Vegetation geography of Şaphane (Akdağ) mountain

This study is based on a study of the vegetation geography of Mount Şaphane and its surroundings. Although there are studies related to the field, the lack of a study covering the entire mass led us to conduct such research. In addition to the flora studies carried out by botanists and foresters related to Şaphane Mountain, the lack of vegetation studies was tried to be eliminated by this research. In addition, the fact that Mount Şaphane is located in the section where the Mediterranean, Iran-Turanian and European-Siberian phytogeographic regions pass to each other and plants belonging to these flora regions have been instrumental in selecting it as a research site. Şaphane Mountain in the transition zone of flora regions is very rich in plant species diversity. Şaphane Mountain is located within the borders of Kütahya province in the Innerwestern Anatolia part of the Aegean Region. The elevation of Mount Şaphane rises to 2120 meters (Ulugedik Hill). It is the second highest mountain in the department after Murat Mountain (Kartaltepe 2309 m). Purposeful sampling method, one of the quantitative research methods, was used in order to reveal the differentiation in plant stages in the research area. In this study were examined on 3 plant sections. Field studies were carried out in July of 2019 and 2020. The mountainous mass lies on a northwest-southeast axis. Due to the fact that the slope from both the north and south is broken by strike faults, the slope on the southern slopes of Mount Şaphane is greater. This condition is closely related to the lithological and tectonic properties of the site. The mass is covered by Paleozoic-aged metamorphic rocks, limestones and ophiolites from the Mesozoic era, sedimentary and volcanic formations from the Cenozoic era. Climate comes at the beginning of the growing conditions of plants. Temperature and precipitation, which are climate elements, are vital for the adaptation of plants to ecological conditions. At the meteorological stations used in the work area the average annual temperature values are 12,6⁰C in Uşak, 12,0 ⁰C in Simav, 12,8 ⁰C in Gediz and 11,5⁰C in Emet. The growing periods of these stations were 228 days in Uşak, 227 days in Simav, 227 days in Gediz and 223 days in Emet. Water, which is one of the growing conditions of plants, is important for plant life and species diversity, especially in arid and yarikurak areas. The average annual rainfall is 546.6 mm in Uşak, 768.7 mm in Simav, 566.2 mm in Gediz and 445.7 mm in Emet. Brown forest soil, brown forest soil without lime, chestnut soils, redzina soils, alluvial and colluvial soils are soil types that spread in mountainous mass. Plant formations allowed by ecological conditions on Şaphane Mountain are forest formation, bush formation and alpine plants. It is the forest formation that has the widest distribution in the mountainous area. Due to climate and topographic conditions in the northern and western part of Şaphane Mountain, humid-semi-humid forest, low rainfall in the south, high temperature and evaporation due to the development of dry forest has found the possibility. The humid-semi-humid forest has limited area and is dominated by the Eastern beech (F.orientalis) and European beech (F. sylvatica). Chestnut (Castenia sativa), Turkish hazelnut (Corylus colurna), silver linden (Tilia tomentosa), Aspen (Populus tremula), the oak-leaf maple (Acer platonoides), Kazdağı maple (Acer hyrcanum subsp. keckianum) other moist semi-humid forest forming species. The eastern and southern slopes of the mountain are areas where dry forest spreads. Plants such as valonia oak (Quercus ithaburensis), white oak (Quercus pubescens), European Turkey oak (Quercus cerris), brutian pine (Pinus brutia) are the main species of dry forest. Kasnak oak (Quercus vulcanica), which is endemic to Turkey, is another dry forest element seen in the study area. In terms of vegetation, black pines (Pinus nigra) at 900 m in the north of the study area, oaks (Quercus cerris, Quercus ithaburensis) at 900 meters in the east, red pines (Pinus brutia) at 700 m in the south and black pines (Pinus nigra) at 950 meters in the west form forest communities. Especially in the lower parts of the south and east of the mountain, forest cover has been destroyed due to anthropogenic effects. The upper limit of the forest rises to 1800-1850 m in the north of the mountain and 1900 m in the South. In the upper parts, there is a belt of alpine plants. Juniperus communis subsp after 1800 m. nana begins to manifest herself and ascends to the heights. Dwarf junipers are the most widely distributed shrub species of the alpine plant belt. Wild liquorice (Astragalus sp.), prickly thrift (Acantholimon sp.) and mullein (Verbascum sp.) accompany dwarf junipers. Livestock activities in the study area, illegal cuttings, agricultural damage, Saruhan a traditional wooden spoon in the village construction, mining activities, and the presence of quarries and forest fires are the most important issues. With this study, we hope that the gap related to vegetation and plant formations of Şaphane Mountain, which is the second highest mountain of the Innerwest Anatolian Region, will be closed. Also we believe that this study will contribute to the relic and endemic plant existence of Turkey. Key words: Plant geography, Aegean region, Mount Şaphane, Kütahya, Gediz, European beech, Chestnut.