Effect of kiln dust from a cement factory on growth of Vicia faba L.

This study was undertaken to study the effects of different amounts of kiln dust mixed with soil on the seed germination, plant growth, leaf area and water content of Vicia faba cv. Eresen. The reason for this was that cement kiln dust generated as a by-product from the cement factories is rich in potassium, sulfate and other compounds. This product becomes a serious problem when it comes in contact with water. The dust was collected from a cement factory located in Çanakkale. Various elements such as Al, Co, Mo, Ca, B, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Se and Zn were determined both in soil as well as kiln dust. Kiln dust was mixed with soil in pots (20 cm diameter) to make seven different treatments varying from 15 to 105 g kiln dust kg-1 of soil. The experiment lasted for 4 months. Seeds of V. faba were sown in the pots filled with mixtures of preanalysed kiln dust and soil. Germination was high in the pots with a lower treatment of cement kiln dust. However, lower germination rates were observed in the pots mixed with the highest and the medium amounts of cement kiln dust. Plants growing in the soil including 15 g kiln dust showed better performance in length as compared to control. Leaf area increased with increase in cement kiln dust content up to 60 g kiln dust kg-1 of soil, but declined after 75 g kg-1. Water content of leaves (mg cm-2 leaf area) was found to be constantly decreasing with respect to increasing cement kiln content in the pots. Differences between the averages were evaluated by Tukey test and results were found to be significant.

Biodiversity and land degradation in the lower Euphrates subregion of Turkey.

A total of 107 plant taxa were determined in this study, 24 being new records for the area. Out of 813 plant taxa reported from the study area 100 species couldn’t be verified. The number of endemics in the study area is around 46. The major families and genera are Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Poaceae and Astragalus, Euphorbia, Allium and Trigonella. The area shows a relatively rich and highly diverse fauna. For terrestrial vertebrate species peculiarly showing marginal distribution, this area forms their northernmost distributional limits. Avifauna along the Euphrates valley is quite rich with 207 species. Globally threatened species, Geronticus eremita (Waldrapp), has been observed locally in the area. Many macromammal species once common have gone extinct. Out of 18 lizard species, 3 lizards are known only from the study area. There are 20 species of snakes, one being exclusively endemic to the study area. Nearly 30 fish species are found in Euphrates system. Very scanty information is available for the invertebrate fauna except for some groups of Mollusca and Arthropoda. The biodiversity of the area is under threat from recent developments and abiotic interferences.

Nitrogen mineralization in a high altitude ecosystem in the Mediterranean phytogeographical region of Turkey.

Interrelations exist in the terrestrial ecosystems between the plant type and characteristics of nutrient uptake. Annual net nitrogen mineralization in soils of different plant communities in the high altitude zone of Spil mountain located in the Mediterranean phytogeographical region of Turkey was investigated throughout one year by field incubation method. Seasonal fluctuations resulting from field incubation were markedly higher in autumn and spring than summer. These are mainly associated with the changes in soil moisture being at minimum in the Mediterranean summer. A significant correlation was developed between the net Nitrate (kg NO3--N ha week-1) production and soil water content (p<0.05; r =0.316 in soil of 0-5 cm; r =0.312 in soil of 5-15 cm). The results showed that the annual productivity of nitrogen mineralization shows different values depending on communities. Annual net ammonium (NH4+-N) production in the soils of each community was negatively estimated. However, annual net nitrate (NO3--N) production (0-15 cm) was higher in grassland (27.8 kg ha y-1) and shrub (25.0 kg ha y-1) than forest (12.4 kg ha y-1) community. While annual net Nmin values were close to each other in grassland (14.5 kg ha y-1) and shrub (14.1 kg ha y-1), but negative in forest community (-3.6 kg ha y-1). The reasons for these differences are discussed.

Ecophysiological responses of some maquis (Ceratonia siliqua L., Olea oleaster Hoffm. & Link, Pistacia lentiscus and Quercus coccifera L.) plant species to drought in the east Mediterranean ecosystem.

