PJB-2018-1095
ELLENBERG INDICATOR VALUES (EIVs) IN DIFFERENT PLANT COMMUNITIES IN SUBALPINE GRASSLANDS OF THE GIRESUN MOUNTAINS (TURKEY)
Rena Hüseyinoglu
Abstract
Abstract Ellenberg Indicator Values (EIVs), which are among the indicator-based ecological models, have been applied to describe the effect of environmental factors in determining community types, habitat conditions and vegetation changes at a particular surface area. In this study, EIVs were determined for soil nitrogen (N), pH (R) and soil moisture (M) in different subalpine grassland communities of the Giresun Mountains (Turkey). All the EIVs were significantly different in the studied plant communities. The differences among the plant communities can be explained by the differences in species diversity and evenness, slope aspect and disturbance factors. EIVR and EIVM were significant ecological parameters on the distribution of the plant associations in the study area. Plant species such as Festuca amethystina subsp. orientalis var. turcica, Scorzonera cana var. radicosa, Luzula pseudosudetica, Vaccinium myrtillus and Aster alpinus were the best indicators for the moist, extremely nitrogen rich and acidic soils whereas species such as Juniperus communis subsp. saxatilis, Alyssum pseudo-mouradicum, Dianthus zederbaueri and Myosotis propinqua were the indicator species for the dry, weakly acidic and nutrient rich soils in the study area. Some plant species such as Veronica gentianoides subsp. gentianoides var. alpina, Ajuga orientalis and Rumex acetosella were indifferent species with broad ecological amplitude especially for soil reaction and moisture and cannot be considered as indicator species.
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