Sains Malaysiana 42(10)(2013): 1387–1393

Determination of Ellenberg’s Indicator Values Along an Elevational Gradient

in Central Black Sea Region of Turkey

(Penentuan Nilai Penunjuk Ellenberg Sepanjang Kecerunan Ketinggian

di Wilayah Laut Hitam Tengah, Turki)

H.G. Kutbay¹* & B. Sürmen²

¹Ondokuz May?s Üniversitesi, Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Biyoloji Bölümü, Samsun, Türkiye

²Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey Üniversitesi, Kamil Özdağ Fen Fakültesi, Biyoloji Bölümü,

Karaman, Türkiye

Received: 10 March 2013/Accepted: 12 May 2013

ABSTRACT

The central Black Sea Region has an unique vegetation because different vegetation types occurred. In the present study plant communities (from Mediterranean-type to temperate forests) in the Central Black Sea Region along an elevational gradient was evaluated on Ellenberg’s Indicator Values (EIVs). EIVs were calculated for nutrient availability, pH and temperature variables (nutrient availability (N), pH (R) and temperature (T)) with the help of weighted averages. Additionally, the vegetation of the study area was classified by using two way indicator species analyses (TWINSPAN) method and the interactions among plant species and EIVs were also studied by the help of Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). We found some differences between our data and the previous data which were obtained from similar vegetation types with respect to EIV’s for nutrient availability, pH and temperature. Pteridium aquilinum, Fragaria vesca and Euphorbia amygdaloides var. amygdaloides may be used as an indicator of nutrient availability. There were significant differences among species regarding EIVs for temperature because the study area includes temperate and Mediterranean-type communities.

Keywords: Black Sea; Canonical correspondance analyses; Ellenberg indicator values (EIVs); forest vegetation; nutrient availability; pH; temperature

ABSTRAK

Wilayah Laut Hitam Tengah mempunyai vegetasi unik kerana wujudnya jenis vegetasi berbeza. Dalam kajian ini komuniti tumbuhan (daripada jenis Mediterranean kepada hutan temperat) di Wilayah Laut Hitam Tengah sepanjang kecerunan ketinggian telah dinilai ke atas Nilai Penunjuk Ellenberg (EIV). EIV telah dikira untuk variabel ketersediaan nutrien, pH dan suhu (ketersediaan nutrien (N), pH (R) dan suhu (T)) dengan bantuan purata pemberat. Sebagai tambahan vegetasi kawasan kajian telah dikelaskan dengan menggunakan kaedah analisis spesies penunjuk dua arah (TWINSPAN) dan saling tindakan dalam kalangan spesies tumbuhan dan EIV telah dikaji dengan bantuan Analisis Kesetaraan Kanon (CCA). Terdapat perbezaan antara data kami dan data terdahulu daripada vegetasi serupa daripada segi EIV bagi ketersedian nutrien, pH dan suhu.Pteridium aquilinum, Fragaria vesca dan Euphorbia amygdaloides var. amygdaloides boleh digunakan sebagai penunjuk bagi ketersediaan nutrien. Terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan antara spesies daripada segi EIV bagi suhu kerana kawasan kajian mencakupi jenis masyarakat temperat dan Mediterranean.

Kata kunci: Analisis kesetaraan Kanon; suhu; ketersediaan nutrien; Laut Hitam; nilai penunjuk Ellenberg (EIV); pH; vegetasi hutan

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*Corresponding author; email: guraykutbay@gmail.com