A NEW DISTRIBUTION AREA OF KADINCIK SHRUB (Flueggea anatolica Gemici) IN TURKEY

Calcretes are widespread in Adana and Mersin provinces and form under different morphologies. Most calcrete profiles comprise a hard laminated crust/hardpan at the top, gradually intergrading into the nodular and/or tubular/columnar horizon with depth. This study compares the δ18O and δ13C values of calcretes from both provinces and discusses the controlling factors and environmental conditions. The δ18O and δ13C values are characteristic for the pedogenic calcretes. The Adana calcrete mean δ18O values of the hardpan, nodules and tubes, and fractures-infills are 0.69‰, 0.77‰, and 1.04‰ PDB heavier than those of the Mersin calcretes,respectively. The overall difference between the two groups is 0.78‰ PDB. The differences are related to the high evaporation rate in Adana province in respect to Mersin province under similar climatic conditions, except for the evaporation rate. The high evaporation rate in Adana province is due to higher ventilation. The δ13C values of both provinces are almost the same, reflecting calcrete formation in soil with abundant C3 vegetation similar to contemporary vegetation. In addition, the mean δ18O and δ13C values of the hardpan calcretes slightly differ from those of the columnar horizon, showing a depletion in heavy isotopes. The depletion in the mean δ18O values of hard laminated crust in respect to the columnar horizon is 0.09‰ PDB for Adana calcretes and 0.12‰ PDB for Mersin calcretes. This is related to the relatively thick water film from which the calcretes formed by precipitation and displacive replacement processes. The difference in the mean δ13C values is 0.32‰ PDB for the Adana calcretes and 0.11‰ PDB for the Mersin calcretes, and the depletion in δ13C values of the hard laminated crust reflects proximity of the bioactive horizon in the soil.

In this study, the current state of organic wastes obtained from plant, animal, kitchen and industrial sewage sludge plants in Mersin and Adana provinces and biogas energy production potential were investigated. In this study, data on animals and plants were obtained from Adana and Mersin Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and data on kitchen and industrial wastes were obtained from Adana and Mersin Metropolitan Municipality. As a result of this study, the daily amount of organic matter produced in animal, vegetable, kitchen and sewage sludge plants in Mersin province is 16 801.48 tons and the amount of biogas produced from these wastes is 557 432.47 m3 and the electricity generated from methane is 2 619.93 MWh. It has been identified. In Adana province, the daily organic matter produced in animal, vegetable, kitchen and sewage sludge plants is 24 517.35 tons and the amount of biogas produced from these wastes is 637 882.68 m3 and the electricity generated from methane is 2 998.05 MWh. In Mersin, 33% of the electricity generated from organic wastes was obtained from treatment sludge, 57% from animal manure, 4% from agricultural waste and 6% from kitchen waste. In Adana, 39% of the electricity generated from organic wastes was obtained from treatment sludge, 36% from animal manure, 15% from agricultural wastes and 10% from kitchen wastes. Adana Province; In terms of organic matter produced in animal, vegetable, kitchen and sewage sludge plants, it is determined that it is approximately 19% more than Mersin province and it is about 7% more in terms of electrical energy produced from methane.

QuestionHow are semi‐natural ecosystems affected by goat grazing regime (heavy, light and long‐term abandonment)?LocationAnaga Rural Park, Tenerife Island, Canary Islands (Spain).MethodsWe evaluated plant species composition, diversity and structure (frequencies of functional groups based on growth form and bare ground) for three goat grazing regimes using 63 permanent point‐quadrat transects. The effect of orientation (N vs S slope) was also analysed. Data were collected in the spring during each year from 2001 to 2005.ResultsGrazing regime affected the studied functional groups differently. The frequency of annual grasses was higher in the heavily grazed areas, shrubs decreased sharply from abandoned to heavily grazed areas, and shrub legumes appeared less abundant in the lightly grazed transects. An interaction between grazing regime and orientation affected some functional groups. Grazing led to higher plant diversity, and did not affect the frequency of bare ground or native and endemic species. There were no strong differences in species composition among the three grazing regimes. However, species composition in abandoned areas was characterized by a higher abundance of late‐successional and endemic shrub species, while herbaceous species typical of pastures were more common in the grazed areas.ConclusionsGrazing regimes noticeably affect the composition and structure of the vegetation of semi‐natural ecosystems but do not result in a complete turnover in species composition. Goat grazing is beneficial for maintaining traditional open agroecosystems; however, controlling the grazing intensity can avoid negative effects on the vegetation, particularly the sharp reduction in shrub and palatable species. Some abandoned areas should be maintained to preserve grazing‐sensitive endemic shrub species in these Canarian semi‐natural ecosystems.

