Determination of woody plants of Huzurlu High Plateau (Gaziantep) and their bioecological characteristics

DETERMINATION OF WOODY PLANTS OF HUZURLU HIGH PLATEAU (GAZİANTEP) AND THEIR BIOECOLOGICAL CHARECTERISTICS ÇAKIR, M. Bülent M.Sc. in Biology Supervisor : Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elman İSKENDER July 2004, 158 pages ABSTRACT This study was carried out between 2002 and 2004 to determine the flora of woody plants of Huzurlu high plateau and their bioecological charecteristics. Research area, is situated in northeast of Amanos mountains, falls within C6 square of grid system and is located in cross-point between the Irano-Turanien and the Mediterranean phytogeographical regions. As a result of investigations, Euro-Siberian elements were found out research area in the form of enclav, particularly in humid areas. Fruits, seeds or seedlings belong to 23 taxa were collected in the study area and introduced to Botanic Garden of Gaziantep University. Five hundreds twenty-four plant specimens were collected in the study area and 81 woody plant taxa, belonging to 58 genera and 34 families were determined during floristic studies. Seven and 74 of these taxa belong to Subdivisio Gymnospermae and Subdivisio Angiospermae, respectively. Eight of these taxa are endemic and one of those is rare for Turkey. The distribution of these taxa according to phytogeographic regions are as follows : 32 % Mediterranean, 19 % Euro-Siberian, 10 % Irano-Turanian and 39 % widespread or unknown. In the study area, microphanerophytes (25 taxa), nanophanerophytes (22 taxa) and mesophanerophytes (21 taxa) are dominant. The families with the most number of taxa were Rosaceae (16), Fabaceae (9) and Fagaceae (7). The genera with the most number of taxa were Quercus (6), Astragalus (4) and Rosa (3). 4 taxa were new record for the C6 square. Key words: Woody plants, Flora, Bioecology, Huzurlu plateau, Gaziantep, Turkey