Factors Affecting Plant Diversity in the Forest-Steppe Transitional Zone

Abstract

A forest-steppe boundary is formed in arid and semi-arid areas due to lack of moisture. The areas between the forest and the steppe ecosystem are called transition zones and they are ecosystems with both forest and steppe characteristics. The study was conducted in Yapraklı and Sarıkaya districts of Çankırı province by monthly vegetation samples. As a result of the cluster and Detrended Corresponding Analyses, the study area was divided into three as forest, transition zone, and steppe in terms of plant species composition. Diversity index values were the lowest in forest areas and the highest in steppe formation. Besides, according to the correlation analysis, a negative correlation was found between plant species diversity with elevation and canopy closure, while a positive correlation with slope was found.

Keywords

• Steppe
• species diversity
• cluster
• DCA
• Shannon

Ormandan Step Kuşağına Geçiş Bölgesinin Bitki Çeşitliliğine Etki Eden Faktörler

Abstract

Kurak ve yarıkurak alanlarda nem yetersizliğinden kaynaklanan orman-step sınırı oluşmaktadır. Orman ile step arasında geçiş zonu olarak adlandırılan alanlar, hem orman hem de step özellikleri gösteren ekosistemlerdir. Çalışma kapsamında Çankırı iline bağlı Yapraklı ve Sarıkaya ilçelerinde, 3 adet transekt üzerinde 27 örnek alan alınmıştır. Araştırma alanı, kümeleme ve eğrisel uyum analizi sonucunda bitki türü içeriği bakımından orman, geçiş kuşağı ve step olarak üçe ayrılmıştır. Çeşitlilik indis değerleri en düşük orman alanlarında, en yüksek step formasyonuna dâhil alanlarda bulunmuştur. Ayrıca yapılan korelasyon analizine göre; bitki tür çeşitliliği ile yükselti ve meşcere kapalılığı arasında negatif, eğim ile pozitif korelasyon olduğu bulunmuştur. Sonuç olarak ormandan stebe geçiş zonunun bitki tür çeşitliliği; orman alanlarına göre yüksek, step alanlarına göre düşüktür. Bu durum araştırma alanındaki geçiş zonunun antropojen etkiler ile oluştuğunu ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

• Step
• tür çeşitlliği
• kümeleme
• DCA
• Shannon

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