Hierarchical forest site classification according to the perennial plant species in Alacadağ nature reserve disrtict

It is important to classify forest areas in terms of planned and sustainable management. At this stage, vegetation classification and mapping studies are required in forests. In the present study, vegetation was classified according to the distribution of perennial plant species in the Alacadağ Natural Protection Area (NPA) district with high plant species richness. The vegetation groups were modeled with environmental factors. In the study, 150 sample areas of 20m x 20m in size were taken, representing a 100m x 100m cell size squared grids. In field studies, the plant species were recorded according to the Braun-Blanquet scale. Binary hierarchical classification method was applied to the classification of vegetation groups. Cluster groups have been modeled with environmental variables using the Classification Tree Technique. The coherences of the vegetation groups' compatibility were tested with chi-square, kappa, and multi response permutation procedure analysis at each separation stage. Model groups that gave meaningful results were mapped on digital layers by using the predictive values. Indicator species for the vegetation groups were identified by indicator species analysis. As a result of this process, the study area was divided into 4 vegetation groups. The climatic factors depending on elevation have been the most effective environmental variables for the vegetation groups. In addition, ruggedness, hillshade, roughness, and heat index were the other important environmental variables for the vegetation groups in the district. As a result, with this study, forest site classification has been conducted for the protection, sustainability, development, and future planning of Alacadağ NPA district.