Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei DOI 10.1007/s12210-016-0510-1

Habitat classification and evaluation of the Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan Special Protected Area (Mug˘la/Turkey) Fatmagu¨l Geven1 • Ebru Ozdeniz1 • Latif Kurt1 • Aysenur Bolukbasi1 Beste Gizem Ozbey1 • Ali Ugur Ozcan2 • Umit Turan3

•

Received: 23 September 2015 / Accepted: 18 January 2016 Ó Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei 2016

Abstract The aim of this study is the classification and evaluation of the habitats in Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan Special Protected Area (SPA) in accordance with the international criteria, determination of the unique, rare and threatened habitats and making proposals for the sustainability of the habitats and its balanced use. Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA hosts different habitats such as forests, maquis, garrigue, phrygana, lakes, stream, sand hills, reeds, fresh water and oceanographic regions and the diversity of the species living there, the complex web of relations among these species and the diversity biological processes constitutes a relevant model for Thermo and Eu-Mediterranean zones for East Mediterranean Basin. Nowadays the rate of loss in biological diversity stemmed from the anthropogenic sources is a thousand times higher than the geological extinction. That is why the determination and description of the habitats with unique properties is of extreme importance. This study involves the classification of Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA habitat types in accordance with the European Union Nature Information System (EUNIS) habitat classification. The habitats were evaluated with regard to the criteria such as size of area, biodiversity, naturalness, rarity, typicalness, the reparation and/or restoration potential. The evaluations are based upon the

& Fatmagu¨l Geven [email protected] 1

Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ankara University, Tandogan, 06100 Ankara, Turkey

2

Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Forestry, Cankiri Karatekin University, Yenimahalle, 18200 Cankiri, Turkey

3

Environmental Protection Agency For Special Areas, Bestepe, 06510 Ankara, Turkey

indices of class area (CA), number of patches (NP), percentage of landscape [Perceland (PI˙)], the largest patch index (LPI), modified Shannon–Simpson diversity index (MSHDI-MSIDI). As a result of this study EUNIS habitat types of Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA located at the southwest of Turkey have been determined and there were 11 new habitats found which are not included in AB habitat list. These habitat types were evaluated by the use of evaluation indices in addition to biological and ecological processes. There were proposals made for the protection of rare and endangered habitats. Keywords EUNIS  Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan Special Protected Area (SPA)  Habitat evaluation and classification  Turkey

1 Introduction The biological diversity loss ratio coming from the anthropogenic sources is thousand times higher than the loss of habitat due to biological processes (Pimm et al. 1995). The most effective way to obviate or decrease the loss of biological diversity is the protection of the habitat. That is why the determination and description of the habitats with unique properties is of extreme importance. Species numbers and anthropogenic effects are important for impact assessment. Biological diversity and related methods include the investigation of habitat as a supplemental or alternative approach to conservation and sustainability of ecosystems (Schamberger and Krohn 1982; Schroeder 1986). The standardization of the determination and classification of habitats at national and international scales are of utmost importance for the establishment of global conservation strategies. The studies regarding habitat classification started in 1980s and have shown an

