Bilge Tunçkol

This study aimed to identify vascular plant taxa and assess the floristic composition and ecological characteristics of riparian areas in the Yeşilırmak Basin, Amasya Province, Türkiye. Field surveys conducted in late May 2023 covered 80 stations encompassing riverbanks, streambeds, floodplains, alluvial meadows, reedbeds, marshes, and the margins of slow-flowing or standing waters. A total of 163 vascular plant taxa belonging to 57 families were recorded. The families with the highest taxon richness were Cyperaceae, Lamiaceae, Ranunculaceae, Asteraceae, Potamogetonaceae, Brassicaceae, and Rosaceae. Cryptophytes dominated the life-form spectrum at 41.1%, followed by hemicryptophytes at 26.4%, phanerophytes at 19.0%, and therophytes at 13.5%. Widely distributed species accounted for 46.0% and Euro-Siberian elements for 36.2% of the flora. Based on occurrence across sampling stations, Glyceria fluitans was the most frequent taxon at 17.5%, followed by Bolboschoenus maritimus subsp. maritimus, Euphorbia helioscopia, Malva neglecta, and Schoenoplectus lacustris subsp. lacustris, each at 16.3%. The findings indicate that riparian areas form transitional zones between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and provide valuable habitats for wetland plant communities. This study provides an updated inventory of the regional riparian flora and a scientific basis for conservation, monitoring, and ecological restoration.

Riparian ecosystems are critical landscape components characterized by high biological diversity, shaped by the simultaneous influence of topographic, hydrological, and microclimatic gradients. This study is aimed at examining vegetation diversity responses to environmental gradients in riparian corridors of Yozgat Province using a layer-specific analytical approach. Field surveys conducted across 70 sampling sites resulted in the identification of 191 plant taxa, and species abundance data were used to calculate the Shannon diversity index. Vegetation was classified into tree, shrub, and herbaceous layers, and analyses were performed by considering different layer combinations. Environmental variables were represented by spectral indices (NDVI, SAVI, LST, and SMI) derived from Landsat 8 OLI imagery using the Google Earth Engine platform, as well as topographic and hydrological variables (elevation, slope, Aspect Suitability Index, and Topographic Wetness Index) generated in an ArcGIS environment. Relationships between vegetation diversity and environmental variables were analyzed using Generalized Additive Models (GAMs), while the multidimensional structure of environmental variables was assessed through Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The results revealed that slope and elevation exert statistically significant and nonlinear effects on vegetation diversity, with these effects varying according to vegetation layer structure. Remote sensing–based spectral indices exhibited weaker individual relationships with diversity; however, when evaluated in conjunction with topographic variables, they played a complementary role in riparian ecosystem monitoring. This study underscores the importance of layer-specific and multivariate approaches in the assessment and monitoring of riparian ecosystems and provides a comprehensive, application-oriented framework for riparian landscape evaluation.

In this study, the habitat types and associated plant communities of the Argözü Valley were identified and classified in accordance with the European Nature Information System (EUNIS). A total of 13 plant communities were distinguished within the study area, representing six major vegetation types: forest, shrubland, streamside vegetation, high mountain steppe, moist meadow, and rocky vegetation. These communities were further categorized into 11 distinct habitat types under the E and G habitat classes of the EUNIS classification system. The findings provide a foundational basis for biodiversity conservation initiatives and the formulation of effective habitat management strategies. Nevertheless, ongoing transhumance and grazing activities constitute significant threats to the ecological integrity of these habitats. In particular, areas with high levels of endemism—such as Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests, alpine communities, and moist meadows—require urgent conservation prioritization to ensure their long-term sustainability.

Tekstil boyamacılığı alanında son yıllarda gerçekleştirilen akademik çalışmalarda doğal kaynaklı renklendiricilerin kullanımıyla sentetik esaslı boyamalar sonrasında meydana gelen çevresel zararların minimuma indirilmesi hedeflenmektedir. Boyanma işlemlerinde yüksek oranlarda sentetik boyarmaddenin kullanımı, yardımcı kimyasallar ve su miktarının fazlalığı sonucunda yüksek oranlarda çevresel kirliliğin meydana geldiği bilinmektedir. Ayrıca kullanılan kimyasal ve sentetik esaslı boyarmaddelerin insan sağlığı açısından da olumsuz etkileri söz konusudur. Çalışmada Bartın florasında doğal yayılış gösteren Karaçalı (Paliurus spina-christi P. Mill.) bitkisinden elde edilen bitki ekstraktları kullanılarak yünlü kumaşların iki farklı boyama sonucunda renk ve haslık değerlerinin incelenmesi yapılmıştır. Boyamalarda mordanlama işlemleri için literatüre paralel olarak dört mordanlama kimyasalının kullanımı gerçekleştirilmiş olup, elde edilen veriler yünlü kumaşların boyanması için karaçalı bitkisinin bir alternatif niteliği taşıdığını ortaya çıkartmıştır. Boyamalar sonrası kumaşların bej ve kahverengi tonlarına sahip olduğu, renk değerlerinin tekrarlı yıkamalar sonrası kalıcılık gösterdiği, kuru/yaş sürtme ile asidik/bazik tere karşı haslık test sonuçlarının kabul edilebilir sınırlar içerisinde yer aldığı elde edilen sonuçları oluşturmaktadır.

