Hamdi Güray Kutbay

The classification of coastal dune vegetation in Central Black Sea Region of Turkey by numerical methods and EU habitat types

Coastal sand dune vegetation in Central Black Sea Region of Turkey was investigated by numerical methods. Eight plant associations were determined according to two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA). Plant associations were also classified according to NATURA 2000 and European Nature Information System. Coastal dune ecosystems in the Central Black Sea Region include eight habitat types. Eight plant associations belonging to four classes, order and alliances are described and five of them are new associations. TWINSPAN revealed the existence of a gradient from drift line to the inner parts. These have been separated into shifting dunes and fixed dunes. DCA allowed determining the plant associations in shifting dunes along the shoreline as well as the annual vegetation of drift line and embryonic shifting dunes and of fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation. The syntaxonomical classification is given in the following:CAKILETEA MARITIMAE R. Tx. & Preising in Br. -Bl. & R. Tx. 1952Cakiletalia integrifoliae R. Tx. Oberd. 1949 corr. Rivas-Martinez, Costa & Loidi 1992Cakilion maritimae Pignatti 1953Salsolo ruthenico–Cakiletum maritimae Costa & Mansanet 1981 Rivas-Martinez et al. 1992Euphorbio paralias–Eryngietum maritimi ass novaAMMOPHILETEA Br. -Bl. Et R. Tx ex Westhoff et al. 1946Ammophietalia arundinaceae Br. -Bl. 1933Ammophilion australis Br.-Bl. 1921 corr. Rivas-Martínez, Costa & Izco in Rivas-Martínez, Lousã, T.E. Díaz, Fernández-González & J.C. Costa 1990Medicagini marinae–Ammophiletum arundinaceae Br.-Bl. 1921 corr. Fernández Prieto & T. E. Díaz 1991Verbasco thapsus–Eleagnetum rhamnoidi Korkmaz et al. 2012 (Kılınc and Ozkanca 1991) nom. novumAchilleo maritimo–Elymetum farcti ass. NovaJUNCETEA MARITIMI Br.-Bl. 1956Juncetalia maritimi Br.-Bl. 1931Sophoro alopecurioides–Elymetum elongati ass novaSileno thymifoliae–Jurinion kileae Géhu et al. 1989Sileno otitis–Vulpietum fasciculatae ass novaTUBERARIETEA GUTTATAE (Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Roussine & Nègre 1952) Rivas-Goday & Rivas-Martínez 1963 nom. mut. propos. in Rivas-Martínez, T.E. Díaz, Fernández González, Izco, Loidi, Lousã & Penas 2002Malcolmietalia Rivas Goday, 1958Alkanno-Maresion nanae Rivas Goday ex Rivas Goday & Rivas-Martínez 1963 corr. Díez-Garretas, Asensi & Rivas-Martínez 2001Euphorbio terracinae-Laguretum ovati ass nova

Foliar resorption in Quercus petraea subsp. iberica and Arbutus andrachne along an elevational gradient

