THE EFFECT OF TURKEY’S CLIMATIC DIVERSITY ON PLANT DISTRIBUTION
Due to Turkey’s climatic diversity, along with its soil and geomorphological characteristics, a wide range of habitats for plants have been created. These varying habitats significantly affect the distribution areas of plant species. For example, craters of volcanic mountains serve as refuges for many plant species.
The Nemrut Caldera, which is believed to have formed as a result of the eruption of approximately 62 km³ of pyroclastic material (Karaoğlu et al., 2005; Avcı, 2005), provides a habitat for many species in addition to Silver Birch (Betula pendula) and Aspen (Populus tremula) communities. Among these are Norway Maple (Acer platanoides), various Rowan species (Sorbus umbellata, S. torminalis), Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus), Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster sp.), Mahaleb Cherry (Cerasus mahaleb), Plum (Prunus sp.), Oak species (Quercus spp.), Common Juniper (Juniperus communis), and the Crater Buttercup (Ranunculus crateris), which is endemic to the caldera (Tatlı, 1982; Avcı, 2005).
In addition to these woody plant communities, the area hosts a large number of herbaceous plants (approximately 450–500 taxa). Some of these herbaceous species belong to the following genera:
Woad (Isatis sp.), Stonecress (Aethionema sp.), Carnation (Dianthus sp.), Catchfly (Silene sp.), Dock (Rumex sp.), St. John’s Wort (Hypericum sp.), Bird’s-foot Trefoil (Lotus sp.), Cinquefoil (Potentilla sp.), Cow Parsley (Chaerophyllum sp.), Prangos (Prangos sp.), Elecampane (Inula sp.), Everlasting (Helichrysum sp.), Groundsel (Senecio sp.), Chamomile (Anthemis sp.), Yarrow (Achillea sp.), Tansy (Tanacetum sp.), Gundelia (Gundelia sp.), Cornflower (Centaurea sp.), Forget-me-not (Myosotis sp.), Onosma (Onosma sp.), Stachys (Stachys sp.), Catnip (Nepeta sp.), Thyme (Thymus sp.), Mint (Mentha sp.), Sage (Salvia sp.), Dragon’s Head (Lallemantia sp.), Speedwell (Veronica sp.), Spurge (Euphorbia sp.), Onion (Allium sp.), Fritillary (Fritillaria sp.), Colchicum (Colchicum sp.), Iris (Iris sp.), Orchid (Orchis sp.), Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza sp.), Sedge (Cyperus sp.), and Milk-vetch (Astragalus sp.).
Many of these taxa, most of which are medicinal and aromatic plants, can be observed during ecotourism excursions in the Nemrut Caldera (Figure 1).
References
Avcı, M. (2005). “Vegetation of Turkey in Terms of Diversity and Endemism.” Istanbul University Faculty of Letters, Journal of Geography (Electronic), No. 13: 27–55.
Tatlı, A. (1982). “A Study on the Plant Sociology and Plant Ecology of Mount Nemrut.” Atatürk University Faculty of Science Journal, 1(1): 537–549.