Woody vegetation-environment relationship of The Akdağ District in Kütahya Region

This study was carried out to determine the relationships between woody vegetation and environmental variables in Kütahya Akdağ area. In this study, 42 woody species were identified in 72 sample plots, and vegetation classification was made with 14 different species with above 5% frequency. Cluster and two-way indicator species analysis methods were used in vegetation classification stage. 3 vegetation groups were identified by both methods. As a result of Multi-Response Permutation Procedure test, cluster analysis was better than A (intragroup homogeneity) and T (distance between groups) values. Both vegetation groups and plant species within these groups are associated with Detrended Correspondence Analysis with 12 different environmental variables. As a result of the analyzes, climate has been the most effective environmental variable in shaping vegetation communities and distribution of plant species in the study area. In addition, the plant species of each vegetation group was determined and the relations of species with climate and elevation were interpreted. As a result, some suggestions were made for J. communis and F. orientalis species at the upper elevations and forestry activities for some Quercus species at lower elevations. Another important tree species of the area, P. nigra, was also mentioned in the distribution range of the area, and it was suggested that R. canescens and P. tremula be investigated separately in the areas where this species would be efficient.