Ecosystem of the aegean region, Western Anatolia

ECOSYSTEM OF THE AEGEAN REGION, WESTERN ANATOLIA SUMMARY Study area covers the western part of the Aegean region. It contain an area 3714859 sq km2 totaling 4. 56 % of Turkey. The topographic formation of area has been formed by vertical tectonic movement which occured during the end of Neogen and Early Quaternary. The grabens named Bakırçay, Büyük, Küçük Menderes and Gediz are the main drainage of the rivers, and they contain aluvial and deltaic plains. The mountains named Kozak, Madra, Manisa, Bozdağ, Aydın and Menteşe fit the main horsts extending between the grabens. There is, at least 1000 m altitudinal differences between the grabens and horsts. There are numerous peninsulas and gulfs along the Aegean Sea due to topographic structure. Typical Mediterranean climate, characterized mildy and rainy winters, and arid and hot summer, prevails the lower level of the area. Oromediterranean climate appears on the mountainous areas more than 800 m altitude. Climax vegetation communities of the Mediterranean climatic area are red pine (Pinus brutia ) forests. The maquis and garigues are widespread in places where red pine forests have been destroyed and cleared. The upper part of the area is the main occurrence areas of the black pine {Pinus nigra ). The ecosystems of the study area are divided according to climatic datas. vegetation cover, soil, parent material properties, on the other hand the carots obtained from the red and black pines have been determined according to dendrocronologic methods in order to find biomass productivitiy. Typical Mediterranean zonobiomes covers the lower parts of the area. In this zonobiome Mediterranean climate prevails and zonal vegetation is red pine (Pinus nigra). Oro-Mediterranean orobiome is found after the red pine occurrence areas in the mountainous region. Oromediterranean climate and Pinus nigra forests are dominant in this orobiome. The higher biomass productivity of the red pine is found out on theelevation of 600-700 m while the optimum growth area of the Pinus nigra is about 1000- 1100 m. The parent material, soil, ground water determines the other biomes. For example, the exposed parent materials which are composed of granite and cristaline schists create a differant habitats. Stone pine (Pinus pined) grows very well on the granite and cristalines schists in the Kozak plateau (N. of region) and Çine-Koçarlı locality and its surrounding (S. of the region). Gravelly dejection fans occuring in the eastern part of B. Menderes graben are the main growth area of Ficus. Acide volcanic tuffs having low cation exchange capacity is the low productive areas of red pine. The annual height growing of the Pinus brutia is about 80 cm on the schistes, but 20 cm in the acide volcanic tuffs in the study area. These figures show the effects of the parent material in the growth of forests. The exposition factor also determines the growth of the pine forest. For example the growth of the red pine is higher on the slopes facing-south than that of the north facing slopes. Hydrobiomes are found on the high groundwater levels and swamp areas. For instance. Luquidambar communities appear on Marmaris and Datça districts where groundwater table is high. Psammobiomes are widespread along the rivers and non salinity areas of the coastal belts in the Aegean Sea. Halobiomes cover the salty areas occuring on the coastal belt of the Aegean Sea. Shortly, parent material and/or soils which are found both in the Mediterranean zonobiome and orobiome mostly determine the distribution of the vegetation and agricultural activities. The poor habitats are common on the acide volcanic tuffs and agglomerate deposits, while soft ? schists are the fertile habitats of regions. The karstic lands also show special importance in the growth of the vegetation, due to the fact that the woody plants roots easily develop and air and water circulation are in good conditions.