Fusarium crown and root rot and Fusarium wilt are the most important diseases of tomato grown under protected conditions in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. The diseases cause important economic losses in the region. Survey studies were conducted in tomato growing greenhouses of Adana and Mersin provinces to determine disease incidence and severity of Fusarium crown and root rot (FORL) and Fusarium wilt (FOL) during November 2007-April 2008. Disease incidence and disease severity values were 35.1% and 18.8% in Adana province and 43.3% and 20.4% in Mersin province, respectively. Disease prevalence in terms of number of diseased greenhouses and diseased area were 56.1% and 68.1 in Adana province and, 58.8% and 54.5% in Mersin province, respectively. As a result of pathogenicity studies, symptomatologic characters of different regions according to the determination of the 87 isolates 61 (70%) FORL and 26 (30%) isolates were identified as FOL, respectively.

QuestionsDo introduced herbivores and fire explain the mono‐dominance of one legume shrub (Adenocarpus viscosus subsp. spartioides) above the tree line on an oceanic island, given the fact that a number of other legume shrub species are potentially present? What drives the observed landscape‐scale life–death pattern within the mono‐dominant shrub species population?LocationThe sub‐alpine scrub vegetation of La Palma (Canary Islands, Atlantic Ocean).MethodsAn 11‐yr exclosure experiment with sites distributed along an elevation and orientation gradient was used to identify the influence of introduced herbivore pressure on four endemic shrub species and their seedling recruitment. Further, we assessed the population dynamics and spatial pattern of the dominant shrub species A. viscosus subsp. spartioides. Habitat and vitality characteristics were investigated, assessing spatial topographic features and tree ring‐based age estimates. Linear mixed models, ANOVAs, linear regression and variation partitioning were used as statistical analysis tools.ResultsOutside of the exclosures A. viscosus subsp. spartioides was virtually mono‐dominant in the study area, even though other shrub species seem better suited in the absence of introduced herbivores. The presence of introduced herbivores significantly reduced seedling recruitment within all target species, except for A. viscosus subsp. spartioides. Mean age of A. viscosus subsp. spartioides increased with elevation, although vitality analyses indicated that the sub‐alpine scrub is elevated above its growth optimum. Three out of four investigated shrub species showed differences in growth height depending on elevation and island orientation.ConclusionIntroduced herbivores and fire are identified as key disturbances enhancing the occurrence of A. viscosus subsp. spartioides, a commonly less competitive species. However, Genista benehoavensis, a single island endemic shrub species, seems to be better adapted to the harsh climate conditions of the sub‐alpine scrub in the absence of introduced herbivores than any other shrub species.

A new phlebovirus, Adana virus, was isolated from a pool of Phlebotomus spp. (Diptera; Psychodidae) in the province of Adana, in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Genetic analysis based on complete coding of genomic sequences indicated that Adana virus belongs to the Salehabad virus species of the genus Phlebovirus in the family Bunyaviridae. Adana virus is the third virus of the Salehabad virus species for which the complete sequence has been determined. To understand the epidemiology of Adana virus, a seroprevalence study using microneutralization assay was performed to detect the presence of specific antibodies in human and domestic animal sera collected in Adana as well as Mersin province, located 147 km west of Adana. The results demonstrate that the virus is present in both provinces. High seroprevalence rates in goats, sheep, and dogs support intensive exposure to Adana virus in the region, which has not been previously reported for any virus included in the Salehabad serocomplex; however, low seroprevalence rates in humans suggest that Adana virus is not likely to constitute an important public health problem in exposed human populations, but this deserves further studies. Until recently, in the genus Phlebovirus, the Salehabad virus species consisted of two viruses: Salehabad virus, isolated from sand flies in Iran, and Arbia virus, isolated from sand flies in Italy. Here we present the isolation and complete genome characterization of the Adana virus, which we propose to be included in the Salehabad virus species. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the isolation and complete genome characterization, from sand flies in Turkey, of a Salehabad virus-related phlebovirus with supporting seropositivity in the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Central Anatolia regions, where phleboviruses have been circulating and causing outbreaks. Salehabad species viruses have generally been considered to be a group of viruses with little medical or veterinary interest. This view deserves to be revisited according to our results, which indicate a high animal infection rate of Adana virus and recent evidence of human infection with Adria virus in Greece.