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ever increasing trend since then. The prime objective of the legally binding habitat directives adopted by the European Commission in 1992 is the protection of the natural habitats of wild fauna and flora and guarantees the maintenance of the biological diversity. The AB member countries have the obligation of the establishment of Nature 2000 protected areas web system in accordance with special areas of conservation (SACs) and special protection areas (SPAs) classified under the European bird directives (Habitats Directive and Natura 2000). For this purpose the European Union Nature Information System (EUNIS) has been formed. EUNIS contains an explanatory documents and an extensive data base (Davies et al. 2004). EUNIS has a strong hierarchical classification structure with habitat definition keys similar to the diagnostic keys. EUNIS supported by European Environmental Agency (EEA) is the common habitat language of Europe. EUNIS contains combination of oceanic, fresh water and terrestrial classification habitat codes. The terrestrial and fresh habitats were based firstly upon CORINE biotope Pal Arctic habitat classification, Annex 1 of AB Habitat Directives and Nordic habitat classifications. The oceanic habitats are based upon BioMar classification which covers North-Eastern Atlantic region (Corine 2004; Davies et al. 2004; EC Habitats Directive 2006). As a candidate country to the EU the classification of the habitats in our country according to EUNIS criteria, which this study is concerned, has become increasingly important every passing day. It reports the classification of the habitats of Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA in accordance with the EUNIS habitat classification system. The habitats were evaluated according to the criteria of size of area, diversity, naturalness, rarity, sensitivity, reparability or restoration potential (Kafley et al. 2009; Diamond and Elliott 2014). The only study in Turkey is a case study in western Euxine Province of Turkey according to EUNIS criteria (Arslan et al. 2012). Our study is comprehensive and study area which is a model for Thermo and Eu-Mediterranean zones of East Mediterranean Basin in terms of the inclusion of different types of habitats.

1.1 A brief description of research area Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA is one of the 14 SPAs in Turkey. Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA covers Mug˘la Province Ko¨yceg˘iz town and 13 villages. The SPA contains different habitats located around it. The north-eastern and south-eastern parts of the lake are surrounded by flat regions and the other parts of the lake are covered with hills having relatively high altitudes. There are four lakes and numerous channels between Ko¨yceg˘iz Subsidence Lake and the sea. I˙ztuzu shore band with an approximate length of 4.5 km located in

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the region was declared as the ‘Special Environmental Protection Region’ by the decision of the cabinet numbered 88/13019 and dated 12.06.1988 due to the fact that it is the one of the most important breeding grounds of Caretta caretta. Ko¨yceg˘iz Lake and Dalyan Delta is approximately at the sea level. The hills around it reach the altitudes of 937 m at the west of Dalyan River. Ko¨yceg˘iz Lake covers 5200 ha and Dalyan Delta 1150 ha land. Ko¨yceg˘iz Lake is amongst the 20 largest lakes of Turkey (Fig. 1). Ko¨yceg˘iz Lake was geologically a part of the sea before, but it was disconnected from the sea by the sedimentation of Dalaman River which was apparently flowing on a different bed at that time. The largest alluvial forests of sweetgum trees (Liquidambar orientalis) which is located south and west part of Dalyan Delta and around the Ko¨yceg˘iz Lake. It is also ice age relict species in southwest Anatolia which grows only provinces of Antalya, Mug˘la and Denizli. It is also cultivated since ancient including Rhodes and Cyprus (Akman 1993, Kılıc¸ and Kasparek 1989).

2 Methods There were series of site studies carried out in order to classify the habitats in Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA. There were data sheets prepared to characterize the habitat type and sufficient number of data sheets were filled for each habitat. The habitat data sheets contained the geometrical description of the site (such as points, line and areas), the name of the person who filled the form, form number, date, description of the site and observations of the topographical and geological structure of the site (such as slope, direction, main rock and soil types), the dominant vegetation type in the site, coverage ratio and stratification, floristic and faunistic elements which characterize the site, the unnatural activities adverse effecting the site (such as fire, grazing, settlement and excavations), the current use of the land (agricultural, forestry, tourism, etc.), major biotopes and their coverage ratios corresponding EUNIS code. A new code was suggested for the every newly described habitats which are not covered by the EUNIS list. After the completion of sufficient numbers of habitat data sheets the boundaries of each habitat were determined by geographical position system (incl. aerial photographs and remote sensing systems). In the determination of biotopes and defining the geometrical shapes the biotopes which are smaller than 1 ha were indicated with points, the planar areas larger than 5 m with lines and the areas larger than 1 ha with 2D aerial forms. As a result of these analyses the habitats which show the similar characteristics with the habitats present in the EUNIS habitat list or pre-defined in other European

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Fig. 1 Study area

regions were given the same code number with them. There were new codes proposed for the new habitats which are not covered with EUNIS lists. As a result of the site studies for the habitat classification, the ‘Habitat Groups’ have been determined. The data obtained were

transferred to the numerical base and analyzed at the geographical information system. The habitats were evaluated according to the criteria of size of area, diversity, naturalness, rarity, sensitivity, reparability or restoration potential.

