Features of vegetation in Datca peninsula valleys

The Datça Peninsula is located in the Mediterranean flora region on the Aegean Sea in southwestern Turkey. Datça Peninsula is a region with a rich plant species diversity specific to the Mediterranean ecosystem with its geographical location, geological, geomorphological and climatic features. In the peninsula with a rugged and mountainous geomorphological character in the east-west direction, elevated values increase in short areas from sea level and are split with many young valleys. In this thesis study, the relationships between alpha (α), beta (β) and gamma (γ) species diversity components and environmental factors of vegetation properties in these valleys with rich plant species diversity are examined. In the study, vegetation distribution features were discussed under separate headings as forest formation, shrubs formation and sand dune formation. The vegetation distribution map, which includes dominant tree species as well as some shrubs and sand dune species, is one of the important outputs of the study. Plant species diversity in sample valleys determined across the peninsula was calculated using intra-field diversity alpha (α), diversity between areas beta (β) and total diversity of the area gamma (γ) species diversity components. 30 different plant species were identified in 21 sampling areas along 4 sample valleys. It was determined that alpha (α) diversity has a positive relationship with slope and roughness index, and a negative relationship with radiation index, temperature index, topographic position index, BIO3 and BIO7 climate variables. Also, beta (β) and gamma (γ) diversity results show that the Çakal creek valley, which is located in the north of the peninsula, is richer in plant diversity, with high slopes, ruggedness and shading.