Anatolian conifer and deciduous mixed forests
| Anatolian conifer and deciduous mixed forests | |
|---|---|
 View of Uludağ from Sarıalan | |
 Anatolian Conifer and Deciduous Mixed Forests outlined in turquoise | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Palearctic |
| Biome | Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub |
| Borders | List
|
| Geography | |
| Area | 86,105 km2 (33,245 sq mi) |
| Country | Turkey |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | critical/endangered |
| Protected | 667 km2 (1%)[1] |
The Anatolian conifer and deciduous mixed forests is an
Geography
The ecoregion covers the mountains and plateaus of southwestern Turkey. To the west, the
The highest peak is Uludağ (2,543 m), south of the Sea of Marmara. Kazdağı (Mount Ida) is in the northwest near the Aegean shore. Other mountain ranges include the Sündiken Mountains in the northeast, and the Boz Mountains and Aydin Mountains in the southwest.[2]
The Büyük Menderes and Gediz rivers originate in the central portion of the ecoregion, and flow westwards to empty into the Aegean. The northern-central portion of the ecoregion is drained by the Simav River, which empties northwards into the Sea of Marmara. The Sakarya River and its tributaries drain the northeast. The southeastern portion of the ecoregion includes several closed basins that drain into saline or soda lakes, including Lake Burdur, Lake Acıgöl, and Lake Işıklı.
Climate
The ecoregion has a
Flora
The predominant plant communities in the ecoregion are forests of pines and deciduous broadleaf trees, chiefly oaks.
Forests of Turkish pine (Pinus brutia) occur in the western foothills and inland depressions. Turkish pine is a characteristic tree of Western Turkey's lowland Mediterranean forests. Pinus brutia forests include the oaks Quercus cerris, Q. ithaburensis ssp. macrolepis, and Q. coccifera.[2]
Oaks occur in pine forests, and as the dominant tree in some areas. Quercus cerris is the most widespread of the oaks. Other oaks are Q. pubescens, especially in steppe edges and on degraded sites, and Q. ithaburensis subsp. macrolepis, Q. trojana, Q. robur subsp. robur, and Q. frainetto.[2]
In humid areas, particularly along streams and in the mountains south of the
Fauna
Brown bear (Ursus arctos) and grey wolf (Canis lupus) are found around Uludağ. Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) are more widespread.[2]
Protected areas
Protected areas in the ecoregion include
Kazdağı National Park and Gürgendağ Nature Reserve are located on Kazdağı (Mount Ida) in the northwest. The national park is home to 800 plant species, 68 of which are endemic to Turkey and 31 of which are endemic to the mountain.[3]
References
- ^ Eric Dinerstein, David Olson, et al. (2017). An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm, BioScience, Volume 67, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 534–545; Supplemental material 2 table S1b. [1]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Anatolian conifer and deciduous mixed forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
- ^ Mansourian, Stephanie & Rossi, Magali & Vallauri, Daniel. (2013). Ancient Forests in the Northern Mediterranean: Neglected High Conservation Value Areas. 10.13140/2.1.5170.4640.
External links
- "Anatolian conifer and deciduous mixed forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