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Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei Table 1 EUNIS habitat types of the Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA

Table 1 continued

B Coastal habitats

G2.9 Evergreen orchards and groves

B1 Coastal dunes B1.13 Tethyan sand beach driftline communities

G2.92 Citrus orchards G3 Coniferous woodland

B1.313 Pontic embriyonic dunes

G3.75 Pinus brutia forests

B1.64 Coastal dune with sclerophyllous maquis

G3.F12 Native pine plantations

C Inland surface waters C1 Surface standing waters

G3.9 Coniferous woodland dominated by Cupressaceae or Taxaceae G3.9D Anatolian Cupressus sempervirens forests

C1.3 Permanent eutrophic lakes C1.33 Rooted submerged vegetation of eutrophic water bodies C2 Surface running waters

I Regularly or recently cultivated agricultural, horticultural and domestic habitats I1.22 Small-scale market garden sand horticulture, including allotments

C2.141 Mediterranean thermal springs C2.24 Waterfalls C2.42 Freshwater tidal rivers C2.5 Temporary running waters

I1.13 Small-scale intensive unmixed crops (\1 ha) J Constructed, industrial and other artificial habitats J1 buildings of cities, towns and villages

C3 Littoral zone of Inland surface waterbodies C3.211 Flooded Phragmites australis beds

J1.2 Residential buildings of villages and urban peripheries J2.1 Scattered residential buildings

C3.23A Anatolian Thypha domingensis beds

J2.32 Rural industrial sites

C3.23B Schoenus nigricans beds C3.23C Schoenus littoralis beds

J2.43 Greenhouses J4 Transport networks and other constructed hard-surfaced areas

C3.31 Saccharum ravennae water-fringing beds

J4.2 Road networks J4.7 Constructed parts of cemeteries

C3.32 Arunda donax water-fringing beds D Mires, bogs and fens

J5 Highly artificial man-made waters and associated structures

D6 Inland saline and brackish marshes and reedbeds

J5.412 Non-saline water channels with completely naturel substrate

D6.1 Inland saltmarshes D6.16 Central European and Anatolian Swards

J6 Waste deposits

F Heathland, scrub and tundra

J6.2 Household waste and landfill sites

F5 Maquis, arborescent matorral and thermo-mediterranean brushes F5.2 Maquis

J6.41 Solid agricultural and horticultural waste

F5.213 Eastern Mediterranean high maquis F5.2131 Anatolian Olea europaea Maquis

X03 Brackish coastal lagoons

–

F5.2132 Anatolian Arbutus andrachne Maquis

The evaluations were based upon the concepts of class area (CA):

F5.2133 Anatolian Laurus nobilis Maquis F7 Spiny mediterranean Phrygana

CA ¼

F7.3 East Mediterranean Phrygana

n X j¼1



1 aij  10;000



F7.3A Anatolian Phlomis lycia Phrygana F7.315 Aegean Erica manipuliflora Phrygana F7.315A Anatolian Calycatome villosa Phrygana

–

F7.317 Aegean Genista acanthoclada Phrygana F7.311 Aegean Sarcopoterium Phrygana

–

F7.311A Anatolian Origanumonites Phrygana G Woodland, forest and other wooded land G1 Broadleaved deciduous woodland G1.3 Mediterranean riparian woodland

–

maxða Þ

G1.37 Irano-Anatolian mixed riverine forests G1.39 Liquidambar orientalis forest G1.3A Mediterranean Riparian Tamarix parviflorae scrubs

