Investigating the effects of different riparian zones on the change of some vegetation and soil properties in Grand Melen Stream

In this study, that is conducted in Gölyaka district of Düzce province, the variation of soil, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and vegetation characteristics according to the distance from the stream's edge in a riparian pasture ecosystem on part of the Büyük Melen Stream, was investigated. In line with the research purpose, three different zone ranges were determined at distances of 0-50m, 50-100m and 100-150m from the riparian edge. In this context, soil, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and vegetation were sampled for all zones. According to the results of soil analysis, clay, silt, and sand contents, bulk density, pH, EC, and lime contents, soil moisture, soil temperature, total nitrogen, organic carbon, and available potassium contents, were found to change statistically dependent upon the distance from the water edge. In terms of soil properties, there was no negative effect on plant growth and development except for the situations of medium lime content in all zones, low nitrogen, organic carbon, potassium content, clay content in Zone-1 and low nitrogen and potassium content in Zone-2. According to the results of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, it was determined that the number of spores changed statistically when going away from the stream's edge. A total of 8 AMF genera were detected for all zones. These genera were determined to be arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi belonging to the genera Acaulosapora, Ambispora, Glomus, Dentiscutata, Funneliformis, Rhizophagus, Claroideoglomus, Cetraspora. As a result of the vegetation analysis, 58 plant taxa belonging to 22 families were identified. In the research area, it was determined that the plant taxa belonging to the legume and grasses families and plant taxa in decreasing numbers, were relatively few. It was determined that the botanical composition values of the vegetation cover, legume and grasses families changed statistically when going away from the stream's edge. In all zones, botanical composition values belonging to wheatgrass were found to be the highest. In addition, as a result of the correlation analysis, it was found that there was a positive correlation between AMF spore number and clay content, available potassium, soil moisture and soil temperature, and a negative correlation between sand content and lime content. Vegetation cover was positively correlated with clay content, silt content, EC and soil moisture, and negatively correlated with sand content and pH. According to the results of the research, although the study area appears to be a part of the Great Melen Basin, it can be estimated under which the negative conditions the coastal ecosystems along this basin are facing. For this reason, in fact, breeding works should be carried out with the support of scientific studies throughout the basin by considering them as an integrated work. Under the climate change scenarios, which are known as a current issue, it is predicted that arid areas will increase. In this case it is necessary to develop different natural solution methods such as AMF, which is the subject of this study to protect our important ecosystems. These data obtained from the research area will also provide important contributions to such natural solution research in the future.