Abstract• The resorption of nutrients (mainly N and P) from senescing leaves may be a key component of adaptive mechanisms that conserve scarce nutrients. Resorption may be expressed in two ways as resorption efficiency (RE) which is the ratio of the resorbed amounts of nutrient losses during leaf senescence in relation to its prior amount deposited in leaves and resorption proficiency (RP) is the level to which nutrient concentration per unit leaf mass is reduced in senescent leaves.• There is still much debate whether or not different life-forms (i.e. deciduous and evergreen species) show different foliar resorption patterns. Two sympatric species, namely Quercus petraea (Mattuschka) Liebl. subsp. iberica (Steven ex Bieb.) Krassiln. (deciduous) and Arbutus andrachne L. (evergreen) along an elevational gradient were compared with each other to determine whether or not nitrogen and phosphorus resorption efficiency and proficiency varies along the elevational gradient and which leaf parameters were as related to RE and RP.• NRE was found to be rather low in Q. petraea subsp. iberica compared to other deciduous species. Similarly, PRE in A. andrachne was rather low compared to other evergreen species. Mean residence time (MRT) measures how long a unit of nitrogen (MRTN) and phosphorus (MRTP) is present in the plant. MRTN and MRTP were found to be considerably higher in A. andrachne compared to Q. petraea subsp. iberica. In both species, the foliar N/P ratio was below 14 along the elevational gradient and, according to this threshold value, N-limitation occurred in the study area. Although both species in the present study show incomplete resorption deciduous species was more proficient as compared to evergreen one due to low N and P concentrations in senescent leaves. Based on the significant correlations (p < 0.05 and 0.01) between MRT and foliar resorption, it can be concluded that MRT could interfere with the mechanisms controlling nutrient resorption.Résumé• La résorption des éléments nutritifs (essentiellement N et P) par sénescence des feuilles peut être une composante clé des mécanismes d’adaptation qui permettent de conserver les rares éléments nutritifs. La résorption peut être exprimée de deux façons : l’efficience de résorption (RE) qui est le rapport entre la quantité résorbée des pertes d’éléments nutritifs au cours de la sénescence des feuilles par rapport à son montant déposé auparavant dans les feuilles et la capacité de résorption (RP) qui est le niveau auquel la concentration des éléments nutritifs par unité de masse de feuilles est réduite dans les feuilles sénescentes.• Il reste encore beaucoup de débat pour déterminer si les différentes formes de vie (c’est-à-dire les espèces décidues et les espèces sempervirentes) présentent différents modes de résorption foliaire. Deux espèces sympatriques, à savoir Quercus petraea (Mattuschka) Liebl. subsp. iberica (Steven ex Bieb.) Krassiln. (décidue) et Arbutus andrachne L. (sempervirente), ont été comparées l’une à l’autre, le long d’un gradient altitudinal, afin de déterminer si l’efficience de résorption de l’azote et du phosphore et la capacité de résorption varient le long d’un gradient altitudinal et quels paramètres de la feuille sont liés à RE et RP.• NRE a été trouvé plutôt faible chez Q. petraea subsp. iberica par rapport à d’autres espèces décidues. De même, chez A. andrachne PRE a été plutôt faible par rapport à d’autres espèces sempervirentes. Le temps de résidence moyen (MRT) mesure combien de temps une unité d’azote (MRTP) et de phosphore (MRTP) est présente dans la plante. MRTP et MRTP étaient considérablement plus élevés chez A. andrachne par rapport à Q. petraea subsp. iberica. Chez les deux espèces, le ratio foliaire N/P était inférieur à 14 le long du gradient altitudinal, en fonction de la valeur de ce seuil, une limitation d’azote s’est produite dans la zone d’étude. Bien que les deux espèces, dans la présente étude, montrent une résorption incomplète, l’espèce décidue avait une meilleure capacité de résorption comparativement à l’espèce sempervirente en raison de la faible concentration de N et de P dans les feuilles sénescentes. Sur la base des corrélations significatives (p < 0.05 et 0.01) entre MRT et la résorption foliaire, il peut être conclu que MRT pourrait interférer avec les mécanismes de contrôle de la résorption des éléments nutritifs.

Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Water, Sediments and Wetland Plants of Kizilirmak Delta (Samsun, Turkey)

In this study, concentrations of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Ni, Co, Zn, Cu, and Pb) were measured in water bodies including streams, bottom sediments and various wetland plants of Kızılırmak Delta. Kızılırmak Delta is one of the largest and the most important natural wetlands in Turkey and has been protected by Ramsar convention since 1993. The heavy metal concentrations in water were found lower than that of national standards for protected lakes and reserves. In bottom sediments and wetland plants, however, the accumulated amounts of different heavy metals varied in the following order: Fe>Mn>Zn>Ni>Co>Cu>Pb, and Fe>Mn>Zn>Ni>Co respectively. Heavy metal uptake of Hydrocharis morsus-ranae and Myriophyllum verticillatum plants among others were found far above the toxic levels and they might be used as bio-indicators and heavy metal accumulators in polluted natural areas.