Unit: hectare (ha), CA C1 Number of patches (NP): NP = ni NP C1 Percentage of landscape [Perceland (PI˙)]: Pn aij Perceland ¼ Pi ¼ j¼1  100 A Unit: %, 0 \ P˙I B 100 Largest patch index (LPI):

–

LPI ¼ A ij  100 Unit: %, 0 \LPI B100 Modified Shannon–Simpson diversity index (MSHDIMSIDI): m P MSIDI ¼  ln P2i i¼1

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Unit: none, MSIDI C 0 (Rankin 1989; Fossitt 2000; Taft and Koncelik 2006).

3 Results 3.1 Habitat diversity of SPA The EUNIS habitat type of Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan Special Protected Area which constitutes a model for Thermo and Eu-Mediterranean zones of East Mediterranean Basin are listed in Table 1 (Akman et al. 1992, 1993). Totally 44 different habitat types are described in Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA, 33 of them have already been described in EU countries. Furthermore, 11 habitats were found to be entirely new and proposed as a new habitat types (Fig. 2). The newly defined habitat types are different from other Mediterranean countries in the same zone in terms of endemic species and phytosociological units (Table 2). The evaluation as regards to ecological processes habitats, species and natural processes which form the biological and ecological characteristics of the area are the

focusing points for the biological protection of the region. Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA requires a special management due to its highly differed ecosystems such as forests, maquis, garrigue, phrygana, lakes, streams, sand hills, reeds, fresh and oceanographic water; the diversity of the species involved in these habitats and the complexity of the relation webs among the same and other species. The most unique feature of the site is that it houses Liquidambar orientalis alluvial forests. Wetlands rich in biological diversity are susceptible to natural factors and anthropogenic effects‘‘. Wetlands have been largely overused serving for so many civilizations as a source of life with their tremendous biological diversities and primary efficiencies. The ecological factors of Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA were based upon the following criteria: 3.2 Criterion: biological diversity of SPA 3.2.1 Floristic diversity As a result of the evaluation of 1700 plant samples collected during the site visits there were 924 taxa (include

Fig. 2 EUNIS habitat type of the Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA (Mug˘la/Turkey)

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Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei Table 2 The newly defined habitat types of Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA and their descriptive or diagnostic parameters Newly defined habitat types

Altitude zones/dominant life forms

Characteristics of wetness or dryness

Substrate types

Related phytosociological units

EU Habitat List

C3.23A Anatolian Thypha domingensis Beds

Sublittoral (nonmarine)

Aquatic

Muddy

Phragmitetea

Not on the list

C3.23B Schoenus nigricans Beds

Sublittoral (nonmarine)

Aquatic

Muddy

Phragmitetea

C3.23C Schoenus littoralis beds

Sublittoral (nonmarine)

Aquatic

Muddy

Phragmitetea

D4.11: Schoenus nigricans fens on the EU Habitat List. It is differ from including eutrophic tall herbs Not on the list

F5.2131 Anatolian Olea europaea Maquis

Sclerophyllous shrubs

Dry

Terrarosa

Oleo-Ceratonion

G2.41: Wild Olea europaea woodland. It is different from the endemic species content and dominant life form

F5.2132 Anatolian Arbutus andrachne Maquis

Sclerophyllous shrubs

Dry

Terrarosa

Oleo-Ceratonion

F6.2D: Arbutus andrachne garrigues. It is different from the endemic species content

