Determination of Ellenberg’s indicator values along an elevational gradient in Central Black Sea Region of Turkey

The Central Black Sea Region has an unique vegetation because different vegetation types occurred. In the present study plant communities (from Mediterranean-type to temperate forests) in the Central Black Sea Region along an elevational gradient was evaluated on Ellenberg’s Indicator Values (EIVs). EIVs were calculated for nutrient availability, pH and temperature variables (nutrient availability (N), pH (R) and temperature (T)) with the help of weighted averages. Additionally, the vegetation of the study area was classified by using two way indicator species analyses (TWINSPAN) method and the interactions among plant species and EIVs were also studied by the help of Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). We found some differences between our data and the previous data which were obtained from similar vegetation types with respect to EIV’s for nutrient availability, pH and temperature. Pteridium aquilinum, Fragaria vesca and Euphorbia amygdaloides var. amygdaloides may be used as an indicator of nutrient availability. There were significant differences among species regarding EIVs for temperature because the study area includes temperate and Mediterranean-type communities

Heavy metal accumulation in some lichen species occurred from west to east black sea regions of Turkey

WOS:000629179700075Heavy metal bioaccumulation in different l i - chen species {Flavoparmelia caperata, Leptogium gelatinosum, Collema subnigrescens, Xanthoria caldcóla, Xanthoria parietina, Physcia adcendes, Physcia aipolia, Xanthoparmelia conspersa, Ramalina farinacea and Phaeophyscia orbicularis) were studied at the ten sampling sites occurred from Sinop to Ordu Black Sea Region of Turkey. Heavy metal concentrations in the studied lichen species were ranked in the order of Fe> Zn > Mn> Cu >Pb>Ni> Cr > Co> Cd. Classification of heavy metals by cluster analysis revealed six main clusters of heavy metals with similar affinities or characteristics. Zn, Cd and Pb were occurred in positive zone of PCA axis, whereas all other heavy metals occurred in negative zone. The highest Fe, Mn, Ni and Co concentrations were found in P. orbicularis, whereas the highest Cu and Cd concentrations were found in Collema subnigrescens. In summary, we found that folióse and corticolous (species grow on the branches and trunks of trees) species should be used for biomonitong studies. © by PSP

Samsun ilinde bulunan baziı doğal ve egzotik bitkilerde ağiır metal birikimi

The aim of this study was to estimate the level of some trace metal accumulation (Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu) in the leaves, needles, and twigs of some natural and exotic tree and shrub species which were selected and tested as a biomonitors of these heavy metals grown in the centre and suburbs (Atakum) of Samsun, Turkey polluted by burning fossil fuels and heavy traffic conditions from December 2007 to August 2008. Air pollution from traffic density was very important for Samsun in both the winter and summer periods. Because of this reason leaf and twig samples of these species were collected in winter and summer separately. Statistically significant differences were found among the studied species regarding studied heavy metals. The highest heavy metal concentrations were found in M. grandiflora, although heavy metal concentrations may be different according to the studied species, sampling points and sampling periods. According to the obtained data it was found that M. grandiflora, Ligustrum vulgare and Phoenix dactylifera can be used as biomonitors (i.e. the highest Cu concentrations were found in Samsun city in P. dactylifera leaves (45.10) and M. grandiflora leaves (62.00) and the highest Zn concentration was found in L. vulgare leaves (69.58) during the summer. Because these species accumulated higher concentrations of heavy metals in their tissues as compared to other species. Finally, it was found that different parts of evergreen plants (i.e. leaves and twigs) can be used as biomonitors in determining heavy metal pollution

The comparison of Grime's strategies of plant taxa in Hacı Osman Forest and Bafra Fish Lakes in the central Black Sea region of Turkey

The main aim of this study was to compare Grime's strategies in 91 plant taxa occurring from the eastern to the western part of the central Black Sea region of northern Turkey (Samsun). To do this, 45 sample plots were taken from different community types (from swamp forests to halophytic communities), and the strategies of plant species were compared with each other. Many tree and shrub species present in Haci{dotless} Osman Forest, a protected swamp forest, exhibited a purely competitive (C) strategy; some other tree and shrub species exhibited secondary strategies such as competitive/competitive stress-tolerant (C/CS) and competitive/competitive ruderal (C/CR). The ecological features of Haci{dotless} Osman Forest and Galeriç Forest are similar, and species of either forest tended to adopt stress-tolerant strategies. Coastal dune species within the study area exhibited transient strategies. Finally, it was evaluated that the CSR classification model can be successfully applied to determine the responses of plant species to changing land use patterns and disturbance factors, even for woody shrub and tree species, although our data were not entirely consistent with Grime's succession theory. © TÜBİTAK

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

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- Blanquet's 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- Wiever's diversity formula. © 2008, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Effects of sexual reproduction on growth and vegetative propagation in Arum Maculatum L. (Araceae): Insitu removal experiments

We investigated the effects of sexual reproduction on vegetative propagation and relative somatic cost in Arum maculatum L. (Araceae). Two groups were selected as control and experimental. The spadices of individuals in experimental group were removed to test the relationship between sexual reproduction and vegetative propagation. Statistically significant differences were found between initial and final tuber weight in individuals with sexual organs removed. No significant differences were found between initial and final tuber weight in naturally reproducing (sexual organs not removed) individuals. However, the statistically significant differences were found between control and experimental group with respect to above-ground biomass but not in terms of below-ground biomass. The differences between two groups in terms of above-ground and below-ground nitrogen concentrations were also significant. Relative somatic cost of sexual reproduction (RSC) was observed in above-ground parts, but not in below-ground parts in terms of biomass and in both above- and below-ground parts in terms of nitrogen concentration

