The phytosociology of Melendiz Mountain in the Cappadocian part of Central Anatolia (Nigde, Turkey)

WOS: 000385337600003Aim and study area: This paper deals with the phytosociology of the vegetation of Melendiz Mountain (2963 m) located in Central Anatolia. Methods: Steppe, deciduous forest, shrub and xero-mesic meadow vegetation of the subalpine zone of Melendiz Mountain were analysed according to Braun-Blanquet approach. Additionally by applying cluster analysis and ordination (Detrended Correspondence Analysis), the phytosociological units were described and verified. Results and conclusions: Three associations in the study area characterize the shrub and degraded forest vegetation. These are included in the alliance Quercion anatolicae, which is distributed in the peripheral zone of the Central Anatolian basin, and the order Querco cerridis-Carpinetalia orientalis (Quercetea pubescentis), which includes the deciduous and coniferous forests in the supra Mediterranean zone of Anatolia. The xeromorphic dwarf grassland vegetation is represented by two associations. One of them is classified in the alliance Agropyro-Stachydion (order Astragalo-Brometalia, class Astragalo-Brometea) covering oreal to subalpine xerophytic grasslands, dwarf-shrub, and thorn cushion communities in the Taurus range. The xero-mesic meadow vegetation is characterized by an association within the order Trifolio anatolici-Polygonetalia arenastri (Astragalo-Brometea) and contains snowpatch and meltwater communities of the mesophytic vegetation on Taurus range