Cynanchica paphlagonica from Kastamonu Province (Türkiye) is described and illustrated. Detailed morphological observations and phylogenetic analysis place C. paphlagonica within a small monophyletic group of Anatolian-Pontic species. While the new species more closely resembles C. stricta in general morphology, it is distinguished by its habit, and inflorescence, corolla and mericarp characters. Cynanchica paphlagonica inhabits limestone cliffs and rocks, with its distribution limited to the Pınarbaşı district in Kastamonu Province. A single population comprising approximately 80 individuals is known so far, leading to its classification as Endangered (EN) following IUCN Red List Criteria.

In this study, melliferous plants that the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) can benefit from among the taxa planted in Düzce University Ornamental and Medicinal Plants Botanical Garden, are presented. Among the 451 taxa planted in the botanical garden, those with these characteristics were determined by reviewing studies on the subject. Of the 165 taxa (36.58%) included in the honey plant class; 119 contain both nectar and pollen, 25 contain pollen, 13 contain nectar, 4 contain both pollen and insect secretion (IS) or sweet sap (SS), 2 contain pollen, nectar and IS or SS, 1 contain both nectar and SS, 1 contain only IS. In order to prevent the decrease in pollinator and pollinator insects, whose numbers are decreasing due to global climate change, a "Bee and Insect Hotel" was placed in the botanical garden. For this reason, the majority of the plants selected for planting were chosen from taxa with honey plant properties. The main purpose here is both to pollinate the plants in the botanical garden and to show and explain the effects of insect species on pollination through nature education.

Bu çalışma Küre Dağları Milli Parkı’nın Kastamonu Bölümündeki florayı ortaya çıkararak alandaki bitki çeşitliliğinin tespit edilmesi amacıyla yapılmıştır. Araştırma kapsamında tespit edilen bitkiler APG IV sistemine göre sınıflandırılmış, endemik türlerin uluslararası IUCN tehlike kategorilerine de yer verilmiştir. 2019-2021 yılları arasında yapılan 55 arazi çalışmasında 2240 bitki örneği toplanmıştır. Toplanan örneklerin teşhis edilmesiyle 100 familya, 474 cinse ait 990 taksonun alanda yayılış yaptığı belirlenmiştir. Bu taksonların 49’u endemik olup, çalışma alanında tespit edilen biri dünya için yeni endemik takson, diğeri Türkiye florası için yeni bir kayıt olmak üzere iki taksonun sistematiği yapılarak ülkemiz florasına katılması sağlanmıştır. Araştırma alanında en fazla takson içeren familyalar, Asteraceae 113, Fabaceae 83, Lamiaceae 52, Apiaceae 52, ve Poaceae 51 dir. Araştırma alanından toplanan taksonların Raunkiaer’in yaşam biçimlerine göre Fanerofit 96, Kamafit 29, Hemikriptofit 517, Kriptofit 117, Terofit 231’dir.

Plant specimens belonging to the Scutellaria genus of the Lamiaceae family were collected from Zonguldak (Ereğli), Bolu (Gölcük), Bartın (Ulus-Uluyayla), Kastamonu (Azdavay-Cide) and Sinop (Ayancık) provinces in the north of Turkey between 2018-2021. The collected plant samples were dried in accordance with herbarium techniques. After detailed herbarium studies and literature reviews, it was determined that this species does not take place in the flora of Turkey, and it is Scutellaria columnae All. With this new record added to the Scutellaria genus in our country, the number of taxa belonging to this genus in Turkey has increased to 41. In this study, there are descriptions, detailed photographs, and distribution areas of Scutellaria columnae, as a new species record for Turkey. With new studies to be carried out in different regions, it is thought that new endemic, natural and invasive species records will be added to the floristic richness of our country, which has not been fully revealed yet.