F5.2133 Anatolian Laurus nobilis Maquis

Sclerophyllous shrubs

Dry

Terrarosa

Oleo-Ceratonion

F5.18: Laurus nobilis matorral. It is different from the endemic species content

F7.3A Anatolian Phlomis lycia Phrygana

Phlomidoid shrubs

Dry

Terrarosa

CistoMicromerietea

Not on the list

F7.315A Anatolian Calycatome villosa Phrygana

Calycatomoid shrubs

Dry

Terrarosa

CistoMicromerietea

Not on the list

F7.311A Anatolian Origanum onites Phrygana

Origanoid shrubs

Dry

Terrarosa

CistoMicromerietea

Not on the list

G1.3A Mediterranean Riparian Tamarix parviflorae Scrubs

Tamaricoid shrubs

Sandy

Terrarosa

Platanion orientalis

Not on the list

G3.9D Anatolian Cupressus sempervirens Forests

Trees [5 m

Dry

Terrarosa

Oleo-Ceratonion

Not on the list

Table 3 The distribution of major plant groups

Division

Classis

Subclasses

Family

Genus

7

9

13

3

4

4

Dicotyledone

83

346

692

Monocotyledone

17

111

215

110

470

924

Pteridophyta

Species

Spermatophyta Gymnospermae Angiospermae

infra specific categories), 470 genera were determined belonging to 110 families (Table 3). The richest families of Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA are Poaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Caryophyllaceae, Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, Liliaceae, Brassicaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Cyperaceae and Orchidaceae. The ratio of the richest 10 families from total species is 57.08 %. The

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¨ C¸KK ratio of the remaining 100 families is 42.92 % (O 2007; Fig. 3). The Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan region has Mediterranean phytogeography as seen from the distribution of the species tor the phytogeographic region. The region contains total of 398 plant species, 205 species from eastern Mediterranean regions (Fig. 4). The ratio of the Mediterranean species is

Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei The others

D6-X J I1 G3 G2 G1 F7 F5 C3 C2 C1 B1

42.92

Cyperaceae

2.6

Scrophulariaceae

3.14

Caryophyllaceae

4.12

Brassicaceae

4.12

Liliaceae

4.23

Lamiaceae

4.66

Apiaceae

4.77

Asteraceae

9.77

Fabaceae

9.88

Poaceae

10.09

0

10

20

30

40

0

50

Fig. 3 Percentage of families in Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA (total 924 taxa)

50

100 F5 31

150 G3 27

200

250

I1 2

J D6-X 11 3

Endemic Species

B1 1

C1 0

C2 2

C3 4

F7 14

G1 9

G2 0

Species

32

26

56

50 212 79

83

32 160 60 117 23

Fig. 6 The distribution of endemic, rare and endangered plant species in accordance with habitat type of Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA Unknown

42.01

Endemic

8.9

Squamata (Replia) Euksin

0.21

Irano-Turanian

5

Anura (Amfibia)

1.95

European-Sibiria

24

Testudinata (Replia) 4

Urodela (Amfibia)

3.69

1 0

West Mediterranean East Mediterranean

22.25

Mediterranean

Taxa

20.84

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

LR (nt)

13

LR (cd)

22

LR (lc)

27

VU

29

EN

10

Taxa

5 EN 10

10

10 VU 29

15

20 LR (lc) 27

25 LR (cd) 22

30

Urodela (Amfibia)

Anura (Amfibia)

1

4

15 Testudinata (Replia) 5

20

25

30

Squamata (Replia) 24

45

Fig. 4 Percentage distribution of taxa according to the phytogeographic regions in the Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA (total 924 taxa)

0

5

0.1

35 LR (nt) 13

Fig. 7 The number of taxa of amphibians and reptiles in Ko¨yceg˘izDalyan SPA (total 34 taxa)

(Ancient Mediterranean) subkingdom of the Holarctic kingdom (Holarctis) (Takhtajan 2005). In Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA there were 81 endemic plants. The ratio of the endemic plants in the total number of plants collected was 8.65 %. There were 81 endemic and 20 rare, a total of 101 species were classified according to IUCN criteria. According to this there were 27 LR (Ic), 22 LR (cd), 13 LR (nt), 29 VU and 10 EN category endemic plant were present in the region (Fig. 5). The distribution of number of taxa of the endemic, rare or endangered species according to EUNIS habitat types (Fig. 6). 3.3 Faunistic diversity

