Floristic Structure of Yukarisevindikli Natural Pasture in Tekirdag, Turkey
Abstract
This research was conducted in Yukarisevindikli village natural pasture in Tekirdag province at Trakya (Thrace) region in Turkey. The objective of this study was to determine the relation between plant species composition and different management techniques of Yukarisevindikli natural pasture. Measurements on pasture were made at 3 different management system (grazed, abondened, mowed) units. Some ecological indicators were investigated such as frequency families, lifeforms, life spam and phytogeographical regions. The most widely spread species on grazed and abondened units were scented grass (Chrysopogon gryllus). Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens were determined common in mowed pasture units. Hemicryptophytes were dominant in the investigated area, followed by therophytes, chamaphytes and geophytes.
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Introduction
Vegetation ecology, the study of the plant cover and its relationships with the environment, also called synecology, is a complex scientific undertaking, both regarding the overwhelming variation of its object of study in space and time, and its intricate interactions with abiotic and biotic factors (Van der Maarel, 2005). Vegetation is a plant community which is in a land portion and it is affected by environmental factors, affecting each other mutually. Nevertheless, hosting many plant species, soil organisms, and wild animals is among the ecological functions of pastures. Understanding the biological diversity of natural pastures can lead to improvement of pastures and optimal use (Tuna, 2010). Livestock products provide the major economic return from most range and pasture lands and compared with harvested or purchased feeds, pastures and pasture provide a relatively inexpensive and energy-efficient feed source for livestock (Valentine, 1990).This natural pasture are rich in terms of biological diversity. The many vegetation types and species diversity often found in natural and seminatural pastures are an important part of biodiversity. Floristic studies are fundamental for the applied sciences such as pasture management and conservation (Jankju et al.2011). There are about 12,000 flowering plant taxa in Turkey’sflora and approximately 4,000 of them are endemic (Davis, 1985; Kaya, 2014).This number increases everyday with the identification of new species Turkey. This diversity is presently threatened by intensive agriculture. Biodiversity conservation will require management to improve the condition and cover the native vegetation within the productive agricultural landscape (McIntyre and Hobbs 1999, 2001, Fischer et al. 2005, Vesk and Mac Nally2006). Phytosociological studies are essential for protecting the natural plant communities and biodiversity as well as understanding the changes experienced in the past and continuing on into the future (Sağlam , 2013). Call and Roundy (1991) stated that ‘‘A more mechanistic research approach is needed to better understand factors governing germination, seedling establishment, and plant community development in natural and synthetic systems to guide revegetation toward biological diversity.’’ The objective of this study was to determine the relation between plant species composition and different management techniques of Yukarisevindikli natural pasture.
Conclusion
Τhe results indicate that species composition changes by grazed, abondened, mowed .It was determined that the diversity can get better in pastures with corrupt vegetation by protecting them against heavy grazing.Pasture management strategies change based on species compositions and, therefore, this information should be available to select for future pasture management decisions . The combination of the frequency, families, life form and life span, phytogeographical region of species identifies of plants that have different importance depending on the duration of land practices, like the increase or reduction in grazing pressure (Tuna 2010). In other words, this quantitative study has the potential to ensure sample for developing suitable management techniques for semiarid and arid region pastures.