Erkan Yalçin

Effect of salinity stress on chlorophyll, carotenoid content, and proline in Salicornia prostrata Pall. and Suaeda prostrata Pall. subsp. prostrata (Amaranthaceae)

Salicornia prostrata Pall. and Suaeda prostrata Pall. subsp. prostrata occur together on saline soils in Kızılırmak Delta in Samsun, Turkey. The effects of salinity stress on photosynthetic pigments and proline were investigated in these two species in natural habitats. With the increasing soil salinity, a decrease in chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoid contents was observed in both taxa. However, in Salicornia prostrata, photosynthetic pigments levels were lower than those in Suaeda prostrata. Proline contents significantly increase with increase in salinity level in both species, whereas Salicornia prostrata produced less proline than Suaeda prostrata. Proline and Chl a contents were significantly different betweesn examined species according to soil salinity. Based on obtained data, we can conclude that at in situ conditions, Salicornia prostrata is more salt tolerant compared with Suaeda prostrata.

Effects of selected groundwater chemical traits on a salt marsh community

Effects of selected groundwater chemical traits on a salt marsh community Electrical conductivity, exchangeable sodium ratio and water depth have negative impacts, whereas soil organic matter concentration has a positive impact on Black Sea salt marsh vegetation. The most saline soils were characterized by Salicornia prostrata vegetation and associated with exchangeable sodium ratio. Alhagi pseudalhagi and Tamarix smrynensis populations were associated with water depth, while Juncus littoralis, Ammophila arenaria and E. paralias were associated with soil organic matter. Euphorbia paralias, Ammophila arenaria and Iris orientalis were associated with acidity.

Contribution to the knowledge of the syntaxonomy and ecology of macchie and forest vegetation in Paphlagonia, North Anatolia, Turkey

Abstract In this study, the vegetation of Boztepe Forest Protection Area (Unye/Ordu, Turkey), which is located at the middle part of Black Sea region, has been investigated from the phytosociological point of view. The vegetation of the study area was analyzed according to Braun- Blanquets method and ordinated by TWINSPAN and CA. We described five associatons belonging to different vegetation types in the study area. These are as follows: Calluno vulgaris—Arbutetum unedonis ass. nov., Hedero helicis—Castaneetum sativae Yurdakulol et al., Rubo caucasici—Quercetum hartwissianae ass. nov., Carpino betuli—Populetum tremulae ass. nov. and Diospyro loti—Alnetum barbatae ass. nov. The diversity index of associations is calculated by Shannon- Wievers diversity formula.

Anatomical Adaptations to Salinity in Spergularia marina (Caryophyllaceae) from Turkey

The present paper deals with the salt effect on root, stem and leaf anatomy of Spergularia marina. Salt tolerant populations of Spergularia marina from low (2.0–4.2 dS/m), medium (9.3–10.7 dS/m) and highly (18.4–26.2 dS/m) saline soils were evaluated for anatomical modifications. Root anatomical characteristics as cortex thickness and xylem vessel diameter were decreased in high saline environments. Increased aerenchyma and periderm thickness in the root were critical for checking water loss and enhancing water storage capability. In stem, higher salinity decreased the thickness of the epidermis and cortex. Increased aerenchyma and increased thickness of vascular tissue seemed to be crucial for its better survival under saline environments. The thickness of sclerenchyma was unchanged under low and moderate salinity but considerably increased under high salinity. Leaf anatomy shows that salt stress resulted in an increase of cuticle and parenchyma thickness as well as an increase of vascular bundle sheath thickness. The presence of the cells with calcium oxalate crystals in the stem and leaf increased at higher salinity. Additionally, under high salinity it was observed that both stomatal index and stomatal dimensions were considerably reduced. These results show that salinity stress shows significant anatomical modifications in Spergularia marina.

Subalpine vegetation in Giresun Mountains (Turkey)

Abstract In this study, the subalpine vegetation in the Giresun Mountains of northern Turkey was investigated. The study area included north- and south-facing slopes at altitudes ranging between c. 2000 and 2500 meters. For vegetation classification and for describing the relationships between vegetation and environment, traditional Braun-Blanquet methods and multivariate analysis techniques were used. The vegetation mainly consisted of subalpine grasslands and coniferous cushion scrubs. Caricetea curvulae and Astragalo microcephali-Brometea tomentelli were found to be dominant syntaxa in the vegetation of the study area. Land topography, soil physical and chemical factors and species richness have important impacts on the development of subalpine vegetation according to the results of multivariate analysis. Three associations and two subassociations were newly determined and classified. Hemicryptophytes, chamaephytes and geophytes participated in the floristic composition of these syntaxa. EUNIS habitat code and names for described syntaxa were also proposed.

Relationships between soil and plant communities distribution throughout primary succession in deltaic plains of Gölyazi Natural Reserved Area (Terme/Samsun, Turkey)

This study has been carried out to examine the driving forces of succession and the vegetation and pedological factors relationships, throughout primary successional processes in deltaic plain areas in Gölyazi Natural Reserved Area (Black Sea coast of Turkey). Determined to process and mechanisms of primary succession patterns, we analyzed cover-abundance of plant species and soil data in plots using multivariate classification (TWINSPAN) and ordination (DCA and CCA) techniques. The results of TWINSPAN indicated that the sample plots could be classified into six plant communities which belong to different succession stages and representing three successional main phase. It was identified that two communities belong to early mean phase, three communities belong to intermediate phase, and one community belongs to late main phase. We also measured 16 variables of soil in each community to examine the driving forces of succession and the vegetation and pedological factors relationships. The findings obtained from DCA and CCA analysis suggested that the most important environmental factors are affecting the process of succession are local microtopography, water table depth, EC, organic matter (%), CaCO3 (%), sNa and silt (%) of soil.

Effects of Grazing on Soil Parameters in Meadow Ecosystems

Bu çalışma Samsun-Türkiye’de alüvyal delta ovalarındaki çayır ekosistemlerinde otlatmanın toprak parametrelerine etkilerini belirlemek için yürütülmüştür. 2000-2003 yıllarında 5×5 m lik beş adet eksklosür çalışma alanında floristik bileşim ve habitat koşulları bakımından homojen alanlarda kurulmuştur. Toprak örnekleri eksklosürlerin içerisinden ve dışından olmak üzere en üst toprak yüzeyi uzaklaştırıldıktan sonra 20 cm derinlikten bir yıl boyunca aylık olarak alınmıştır. Toprak organik maddesi, pH, azot, fosfor, potasyum, CaCO 3 ve toplam tuzluluk standart yöntemlerle ölçülmüştür. Genellikle CaCO 3 ve toplam tuzluluk otlatılan ve korunan kısımlar arasında istatistiksel olarak önemli derecede farklı çıkmıştır.