Fig. 5 Number of taxa according to IUCN categories in Ko¨yceg˘izDalyan SPA (101 taxa)

43.19 % indicating that Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA is within the Mediterranean phytogeographic region. The ratios of European-Siberia and Irano-Turanian originated species are merely 3.69 and 1.95 %, respectively. View point of plant geography Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA is located at the Eastern Mediterranean area which belongs to the Mediterranean phytogeographical region of the Tethyan

3.3.1 Amphibians and reptiles According to the data obtained from the studies carried out at 15 localities and the literature information evaluated together, there were five species [1 Urodela (Semender, tail frog) and 4 Anura (frog)] from two orders of Amphibian (double lives) class and total of 29 species from two orders belonging to the reptile class [1 land turtle, two fresh water turtles and 1 sea turtle total of five species from Testudinata, 11 species from Lacertilia (lizards) and 13 species

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¨ zel from Ophidia (snakes) suborder of Squamata order] (O ¨ C¸KK) 2007; Fig. 7). C¸evre Koruma Kurumu (O Turkey immediately took necessary precautions for the protection of the sea turtles which are regarded as the endangered species according to the European wild life conservation and protection of the wild life habitats convention (Berne convention). For this purpose there was a sea turtles Monitoring and Evaluation Commission established lead by the ministry of environment and joined by the nongovernmental organizations, universities and other related ministries. The commission determined 17 locations for the breeding grounds of sea turtles after the investigation Mediterranean and Aegean shores. Ko¨yceg˘iz¨ zel C¸evre Dalyan SPA is from one of these locations (O ¨ Koruma Kurumu (OC¸KK) 2007). When we consider the habitat preferences of amphibians and reptiles we see that Pontic Embriyonic Dunes is one of the most important breeding grounds of Caretta caretta revealing the importance of in eastern Mediterranean sand hills. 3.3.2 Birds The distribution of the birds found in Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA according to their habitats is given in Fig. 8. J

2

G3

14

G1

24

I

24

D

23

C2

2

C1

11 0

5 C1 11

Taxa

10 C2 2

15

D 23

20

I 24

25

G1 24

6

G3

16

G2

5

G1

3

F7

5

F5

4

C3

4

C2 3 0 Taxa

2 C1 3

4 C2 4

6 C3 4

F5 4

8

10

12

F7 5

G1 3

G2 5

14 G3 16

16 I 6

18 J 3

Fig. 9 The distribution of mammalian species in accordance with habitat type of Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA (total 53 taxa)

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0.250 0.200 0.150 0.100 0.050 0.000

B1

C1

C2

C3

D6

F

G1

G3

G2-I1

J

Shannon Index 0.007 0.354 0.020 0.115 0.054 0.013 0.265 0.363 0.202 0.120 Simpson Index 0.000 0.074 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.017 0.185 0.006 0.001

Fig. 10 The comparison of Shannon and Simpson indices in the habitat types of Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA

3.3.3 Mammalians The distribution of the mammalians found in Ko¨yceg˘izDalyan SPA according to their habitats is given in Fig. 9. 3.4 Modified Shannon–Simpson diversity index (MSHDI-MSIDI) The letter notation is used to indicate the biological diversity of a given habitat. The richest habitats are G group habitats followed by C group habitats. An interesting point here that is in spite of their relatively small areas the D group habitats of ‘Inland Salt marshes’ and B group habitats of ‘Pontic Embriyonic Dunes’ are much more dominant in the criteria such as the species compositions and its addiction to the habitat (Fig. 10).

