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Oak woodland vegetation of T urkey – a first overview based on multivariate statistics
Author(s) -
Uğurlu Emin,
Roleček Jan,
Bergmeier Erwin
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
applied vegetation science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.096
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1654-109X
pISSN - 1402-2001
DOI - 10.1111/j.1654-109x.2012.01192.x
Subject(s) - woodland , ecology , evergreen , geography , vegetation (pathology) , canonical correspondence analysis , shrubland , detrended correspondence analysis , deciduous , vegetation classification , range (aeronautics) , species diversity , species richness , biology , habitat , medicine , pathology , materials science , composite material
Questions Turkey is home to more Q uercus species than any other country in the western Palaearctic. To what extent is the taxonomic diversity reflected in compositional diversity of oak woodland vegetation? What are the main compositional gradients, their environmental correlates and associated gradients in species traits? How are the oak woodland types in T urkey distributed? What is their stand structure, ecological range, conservation value and how are they used? Which phytosociological syntaxa are represented? What gaps remain in knowledge of T urkey's oak woodlands that require further study? Location T urkey ( SE E urope, SW A sia). Methods We used 1181 vegetation records of oak woodland retrieved from phytosociological literature, sampled at more than 100 sites all over T urkey. We classified the data set using a modified TWINSPAN algorithm and displayed the classification using a dendrogram and a synoptic table. We used detrended correspondence analysis and canonical correspondence analysis to identify main compositional patterns, their environmental correlates and associated gradients in species traits. The phi coefficient was used to identify the diagnostic species of the distinguished vegetation types. Species composition, ecological range, biogeographic affinities, traditional phytosociological treatment and land use of each type were described using standard forms. Results The main gradients in compositional diversity of T urkey's oak woodland vegetation range from xerophytic evergreen woodlands near the M editerranean Sea coast to mesophytic deciduous forests near the B lack Sea coast and to continental open (semi‐) deciduous (south‐) east A natolian woodlands and shrublands. These compositional gradients are associated with gradients in species traits and macroclimate. S ilvopastoralism and coppicing are very common forms of land use of T urkish oak forests, although both have somewhat declined recently. Old‐growth forests are scarce or absent in most oak‐dominated systems. Conclusions Compositional diversity of T urkish oak woodland vegetation is extensive and reflects the biogeographical subdivision of the country. However, the ecology of several oak species and their ecosystems is still little known. A major gap in the available data and knowledge lies in east and southeast A natolia. The currently protected forest area should be revised to cover all the oak woodland types identified in this paper.