J. Bio. & Env. Sci

In this study, the Artemisia santonicum L.(facultative halophyte plant) community and soil peculiarity of EreğliKaraman had been analyzed based on the minimal area approach. Of the samples collected from the research area between the years 1995-1996 and 2012-2013, 100 plants were evaluated, and uncommon and endemic taxa were identified. The number of endemic taxa within the study area is 15. The study area is located in the southeast of Central Anatolia covered with alkaline soils. The Artemisia santonicum community is under the control of very cold and arid Mediterranean climate. Relations between the ecologial properties (such as soil properties and climate) and plant cover are examined. Based on the results of floral biodiversity and ecological properties were discussed. Results showed that, on the distribution of vegetation are important factors, respectively; climatic, edaphic, anthropogenic. In terms of biodiversity conservation of these areas it is very important furthermore the protection of these areas showed that very necessary. *Corresponding Author: Fatmagül Geven  geven@science.ankara.edu.tr Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) ISSN: 2220-6663 (Print) 2222-3045 (Online) Vol. 7, No. 1, p. 368-379, 2015 http://www.innspub.net J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2015 369 | Geven et al. Introduction Ereğli-Karaman located within the boundaries of Central Anatolia region. This study was carried out for the ecologic investigation of the Artemisia santonicum L. (facultative halophyte plant) community of the area. Central Anatolia has an important place in the phytogeographical region in terms of its climatic, soil and geographical characteristics. This region has been included into Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region by Zohary and named as “Central Anatolian” province (Zohary 1973). Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region includes the central, east and southeast Anatolian geographical divisions of Turkey. The region is characterized by a semi-arid lower cold Mediterranean type of climate with very cold winters and hot summers. The area of saline and degraded soils in the region is increasing. The factors responsible for this are over-irrigation practices, and salt accumulation due to evaporation (Abdelly et al. 2008). The first vegetation studies were carried out by the foreign experts. Some of the most important ones among them are the studies of Handel-Mazetti (1909) in north Anatolia, Czeczott (1938) in northwest Anatolia, Krause (1940) in west and middle Anatolia and Schwarz (1936) in west Anatolia. The studies of the local researchers have started in the second half of the 20th century and continued in an increasing manner up to now. Most of these studies concentrated on the synecologic and syntaxonomic analysis of the step vegetation of Turkey. In Central Anatolia, some of these studies were carried out by Birand (1947, 1970), Çetik et al. (1981, 1985), Yurdakulol (1974), Akman et al. (1984, 1985, 1996), Ocakverdi et al. (1991), Tatlı et al. (1994) and Geven et al. (2009, 2010). In this study, the Artemisia community and ecological characteristics of EreğliKaraman district, which is an old settlement on the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey, is presented. Endemic, rare, and endangered plant species and their threatened categories are listed in the Table. The negative effects of uncontrolled grazing, excessive irrigation, agricultural activities, fires, unplanned urbanisation and industrialisation which were made without ecological consideration are also pointed out. It is hoped that this study will contribute to knowledge of steppe flora in Turkey and be useful as a guide for future research. Materials and methods Sampling and analysis of the plants In this study, the materials were collected from the area between 1995-1996 and 2012-2013. The specimens were prepared according to established herbarium techniques. The Flora of Turkey (Davis, 1965-1984, 1988, Güner et al. 2000) and other floras (Townsend and Guest, 1966-1980, Tutin and Heywood, 1964-1981) were utilized in the identification of the specimens. The phytogeographical region is given together with the species endemism and the life form of all taxa. Threatened categories are evaluated for endemic taxa according to IUCN risk categories (Ekim et al., 2000, Anonymous, 2001) All of the plant specimens were kept at the herbarium of Gazi University (GAZI). Sampling Method The vegetation analysis were performed according to traditional Braun-Blanquet’s “floristic unit system” (1932) and the unified abundance-cover values and sociability were determined. The widths of the relevés were determined by according to “minimal area” method (Akman et al. 2001) which was 100 m2 in Artemisia santonicum L. community. Also the addresses of six relevés were given for the definition of the community. Brief description of the study area The region is located Konya/Karaman province in the southeast of Central Anatolia