The classification and assessment of vegetation for monitoring coastal sand dune succession: the case of Tuzla in Adana, Turkey

Authors : Halil ÇAKAN, Kemal Tulühan YILMAZ, Hakan ALPHAN, Yüksel ÜNLÜKAPLAN

Pages : 697-711

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Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study aimed to provide an assessment of coastal sand dune vegetation through a number of analyses meant to provide a better understanding of the structure of plant communities and the successional stages of coastal sand dunes in a human-induced coastal landscape, the Seyhan Delta in southern Turkey. Therefore, as a baseline data inventory for monitoring, succession and the community-based classification of sand dune vegetation and human impacts were the major concerns of this study. The zonation of coastal sand dune vegetation was also determined within this scope, providing a contemporary assessment of different successional stages. A total of 96 taxa were recorded in 103 sampling relevés, which were randomly placed along 2 replicated transects perpendicular to the coastline. Multivariate classification techniques insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(TWINSPAN and DECORANA); were employed to classify sand dune vegetation into groups corresponding to different successional stages and to determine the response of plant community structures to human influence. Multivariate analysis resulted in a clear demonstration of 7 floristically distinct community groups associated with 4 main geomorphologic units. These plant communities were matched to the European Nature Information System insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(EUNIS); habitat classification. The results of this study provided a baseline data inventory covering plant communities and successional stages that demonstrated the current state of the coastal dunes in the study area.
Keywords : Key words Dune succession, sand dune vegetation, environmental monitoring, multivariate analysis, Seyhan Delta