra, above ground phytomass and soil features in the study areas were assessed during the first three years after the fire. After the fire, we found a reduced amount of organic matter (14.3%), total nitrogen (22%) and soil water saturation (13.1%), but an increased amount of available phosphorus (71%), acidity (3.6%), cation exchange capacity (9.9%), exchangeable sodium (20.8%) and exchangeable potassium (37.1%). The aboveground phytomass in the burned area reached 5284 kg ha-1, the third year after the fire. Forty-six pre-fire species were renewed in the first three years after the fire. Juniperus oxycedrus could not renew within three years after the fire. Pine phytomass has increased five times within three years after the fire.

The Bryophyte Flora of Northern Amanos (Nur) Mountain (Hatay-Turkey)

Abstract. The Bryophyte flora of Northern Amanos (Nur) Mountain, has one of the most important forest in Turkey, have been studied. At the result of identifications of 3077 specimen, collected from the region, 212 moss species belonging to 24 families and 85 genera, one hornwort species and 43 species of liverworts belonging to 22 families and 31 genera have been found. Among them, 48 taxa of mosses and 19 taxa of liverworts are new records for C13 grid-square according to Turkey grid system which was adopted by Henderson.

Floral Diversity of the High Altitudes of Amanos Mountains: A Case Study from Daz Mountain-Mıgır, Turkey

This study presents a general view of the floristic characteristics of the plants in Daz Mountains (Migir hill), which is the highest part of Amanos Dortyol (Hatay). Of all 660 vascular plants, taxa belonging to 387 genera and 98 families are distributed in this area. Phytogeographically, these taxa belong to the Mediterranean (7.29 %), Euro-Siberian (10.8 %), and Irano-Turanian (6.2 %) divisions; over 53.3 % are accepted as multizones and unknowns. The total number of endemic species is 53 and endemism ratio is 8 %. Out of these, endemic taxa 1 is critical, 1 endangered, and 15 are included in the vulnerable categories. The climate change is expected to critically undermine efforts for sustainable development at these altitudes all through the Amanos Mountains by adding to the existing degradation problems. It is threatening these high-altitude ecosystems by changing the phonological behavior of the plant taxa. Some plants are flowering earlier and are shifting their ranges. Attempts are made here to present information in this connection as a case study from Migi hills located in Daz Mountains on Amanos in the Mediterranean phytogeographical region of Turkey.