region and C4-C5 square according to Davis’ square system (1965). The region is bounded by Konya province in the north and Karaman province in the south (Fig. 1). J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2015 370 | Geven et al. Fig. 1. Map of the study area. The elevations in the area range between 1000-1160 m. The soil data related to Ereğli-Karaman were taken from “Konya İli Arazi Varlığı” prepared by Turkish Soil Works (Anonymous, 1992). According to this report the region is dominated by “lime brown” soil. The other types of soils in the region are “alluvial” and “kolluvial”. Soil samples were taken at depths of 10-30 cm at six study spots. Physical and chemical properties of soil samples were analysed by the Soil and Fertilizer Research Institute. (Table 1a1b). The climatic data of the study area were obtained from Ereğli and Karaman meteorological stations Anonymous (1974, 1984). The Summer rainfall (PE) of Ereğli and Karaman province are 33,5-28,6 mm. These values indicate that the working site is dominated by “semi-arid lower cold Mediterranean” climate (Table 2). The rainfall type of Ereğli-Karaman meteorological stations is SpWAS or “Eastern Mediterranean Rainfall II. Subtype” (Akman 1982). Ombrothermic diagrams were drawn (Fig. 2, Fig. 3). Results The flora of study area is consist of 100 species and subspecies or variety. All plant species are belonging to Artemisia santonicum L community (Table 3). The physiognomy of the community is dominated by Artemisia santonicum L., Thymus sipyleus Boiss. subsp. rosulans (Borbas) Jalas, Bromus tectorum L., Poa bulbosa L., Cousiana iconica Hub.-Mor., Noaea mucronata (Forssk.) Aschers.&Sch. subsp. J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2015 371 | Geven et al. mucronata, Nepeta congesta Fisch.&Meyer var. congesta, Peganum harmala L., Acantholimon caryophyllaceum Boiss. subsp. caryophyllaceum, Stipa holosericea Trin. and Bromus tomentellus Boiss. Artemisia santonicum community extends along Ereğli-Karaman highway (Fig. 4). The climate has a marked effection the development of the community. Table 1a. Soil chemical analaysis of the representative samples collected from the study area. Qua. No Depth (cm) EC dS/m Water saturation % pH Org. Matter% Soluable ions in saturation extract CaC03 % Kations(me/lt) Anions (me/lt) Ca++ Mg++ Na+ K+ CO 3 HCO3 Cl− SO4 1 10–30 0.78 40,33 8,58 1,77 4,73 1.58 0.65 0,67 0.83 2.29 1.75 2.76 30,1 2 10–30 0.75 41,42 8,64 1,47 6,30 1.46 0.65 0,21 0.83 1.82 1.50 4.47 28,6 3 10–30 0.63 36,37 8,64 1,35 4,20 2.11 0.56 0,24 0.83 1.40 2.00 2.87 30,8 4 10–30 0.53 49,61 8,58 1,44 4,20 1.62 0.24 0,21 0.83 1.66 1.25 2.52 17,5 5 10–30 0.81 53,80 8,60 2,10 5,25 1.54 0.90 0,32 0.73 1.77 3.75 1.76 18,6 6 10–30 0.58 48,52 8,62 2,31 5,25 1.06 0.36 0,28 0.83 2.03 1.25 2.84 22,6 Table 1b. Soil physical analaysis of the representative samples collected from the study area. Quadrat No Depth (cm) Sand Silty Clay Texture 1 10–30 46.6 30.6 22.8 L 2 10–30 41.2 34.0 24.8 L 3 10–30 34.5 37.9 27.6 CL 4 10–30 18.6 38.6 42.8 C 5 10–30 7.5 48.3 42.2 SİL 6 10–30 16.0 44.3 39.7 SİCL Table 2. Climatic synthesis of Ereğli, Karaman meteorological stations. Station Altitude (m) P (mm) M (oC) m (oC) Q PE S Bioclimatic Type Precipitation Regime Ereğli 1044 306,5 30,1 -3,9 31,5 33,3 1,1 semi-arid lower cold Sp.W.A.S. Karaman 1025 347,3 30,3 -3,1 36,2 28,6 0, 9 semi-arid lower cold Sp.W.A.S P (mm): Mean annual precipitation, M (oC): Mean maximum for the hottest month,m (oC): Mean minimum for the coldest month, Q: Emberger’s pluviometric quotient (2000. P / M2m2), PE: Summer rainfall, S: Emberger’s index of xericity (S=PE / M), W: Winter, Sp: Spring, S: Summer, A: Autumn. The community develops at 1000-1160 m. alkali soil and southeast slopes with inclination 1°-4° . The general coverage varies between 75 to 95%. The lifeform spectrum is consist of 43% Hemicryptophytes, 40% Therophytes, 14% Chamephytes and 2% Geophytes, respectively (Fig. 5). The life forms of the taxa were determined according to Raunkiaer (1934) and Ellenberg and Mueller-Dombois (1967). While 16% of these plants belong to Euro-Siberian, 18% Mediterranean floristic region, 47% Irano-Turanian region, 28% Cosmopolitan and %2 unknown (Fig. 6). The chorotype of the taxa were determined according to Zohary (1973), Davis (1965-1988), Donner (1990), Güner et al. (2000). The number of endemic and J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2015 372 | Geven et al. threatened taxa within the study area is 15 (Table 4). The dominance of the Irano-Turanian elements is expected because the study area is phytogeographically located totally with in the IranoTuranian region. This region is neighboured by Mediterranean phytogeographic regions. Due to this geographical proximity the floristic composition of the region contain Mediterranean elements. This situation is also reflected in the vegetation table. Table 3. Analysis of the steppe vegetation of Ereğli-Karaman Characteristic species of the Artemisia santonicum Community. Number of quadrat 1 2 3 4 5 6