Hekimhan (Malatya) and the plant geography of its surroundings

The growth conditions of vegetation are shaped by the interaction of climatic factors, soil properties, landforms, and water resources within a given region, constituting one of the primary elements that determine each ecosystem's unique floristic composition and biological diversity. Every plant species has undergone evolutionary processes to adapt to specific climatic conditions, and the continuity of these plant communities depends on the predictability of local climatic variables. The distribution and diversity of vegetation vary according to the climate of the region; factors such as temperature, humidity, and precipitation directly influence plant species and their growth periods, thus establishing ecosystem balance. While climate determines the characteristic features of a region's vegetation, precipitation levels, temperature fluctuations, and seasonal changes stand out as the main drivers that affect the species richness and ecological functionality of these communities. This study is divided into two main sections. In the first section, the climatic factors influencing vegetation development, as well as their impacts on vegetation, are examined in detail. Accordingly, both historical and recent meteorological station data for Hekimhan—obtained from the Malatya Provincial Directorate of Meteorology—were utilized to perform various analyses. These climatic data were collected to elucidate the current climatic conditions of Hekimhan and to explore how these conditions relate to local vegetation. Among the leading determinants of vegetation growth, climate plays a particularly significant role within the study area, where short distances can give rise to different geographical settings due to variations in landforms and elevation. Extending in a northwest-to-southeast direction, the Kuruçay River has partially dissected the terrain it traverses, thereby generating localized climatic variations. The interaction between the vegetation in the district and its climate has been scrutinized thoroughly, with attention to how this interplay is reflected in the distribution and diversity of plant communities. In the second section, it is revealed that Hekimhan District—although small in area and situated in the Upper Euphrates section of the Eastern Anatolia Region—exhibits distinct characteristics in terms of plant species and diversity due to its specific geographical conditions. To uncover these features, fieldwork was conducted using stand maps obtained from the Elazığ Forest Directorate and maps generated via ArcGIS Pro software. Through these efforts, plant specimens were collected, observed, photographed, and their locations were recorded. The study area consists of communities formed by various vegetation formations such as forests, shrubs, steppes, and alpine meadows; the distribution and density of these communities interact closely with the region's ecological attributes. Within the forest formation, oak, juniper, black pine, and cedar occur in scattered clusters. The steppe communities—covering the largest expanse—are frequently home to endemic species unique to this region. Of the endemic species found in Turkey, 105 are observed within the steppe communities in the district. On Yama Mountain (Yama Dağı), where elevations are higher, several alpine species are present. In these high mountainous areas, prolonged snow cover leads to sparse vegetation and, consequently, exacerbated erosion. The findings demonstrate how the vegetation diversity in Hekimhan is shaped by climatic factors, highlighting the conditions under which different ecosystems within the region can flourish more effectively. In addition, this study proposes recommendations for agriculture, forestry, and conservation activities in the region, offering valuable data for sustainable environmental management. Keywords: Hekimhan, Ecology, Vegetation, Degradation, Erosion