Analysis of vegetation structure in urban land uses: Case of the city of Aydin [Kentsel alan kullanimlarindaki vejetasyon yapisinin analizi: Aydin kenti örnegi]

In urban areas, each land use type possesses its own vegetation characteristics. The purpose of this study is to determine the vegetation structure of land uses in Aydin urban area by means of vegetation cover analysis. Vegetation cover analysis is an indicator of different land uses' contribution to wildlife habitat value. In the analysis, the variables of 1) vegetation ratio, 2) vegetation cover naturalness level, and 3) vegetation cover structural diversity have been used. Results of the analysis indicated that in terms of sum of all variables, natural areas (93%) obtained the highest value followed by highways (76%), and low-density residential areas (67%). Riverbeds (45%), commercial areas (39%) and industrial areas (34%) received the lowest value. The results shows that natural areas are critical in maintaining the ecological qualities of urban environments; improvement of the open spaces in the increasing residential developments contribute to the urban open space system significantly; and ecological corridor alternatives such as roads and waterways presents opportunities in improving the urban ecosystems

The Effect of Birth Types on Growth Curve Parameters of Karayaka Lamb

This study focused on the comparison of the growth characteristics of single and twin birth lambs in Karayaka sheep which is an indigenous breed of the northern part of Turkey. Gompertz growth function was fitted to body weight age data of 81 lambs (39 males and 42 females) from birth to 10 months of age. Single birth lamb of both sexes showed lower asymptotic weight than the twin birth ones. There were a noticeable difference in the absolute growth rate between birth types before inflection point but decline after the inflection point was slower for twins than that for singles. Similarly, the decrease in relative growth rate was higher for singles than that for twins. The Gompertz model parameters showed similar trends for birth types in both sexes. The results indicated that the type of the birth should be taken into account besides the sex of the individuals, while working on biological modelling of sheep growth and subsequent genetic evaluations of the related traits

Meat production characteristics of Turkish native breeds: I. Fattening, slaughter and carcass traits of lambs

WOS: 000446682900008The present study was conducted to determine the slaughter and carcass traits of male lambs of the Akkaraman (A), Morkaraman (M), Awassi (IW), Karayaka (KR), Kivircik (KV) and Middle Anatolian Merino (MAM) sheep breeds. Fattening of all lambs started when they were at 90 days at weaning and finished when they reached bodyweight of 40 kg. The cold dressing percentage of lambs of A, M, and IW breeds were significantly lower than those of KV, KR and MAM. Fat depth and muscle area were significantly greater in KV and MAM lambs than those of the other breeds. There were significant differences among breeds in shoulder, leg and lean weights. Weights of back loin in KV and MAM lambs were significantly greater than those of the other breeds. The highest values for carcass fleshiness were obtained in MAM and IW lambs, but they had a significantly lower carcass fatness score. There were significant differences among the breeds in carcass compactness and leg conformation. The results of the present study indicated that A and MAM breeds could be recommended for desirable carcass characteristics.General Directorate of Agricultural Researches and Policies of TurkeyGida Tarim Ve Hayvancilik Bakanligi [TAGEM 10/AR-GE/13]Authors wish to thank General Directorate of Agricultural Researches and Policies of Turkey (Project no: TAGEM 10/AR-GE/13) for their financial support for the present researc

Murat production characteristics of Turkish native breeds: II. meat quality, fatty acid, and cholesterol profile of lambs

The study conducted a comparison of meat quality, fatty acid profile, and cholesterol amounts of longissimus dorsi (LD) and semitendinosus (ST) muscles of male lambs born to Turkish indigenous sheep breeds raised under intensive conditions. A total of 36 singleton male lambs were used as experimental animals of the Akkaraman (A), Morkaraman (M), Awassi (IW), Karayaka (KR), Kivircik (KV), and Middle Anatolian Merino (MAM) pure breeds. All lambs were fed the same diet until they reached a target weight of 40 kg weight. After the feeding period, all lambs were slaughtered and LD and ST muscle samples were collected to determine meat quality traits, fatty acid profile, and cholesterol amounts. Although there were no significant differences between lambs in terms of the fatty acid profile of LD and ST muscles, KR lambs had a higher cholesterol content in both muscles in comparison with the lambs born to other breeds (p < 0.05). While water-holding capacity, dripping loss, pH, color, dry matter, ash, and intramuscular fat values of ST muscles showed differences among breeds (p < 0.05), dripping loss, pH, cooking loss, color, dry matter, ash, protein, and intramuscular fat values of LD muscles differed between breeds (p < 0.05). The data of the current study indicated that meat quality characteristics and cholesterol contents of Turkish indigenous breeds showed differences, and these differences may be used for alternative lamb meat production for the consumer.General Directorate of Agricultural Researches and Policies of TurkeyGida Tarim Ve Hayvancilik Bakanligi [TAGEM 10/AR-GE/13]The authors wish to thank the General Directorate of Agricultural Researches and Policies of Turkey (project no: TAGEM 10/AR-GE/13) for their financial support for the present research