In addition to the ecosystems such as maquis, garrigue, phrygana and agricultural ecosystems, the pointed leaf forests, alluvial forests (Liquidambar orientalis), channel system and sand hills partly maintain their naturalness. However, the pressure on these ecosystems has been showing an increasing trend which creates the risk of complete loss of naturalness. 3.6 Criterion: rarity

4

C1

0.300

3.5 Criterion: naturalness

J 2

3

I

0.350

30

G3 14

Fig. 8 The distribution of bird species in accordance with habitat type of Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA (total 100 taxa) J

0.400

Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA is a rare region due to the fact that it houses the best and the largest natural populations of Liquidambar orientalis forests. That is why this ecosystem is one of the most important values of Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA. Also Pontic Embriyonic Dunes is one of the most important breeding grounds of Caretta caretta. The rarity of the related SPA is due to containing very diverse

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ecosystems such as forests, maquis, garrigue, phrygana, streams, lakes, reefs and sand hills.

J

2074.9

G2-I1

4621.4

G3

24854.9

G1

3.7 Criterion: sensitivity

7496.7

F

125.5

D6

The sensitivity in the site manifests itself as destructive processes developing against the dynamics of the ecosystem. The best example of this is the distortion of the water regime and decrease of the ground water of the Liquidambar orientalis forest which cause the sensitivity of these forests. However, this in addition to the distortion of the water regime over grazing, illegal wood cutting, excessive agriculture and inappropriate usage also contribute this destructive process. In Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA forests especially alluvial forests (Liquidambar orientalis) are interconnected with water regimes such as streams, lakes and deltas. However, the water regimes are constantly disrupted by the anthropogenic effect and the fruit yards or green houses are constantly expanding at the expense of alluvial forests. These adverse transitions cause the disruption and isolation of habitats. It can be concluded that when a habitat is detached from the integral system then its destruction process starts. Since there is no stagnancy for these sites, there is no sustainability available in the future. 3.8 Criterion: typicalness Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA is typical due to the fact that it contains all the vegetation types of Thermo and EuMediterranean zone. 3.9 Criterion: reparability and/or restoration potential Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA is gradually losing its natural features due to anthropogenic effects’’. This situation manifests itself in Liquidambar orientalis forest. Therefore, urgent restoration projects are needed for these systems which are extremely dependent upon the groundwater. The restoration must be carried out in complete accordance with the dynamics of the ecosystem. However, it is obvious that as long as the anthropogenic pressures persist on the ecosystem the restoration processes will be just a waste of resources and nothing else.

Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA is 461.46 km2. Ko¨yceg˘iz Lake covers 5200 ha and Dalyan Delta 1150 ha land. SPA covers the Ko¨yceg˘iz town and part of the Ortaca town of Mug˘la province. SPA is surrounded by Marmaris town at the west, Sandras Mountain at the north, Ortaca and

1971.8

C2

199.7

C1

15686.5

B1

61.2 0.00

5000.00

10000.00 15000.00 20000.00 25000.00 30000.00

B1 C1 C2 C3 D6 F G1 G3 G2-I1 J Class Area 61.2 15686. 199.7 1971.8 717.1 125.5 7496.7 24854. 4621.4 2074.9

Fig. 11 Habitat evaluation of the Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA according to class area (CA)

Dalaman towns at the east and Mediterranean at the south. The largest habitat type of the SPA is G3 Coniferous Woodland and C1 Inland Surface Waters. G1. 39 Liquidambar orientalis Forest also has a lot significant place in spatial. 3.11 Class area (CA) The area of the each habitat type was calculated to obtain the CA value. As the habitat gets rare as the CA approaches to zero. Accordingly, the F5 Marquis, Arborescent Matorral and F7 Spiny Mediterranean Phrygana have the smallest CA value (Fig. 11). The fact that the class area of these habitats has low CA value is due to processes succession. The abundance of the maquis and phrygana in the Mediterranean region indicates that the succession of transitions in the protected areas is directed towards the forests. 3.12 Number of patches (NP) It is the number of patches which can be inserted into a certain habitat in SPA. According to it the G group habitats J

231

G2-I1

232

G3

11

G1

46

F

1

D6

1

C3

7

C2

3.10 Criterion: size of area

717.1

C3

2

C1

6

B1

4 0

NP

50 B1 4

C1 6

100 C2 2

C3 7

150 D6 1

F 1

200 G1 46

G3 11

250 G2-I1 232

J 231

Fig. 12 Habitat evaluation of the Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA according to number of patches (NP)

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Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei J

Coniferous Woodland followed by Surface Standing Waters and Broadleaved Deciduous Woodland (Fig. 14).

