Investigation of the ecological wood anatomy of some woody taxa growing in its different distribution forests of stone pine

This study was conducted with the aim of revealing the ecological similarities or differences in the anatomical features of certain woody taxa (Arbutus andrachne, Cistus creticus, Pistacia terebinthus, Rhus coriaria ve Pistacia terebinthus) found within the natural distribution areas of Stone Pine in Turkey and relict forests in special microclimatic areas. Wood samples of the taxa were collected from in the Muğla region, where Stone Pine naturally occurs, and in Trabzon and Artvin regions, where it occurs as enclave.Anatomical sections were taken from the collected wood samples, preparation processes were carried out, and microphotographs were taken. Measurements and counts were conducted for vessels (tangential and radial diameter, vessel cell length, and number of vessel per mm²), fibers (fiber length, fiber width, lumen width, fiber wall thickness), and rays (number of ray per mm, ray height, and ray width) in the captured photographs. "Mesomorphy" and "Vulnerability" ratios related to the taxa were calculated from the obtained values. Based on the obtained results, when examining the vulnerability ratios of the taxa collected from different regions, it was determined that the average values for all taxa were below 0.8. When assessed at the taxon level, the lowest "Vulnerability" value in all three regions was identified in Cistus creticus, while the highest "Vulnerability" value was observed in Rhus coriaria. Based on the obtained "Mesomorphy" results Rhus coriaria was consistently categorized as the most mesophytic taxon in all regions, whereas Cistus creticus was consistently classified as the most xerophytic taxon across all regions.