The objective was to examine the adaptation strategies of four maquis species to drought prone environments; typical of the east Mediterranean area in degraded and healthy sites in Turkey. A comparison made between sites for Pistacia lentiscus and Quercus coccifera shows higher net daily photosynthesis in the degraded site, when compared with the healthy site; but Ceratonia siliqua and Olea oleaster exhibited no difference in their photosynthetic activity in environmentally contrasting conditions. The pattern of daily transpiration shows higher values in the degraded site in the case of P. lentiscus and Q. coccifera, while no site effect was observed for C. siliqua and O. oleaster. In the case of Q. coccifera, a behavior similar to C. siliqua was observed. A comparison made between C. siliqua and O. oleaster to observe seasonal differences in daily patterns of net photosynthesis and transpiration reveals that Q. coccifera had the highest water use efficiency (slope= 2.88; r²= 0.61), followed by C. siliqua (slope= 2.74; r²= 0.7), P. lentiscus (slope= 2.56; r²= 0.52) and O. oleaster (slope= 2.40; r² = 0.78). Olea oleaster and P. lentiscus performed as a drought tolerant species, being more resistant to aridity and thus indicative of the degradation state of the site. Ceratonia siliqua and Q. coccifera were found avoiding drought by adopting first a water-spending strategy, and then a water-saving strategy.

Carolina poplar (Populus × canadensis Moench) as a biomonitor of trace elements in Black sea region of Turkey.

In this study, the leaves, bark and the soil supporting Populus x canadensis Moench were tested as a possible biomonitor of trace element pollution in the Middle Black Sea region of Turkey. The investigations were carried out at 23 sites. The leaves, bark and soil were analyzed for Pb++, Cd++, Fe++, Cu++ and Zn++ contents. The values of Pb++, Cd++, Fe++, Cu++ and Zn++ in the leaves varied between 14.5-40.0, 0.5-1.5, 135-486, 5.0-14.0 and 43-246 ppm, respectively. In the bark the values were between 15.5-36.5 (Pb++), 1.5-2.0 (Cd++), 39-575 (Fe++), 5.0-14.0 (Cu++) and 40.0 –1468 ppm (Zn++), whereas in the soil values for Pb++ were 1.0-4.1 ppm, for Cd++ 0.2 ppm, for Fe++ 0.6-1.8 ppm, for Cu++ 0.1-0.9 ppm and for Zn++ 0.1-1.9 ppm. A positive correlation was found between traffic density and the amount of Pb++, Fe++ and Cu++ in leaves, while a negative correlation was documented for Cd++ and Zn++. In the bark samples there was a positive correlation between traffic density and Pb++, and a negative one with Cd++, Fe++, Cu++ and Zn++. A positive correlation was determined between traffic density and the amount of Pb++, Fe++, Cu++ and Zn++ in soil. However, the amount of Cd++ was 0.2 ppm and no relationship between Cd++ and traffic density was observed.

Plant distribution-altitude and landform relationships in karstic sinkholes of Mediterranean region of Turkey.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between the plant distribution and the altitude-shape-size characteristics of sinkholes, and the landform characteristics inside sinkholes in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Block kriging, Factor analysis, Cluster Analysis and Detrended Correspondence Analysis were performed. The sinkhole type and altitudinal zone were found to be the significant factors affecting the plant distribution. However, the sinkhole type was more important than the altitudinal zone. Hence, the sinkholes were first subdivided into groups according to types and then the groups were divided into subgroups according to the altitudinal zones. Consequently, 4 groups were defined; A-type sinkholes [1400-1550 m (A1), 1550-1700 m (A2)] and B-type sinkholes [1400-1550 (B1), 1550-1700 m (B2)]. The B-type was wider vertically and shorter horizontally than Atype sinkholes. Significant differences were found between the plant distribution and slope position inside the sinkholes. Plant distribution in the lower slopes was different from that in the flats and ridges in the B1 sub-type of B-type. Plant distribution in B2 subtype was different among the slope positions (ridge, middle slope, lower slope, and flat). Although distribution of plants is different in different parts (ridges, upper slope, middle slope, lower slope and basal flats) of A sinkhole, the differences between the parts of intermediate slope position are not significant. A high plant variability along short distances in the sinkholes was observed in the study area. That is why the site of sinkholes have a big potential for the distribution of many species. Hence, the area must be separated as strictly protected zone.

Forest diversity, climate change and forest fires in the Mediterranean region of Turkey.

This paper reviews the forest resources in Turkey in the light of published literature and summarises extensive fieldwork undertaken in the Mediterranean phytogeograhical region of Turkey. The issues of landscape change and the associated drivers are addressed and the threats to the forest diversity are considered. It notes the impacts of climate change and forest fires and attemepts have been made to put forth future options for sustainable forest development.