tailieunhanh - Distribution of Quercus spp. and Pinus nigra mixed stands in semiarid northern Central Anatolia

Central Anatolia has semiarid ecological conditions that limit tree growth. In addition, long-term human activity has resulted in degradation of existing forests lands. Current forest cover mainly includes oak, juniper, and pine species. In this study, the distribution and present state of Pinus nigra L. | Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry Research Article Turk J Agric For (2017) 41: 135-141 © TÜBİTAK doi: Distribution of Quercus spp. and Pinus nigra mixed stands in semiarid northern Central Anatolia Gülzade KAHVECİ* Turkish Academy of Sciences, Ankara, Turkey Received: Accepted/Published Online: Final Version: Abstract: Central Anatolia has semiarid ecological conditions that limit tree growth. In addition, long-term human activity has resulted in degradation of existing forests lands. Current forest cover mainly includes oak, juniper, and pine species. In this study, the distribution and present state of Pinus nigra L. and Quercus spp. (Quercus cerris L. and Quercus pubescens L.) mixed stands, and the relationship between different environmental factors and abundance of oaks and pines were analyzed. The results indicate that interactions of environmental variables and human disturbance may have influenced the frequency and abundance of species in the region. Key words: Central Anatolia, semiarid, human disturbance, degradation, oak–pine mixed stand, forest relict 1. Introduction One of the best examples of drought-prone regions after the last ice age is Central Anatolia, where vegetation, especially forests, is affected by the natural environmental conditions. In addition, since the advent of human settlements, the environment of central Anatolia has been changing rapidly. Although the Central Anatolian region has a surface of million ha, woodlands cover a small, heavily degraded area. The woodlands are composed of different types of forest and tree species such as Quercus spp. (Quercus cerris L. and Quercus pubescens L.), black pine (Pinus nigra L.), junipers (Juniperus spp.), and other woody shrubs, but oak species are dominant (Woldring and Cappers, 2001). Ecologically valuable Pinus nigra and Quercus spp. mixed woody communities are .