Research Information System
PHYTOCOENOLOGIA, vol.49, no.3, pp.287-307, 2019 (SCI-Expanded)
Aims: This study covers the investigation of the forest, maquis, and coastal vegetation of Karpaz Peninsula (Northern Cyprus Island). Study area: The study area falls under the influence of low-rainy temperate and low-rainy-warm Mediterranean climates. Methods: The vegetation data were sampled according to the Braun-Blanquet approach, and classified by means of the TWINSPAN numerical method. For the visualization of similarity between the associations, Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) was used, and species composition of each phytosociological unit was provided in synoptic tables. Redundancy analysis (RDA) was utilized in order to show ecological and structural differences between vegetation types. Results and Conclusions: Six associations, six sub-associations, and one plant group have been delineated for the study area. The new association Cupresso sempervirentis-Pinetum brutiae has been defined in the forest vegetation. Four new subassociations for the Ephedro campylopodae-Juniperetum lyciae characterizing maquis vegetation have been defined; teucrietosum canescentis, micromerietosum nervosae, piptatheretosum thomasii, and convolvuletosum oleifolii. The coniferous forests and maquis vegetation types are included in the alliance Ceratonio-Pistacion lentisci, order Pistacio lentisci-Rhamnetalia alaterni, and class Quercetea ilicis. The analyzed coastal dune communities are represented by the perennial psammophilous coastal dunes vegetation (Ammophiletea), phrygana vegetation in semi stable dunes (Ononido-Rosmarinetea), coastal cliff vegetation (Crithmo-Staticetea), and coastal maquis vegetation (Ceratonio-Pistacion lentisci) characterizing stabilized shrubs in back dunes. Monitoring and conservancy measures are recommended for Karpas Peninsula for the preserving of these different communities that also host many endemic species against especially agriculture, tourism and urban expansion.