Effect of EDTA and Tannic Acid on the Removal of Cd, Ni, Pb and Cu from Artificially Contaminated Soil by Althaea rosea Cavan

In this study an ornamental plant of Althaea rosea Cavan was investigated for its potential use in the removal of Cd, Ni, Pb and Cu from an artificially contaminated soil. Effect of two different chelating agents on the removal has also been studied by using EDTA (ethylenediaminetetracetic acid) and TA (tannic acid). Both EDTA and TA have led to higher heavy metal concentration in shoots and leaves compared to control plants. However EDTA is generally known as an effective agent in metal solubilisation of soil, in this study, TA was found more effective to induce metal accumulation in Althaea rosea Cavan under the studied conditions. In addition to this, EDTA is toxic to some species and restraining the growth of the plants. The higher BCF (Bio Concentration Factor) and TF (Translocation Factor) values obtained from stems and leaves by the effects of the chemical enhancers (EDTA and TA) show that Althaea rosea Cavan is a hyper accumulator for the studied metals and may be cultivated to clean the contaminated soils.

Plant diversity along coastal dunes of the Black Sea (North of Turkey)

Coastal dunes are particular ecosystems because they include different vegetation types and have high environmental heterogeneity. Plant biodiversity in coastal dunes vary along the seashore to inland environmental gradient. In the present study, plant biodiversity along the coastal dune zonation of Central Black Sea Region of Turkey (upper beach or drift line, embryonic or primary dune, main dune, transitional and fixed dune zone) is evaluated using different diversity indexes (Evenness, Functional diversity, Plant biodiversity and Rarity). Plant biodiversity increases from seashore to the inland. In particular evenness and rarity indexes tend to increase from the drift line to fixed dunes as functional diversity is high in the upper beach and drift line.

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.

The classification of some plants subjected to disturbance factors (grazing and cutting) based on ecological strategies in Turkey

The effect of disturbance factors such as grazing and cutting were investigated in some plants in central Black Sea Region of Turkey using Grime’s CSR strategies and Ellenberg’s indicator values (EIVs). Grime’s CSR strategies were also determined by Pierce et al.’s (Funct Ecol 27:1002–1010, 2013) scheme because there were some inconsistencies between Grime’s and Pierce et al.’s schemes. Secondary strategies in the study area found to be dominant and the dominance of secondary strategies are consistent with “intermediate disturbance hypothesis”. All the EIVs were found to be significantly different in grazed vs non-ungrazed and cutted vs uncutted areas. PCA diagram showed that ungrazed and cutted areas are associated with EIVR, while grazed and uncutted plots are associated with EIVL, EIVM, EIVN and EIVT.

Biodiversity in different successional stages of Mediterranean enclaves distributed along Sinop Peninsula (Turkey)

Abstract The aim of this research was to evaluate plant diversity and the relationships between the distribution of Raunkiaer life forms and community structure, and species richness, at different successional stages in communities of Quercus ilex L., Erica arborea L. and Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach., distributed as enclaves in Sinop Province. Permanent sample plots were selected to determine plant diversity. The cover percentage of each plant species was recorded monthly during two vegetation periods. Raunkiaer life forms, and the Shannon–Wiener, Evenness, Simpson and Margalef indexes were determined. Twenty-three species in Quercus ilex, 96 species in Erica arborea, and 148 species in Sarcopoterium spinosum were identified. Hemicryptophyte dominancy was observed followed by phanerophytes in the Q. ilex community, and therophyte and hemicryptophyte dominancy in the E. arborea and S. spinosum communities, respectively. It was determined that the S. spinosum community was the most heterogeneous community while the Q. ilex community was more uniform than other communities. The variation in diversity indexes, homogeneity, and composition of life forms among communities adopting a similar climatic environment could result from a differentiation of environmental factors, which impact on community structuring, from biotic to abiotic at different successional stages of Mediterranean communities.

The effects of erosion and accretion on plant communities in coastal dunes in north of Turkey

Coastal erosion resulted in dramatic changes in the structure of coastal dune communities for example many characteristic species may be removed from dune zones. The effects of coastal erosion on coastal dune communities in north of Turkey were investigated along seashore–inland gradient. It has been found that the severity of erosion caused to increase the differences among coastal dune communities. Our results also implied that embryonic shifting dunes represented by Achilleo maritimo–Elymetum farcti (EU Habitat 2110) and shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria (white dunes) represented by Medicagini marinae–Ammophiletum arundinacea (EU Habitat 2120) were more prone to coastal dynamics. It has been found that the severity of erosion caused to increase the differences among coastal dune communities.