AEGEAN GRASSLANDS AS ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEMS IN TURKEY

In all 86 grasslands were investigated in the Aegean region of Turkey. Out of these 10 are found among the red-pine, black-pine, beech-fir, oak-pine and degraded oak-maqui forests. A total of 699 taxa of plants belonging to 68 families are distriburted in these grasslands. Out of these taxa only 104 are of good fodder value, 66 taxa belonging to the family Fabaceae and 38 to Poaceae. Aboveground biomass production in Aydin (139.18 g), Balikesir (122.68 g) and Canakkale (103.78 g) was maximum in Spring, whereas belowground values for Aydin (80 g) and Canakkale (80 g) were highest during spring and for Balikesir (80 g) during winter. In the provinces of Izmir (1144 g), Kutahya (400 g), Usak (800 g), and Manisa (1312 g) aboveground biomass production was highest during Autumn, whereas belowground production was maximum during winter at Usak (600 g), Izmir (1360 g), and Kutahya (910 g). In Denizli aboveground biomass production was higher in summer (400 g) and belowground in autumn (350 g). The biomass production in general was highest in the fenced as compared to open areas. The calorific values of the species in the fenced areas too were higher (107.2 cal.) as compared to the open areas (99.40 cal.). Borulceagac and Maltepe were the best areas from the point of view of calorific values. The grasslands of Isikeli, Pamucak, Karateke, Halitpasa, Urganli, and Gullucam were observed to be the best as regards the biomass production. However, nomadic activities like summer grazing, trampling and summer tourism are exerting a great pressure on these, leading towards a degradation and ultimately a loss of eco-diversity in the grassland ecosystems of the region. This paper enlightens the general plant composition and biomass potential of Aegean grasslands.