0.036 0.080

G2-I1 G3

0.430

G1

0.130

F

0.002

D6

4 Conclusion

0.012

C3

0.034

C2

0.003

C1

0.271

B1

0.001

0.000

0.100

B1 % 0.001

C1 0.271

0.200

C2 0.003

C3 0.034

D6 0.012

0.300 F 0.002

G1 0.130

0.400 G3 0.430

0.500 G2-I1 0.080

J 0.036

Fig. 13 The percentages of habitat types in Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA (Perceland, Pi)

J

3517046

G2-I1

7134463

G3

244450200

G1

67035604

F

1255350

D6

7171322

C3

18400557

C2

1971700

C1

97296664

B1

443375 0

50000000 100000000 150000000 200000000 250000000 300000000

Fig. 14 Patch index (LPI) of Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA

are the most fractionated ones among the habitats in SPA (Fig. 12). Especially the fractionation of ‘G1.39 Liquidambar orientalis Forest’ habitat which is a relict formation is thought to be under risk in future due to the formation of genetic homogeneity resulting from the inhi¨ zdilek et al. (2012) reported in bition of gene transfer. O their study entitled ‘Molecular phylogeny of relict-endemic Liquidambar orientalis’ which covers all the Liquidambar orientalis population in Turkey that the fractionation of the population is increasing the homogeneity. 3.13 Percentage of landscape [Perceland (Pi)] 43 % of the area was covered by Coniferous Woodland followed by Surface Standing Waters with 27 % and Broad leaved Deciduous Woodland by 13 % (Fig. 13). The percentages of other habitats are much lower. 3.14 The largest patch index (LPI) The largest patch in the habitats is in good accordance with the percentage of areas. The largest patch was found to be

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One of the most effective ways of decreasing the loss of global diversity is the protection of the habitats. That is why the determination and the conservation of the habitats with unique diversity is of great importance. This study investigated the Ko¨yceg˘iz-Dalyan SPA located at the southwest of Turkey with regard to forest, maquis, garrigue, phrygana, lakes, streams, sand hills, reeds and fresh water and oceanographic ecosystem; the diversity of species and the complex web of the relations among the species present in the area and the variability of ecological processes forms a model for Thermo and Eu-Mediterranean zone of the east Mediterranean basin. The results of the determination of the EUNIS habitat types of SPA showed that they were entirely new and not included in EU habitat lists. 11 habitats were found to be entirely new and proposed as a new habitat types. The identification of new habitat types benefits from the floristic and ecological characteristics of the associations described in plant sociology studies. Classification of terrestrial habitats that were used in the existing plant sociology studies in EUNIS habitat classification (Davies et al. 2004). The newly defined habitat types and their descriptive or diagnostic parameters are explained above. EUNIS habitat types of SPA were evaluated with regard to biological and ecological processes and evaluation indices. It was determined that the G group habitats in the SPA suffered highest fragmentation. The fragmentation of a relict formation in ‘G1. 39 Liquidambar orientalis Forest’ habitats is thought to put the habitat under risk due to inhibition of gene transfer. The establishments of gene transfer corridors are of great importance for the obviation of fractionation and maintain their sustainability. Although the SPA covers a small area, it covers I˙ztuzu shores which are the one of the most important breeding grounds of Caretta caretta. It is of great importance that this region should be isolated from the touristic pressures. Acknowledgments We are grateful to the ‘Environmental Protection Agency For Special Areas’ for their support.

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