Relationships between vegetation zonation and edaphic factors in a salt-marsh community (Black Sea coast)

The effects of pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soluble cations (Na +, K +, Ca 2+, Mg 2+), and soluble anions (HCO 3 -, Cl -, SO 4 2-) on vegetation zonation in a salt-marsh community (Black Sea coast) were investigated on two localities at Black Sea Coast differing as to the altitude, community composition and zonation. Three zones (25-80 m wide) - lower, middle and upper were distinguished in each locality along 150 m transect and according to the vegetation types which were analysed with Braun-Blanquet method. The dominant species were following: Juncus acutus L., Salicornia prostrata Pal l., Spergularia marina (L.) Gris, Hordeum geniculatum Al l., Plantago coronopus L. subsp. coronopus, Carex capitellata Boiss. and Bal, Artemisia santonicum L. and Juncus littoralis C. A. Mey. Soil samples were taken down to 50 cm. The results of soil analysis were evaluated by using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) from winter 1999 to autumn 2000. HCO 3 - concentration and inundation depth (2.22-21.44 cm) are the environmental variables that correlate the best with axis 1, whereas K + concentration and inundation depth (2.22-21.44 cm) correlate the best with axis 2 during the study period. During winter 1999, HCO 3 - concentration showed the highest correlation with the canonical axis 1 and associated zone was H. geniculatum. In spring, summer and autumn 2000, inundation depth (3.44-19.11 cm) was the most prominent factor correlated with the first and second axes, respectively, with associated zone of C. capitellata. EC, Na + and CI" concentrations were decreased during autumn in all vegetation zones except for C. capitellata and Artemisia santonicum zones in which Na + and Cl - concentrations and EC, respectively were increased during autumn. The C. capitellata (Cyperaceae) zone was located on the positive site of axis 1 during autumn 2000 and followed the gradient of inundation depth. S. prostrata, S. marina, H. geniculatum and P. coronopus subsp. coronopus seems to be adapted to the most saline soils, whereas C.capitellata indicates the wettest soils in the studied salt marsh. The Juncus littoralis zone followed the gradient of maximum salinity during autumn of the year 2000, but the zone was not related to the measured increase in soil salinity during winter, summer and spring. In both localities EC, Na + and Cl - concentrations were tended to decrease at upper zones. Inundation regime, K + concentration, and HCO 3 - concentration are key factors affecting vegetation zonation in studied salt marshes

Macroelement (N, P, K) contents of Romulea columnae Seb. and Mauri Subsp. columnae during vegetative and generative growth phases

Romulea columnae Seb. and Mauri subsp. columnae is a geophytic plant belonging to Iridaceae. In this study nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) analysis were carried out during vegetative and generative growth periods. It has been found that above ground parts of plant have higher macroelement concentrations as compared to below ground parts during vegetative growth period. However, below ground parts have higher macroelement concentrations during generative growth phase due merely to top senescence. In addition to this there were significant and mostiy negative conelations between plant and soil macroelement concentrations. © 2007 Academic Journals Inc

Sulphur and some heavy metal contents in foliage of Corylus avellana and some roadside native plants in Ordu province, Turkey

The concentration of sulphur and some heavy metals the leaves of Corylus avellana, Alopecurus myosuroides, Helleborus orientalis, Glechoma hederacea, Calamintha nepeta and Urtica dioica were determined around the "polluted (near highways)" and "non-polluted area (far from highways)" sites near Ordu province during summer of the year 2006. Significant differences were found for heavy metals between "polluted" and "non-polluted" areas. Heavy metal contents decreased in the order of Fe>Zn>Cu. The contents of Fe ranged from 188.9 to 519.9 ppm in the foliage of the studied species collected from "polluted area" were higher than its threshold values 13.5 to 115.5 ppm determined for same species in the "non-polluted area". High sulphur contents were found in studied species. The highest sulphur content was found in Alopecurus myosuroides. Overall, according to our findings plant species as Corylus avellana, Glechoma hederacea and Urtica dioica are a good bioindicators and can be used in elemental air pollution monitoring studies in urban-industrial conurbations

Nitrogen and phosphorus resorption in two wetland macrophytes

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) resorption efficiency (RE) and, resorption proficiency (RP) and functional strategies in Schoenoplectus lacustris subsp. tabernaemontani and Typha latifolia occurring in Cernek Lake and Uzun Lake with different nutrient status situated in Bafra town in Central Black Sea Region of Turkey was investigated. Mass-based N and P concentrations during summer (from June to September) in both species were rather higher than those of British, European and American wetland species. However, both N- and P-limitations were found in both species during the sampling period. It has been found that transitional strategy between CS and C strategies (C/CS) was common for the two species, whilst T. latifolia individuals in Cernek Lake exhibited CS strategy. N resorption was incomplete in Cernek and Uzun Lakes in both species. P resorption was complete in Uzun Lake for both species, whereas P resorption was intermediate in Cernek Lake, but more proficient for T. latifolia. Both PRE and PRP in T. latifolia individuals in Cernek Lake were higher than those in Schoenoplectus lacustris subsp. tabernaemontani individuals and this shows that CS species has an efficient internal cycling of P