18.01.2013 Views

Adil GÜNER, Vehbi ESER - optima

Adil GÜNER, Vehbi ESER - optima

Adil GÜNER, Vehbi ESER - optima

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

PHYTOGEOGRAPHICAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN IRANO-<br />

TURANIAN AND MEDITERRANEAN FLORAS IN ROCKY<br />

HABITATS OF THE E MEDITERRANEAN<br />

Gerald PAROLLY<br />

Freie Universität, Botanischer Garten & Botanisches Museum Berlin-Dahlem, Germany, g.parolly@bgbm.org<br />

The present contribution reviews the role of the Irano-Turanian element in the composition of the<br />

lithophytic high mountain vegetation of the wider Taurus range (Tauric System) under a<br />

community-based focus. The flora of the area is predominantly Mesogean. Due to the scrappy<br />

and heterogeneous set of data available, the study is largely a gap analysis, comprising the<br />

evaluation of (1) chorotype spectra of selected scree, rock, meltwater and wind-swept cushion<br />

communities; (2) over-all chorotype spectra of mountain massifs and (3) the distribution patterns<br />

and, whenever possible, the evolution of selected Irano-Anatolian or Irano-Anatolian-E<br />

Mediterranean genera such Heldreichia, which are associated more closely with lithophytic upland<br />

habitats. Compared to the expected clear E–W trends (decreasing proportions of Irano-<br />

Turanian geo-elements and geno-elements westwards), the altitudinal and ecological trends are<br />

more complex due to the occurrence of two ecologically differentiated groups: The prevailing<br />

xerophytic Irano-Anatolian element is opposed by a smaller group of hygro- to mesomorphic<br />

species with often wide Irano-Turanian ranges and Central Asian links, which are confined to<br />

damp places. In floro-genetic terms, both groups have also developed a number of local<br />

endemics. Irano-Turanian endemism (e.g., Anchonium, Dionysia, Graellsia, Michauxia,<br />

Vavilovia) is generally very low within the lithophytic vegetation of the Taurus System at generic<br />

level, but gains significance at species level particularly in the east with high proportions of<br />

endemics of Irano-Turanian origin (25-45 %) within the chorotype spectra. Such mainly<br />

Mesogean genera with many endemic species in Anatolian rocky habitats include, e.g. Silene,<br />

Gypsophila, Alyssum, Aethionema s.l., Erysimum, Isatis, Thlaspi s.l., Onosma, Nepeta,<br />

Tanacetum, Centaurea s.l., Scorzonera s.l., Tulipa and Allium. However, in the Western and<br />

Central Taurus, the majority of the massifs support lithophytic vegetation, on which the Irano-<br />

Turanian elements mainly encroach as differential species from the zonal units on the scree, rock<br />

and meltwater communities.<br />

Keywords: Chorology, evolution, genoelement, high mountain vegetation<br />

19<br />

31<br />

Oral Lectures

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!