VARIABILITY OF VEGETATION OF TEMPORAL PONDS ALONG GRADIENTS OF STAGNANT WATER AND ALTITUDE IN SOUTH-WEST ANATOLIA

Vegetational zonation within temporal ponds in the western Taurus Mountains of South - West Anatolia, Turkey and changes along altitudinal gradients was studied. Two gradients show different filtering effects and magnitude of influence on the floristic composition of Mediterranenan temporal pools. Classification gave five clusters that represented ecologically meaningful communities according to moisture gradient classified into Ranunculo argyrei-Tanacetea argentei (Sedo nani-Convolvuletalia galactici), Stellarietea mediae (Thero-Brometalia) and Molinio-Arrhentheretea (Potentillo-Polygonetalia). Multivariate analyses were used to explore gradients in the floristic composition and the revealed importance of two groups of explanatory variables: the first is related to mean ground surface elevation (microtopography of the site), clay and carbonate content amount, and the second corresponds to the area of temporal pond and other soil variables. Microtopography (relative elevation within temporal pools) proved to be most important factor influencing species composition.