In a survey of four fig-growing provinces of Turkey (Adana, Hatay, Sanliurfa and Mersin), 132 samples were tested by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to assess the presence of Fig leaf mottle-associated virus 1 (FLMaV-1), Fig leaf mottle-associated virus 2 (FLMaV-2) and Fig mosaic virus (FMV). All samples were negative in PCR to FLMaV-1, whereas FLMaV-2 and FMV were detected in six (4.5%) and 10 (7.6%) of the samples, respectively. Both viruses were found in fig trees collected in the provinces of Adana, Hatay and Sanliurfa, but no infection was found in Mersin province. Sequence analysis of amplified DNA showed a level of nucleotides variability ranging from 1 to 10% for FLMaV-2 and from 6 to 17% for FMV isolates. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the Turkish FLMaV-2 isolates in one cluster together with other near-eastern FLMaV-2 isolates previously reported in GenBank.

The study conducted an investigation into the effective utilization of Tarsus district's historical and cultural assets in Mersin province, with a focus on its tourism potential. The primary objectives were to promote the region and contribute to its economic, social, and cultural advancement. A survey was administered to gather information on dominant tourism types in Tarsus, including historical sites, cultural landmarks, local crafts, cuisine, caves, camping, wildlife, flora, gastronomy, local resources, natural attractions, and aesthetics. The results highlighted Tarsus' prominence due to its cultural heritage, historical structures, and natural wealth. Despite Tarsus's cultural diversity and tourism potential, the study revealed its current underrepresentation and various challenges, including the vulnerability of historical assets, insufficient infrastructure, and unguided utilization. The study suggests adopting a sustainable approach that balances conservation with utilization to address these issues and help Tarsus attain the recognition it rightfully deserves in the field of recreation and tourism.

The monotypic genus Iphiseius is represented by only Iphiseius degenerans (Berlese) (Acari: Phytoseiidae). This species, which is one of the most common predatory mites in citrus orchards in Mediterranean countries, is an important biological control agent of various pests that include thrips, whiteflies and spider mites. This species was included in a brief report of the Turkish fauna some 50 years ago. However, there was no morphological information, illustrations or collection details of the examined specimens, except for its host plant, sour lemon, and an unknown locality in Mersin Province, Turkey. Since that time, extensive surveys conducted in citrus plantations in both Mersin and Adana Provinces have not confirmed its presence. However, in 2008, 2011 and 2013, a natural population of I. degenerans was encountered in Anıtlı town, near the border with Antalya Province, where it was associated with thrips on a non-cultivated host, Hedera helix L. (Araliaceae). In this study, we re-describe I. degenerans, based on both female and male specimens, and provide all morphological details. The DNAs of the specimens were successfully isolated and amplified using an internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene marker by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A phylogenetic tree was constructed using the DNA sequence of the amplified region, as well as other sequences deposited in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The phylogenetic tree and genetic divergence were constructed and estimated, respectively, using the Jukes and Cantor models, respectively. There were no morphological differences in comparison to other populations of I. degenerans. This result was confirmed by the molecular study as no genetic divergence with other populations was found. The results of this study will be useful for further systematic studies on theTurkish Phytoseiidae, and would also help non-expert, phytoseiid taxonomists to correctly identify I. degenerans.

This study was carried out to determine the differentiation between populations inhabiting Megacephala euphratica euphratica & Dejean, 1822 (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) in natural and disturbed salt marsh habitats in Goksu (Mersin Province) and Cukurova (Adana Province) Deltas in Turkey, for the period of 2005 and 2010. Correlation between anthropogenic effects (cattle grazing and drainage channels) and population dynamics of M. e. euphratica was calculated. Population dynamic of M. e. euphratica was not stable during the study years in the disturbed salt marsh and was found as rapidly descent according to the natural habitat. Cluster analysis used to quantify the associations of population of M. e. euphratica between sampling years showed that variation of the population of insect species in the natural habitats was not different from each other in the different years as much as in the disturbed habitats. The results showed that population density of the species were more rapidly decreased in the disturbed salt marsh habitats than the natural ones. Threatened category of M. e. euphratica was investigated according to IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Categories and its current situation in terms of being a threatened species was also discussed. Keywords: Distribution, ecology, habitat preferences, IUCN, threatened factors,Megacephala euphratica euphratica.

The Argentine arid Patagonia, in general, and ‘La Payunia’ecosystem in particular, are important areas for conservationdue to the high number of endemic species. However, this regionpresents a high level of degradation as a result of human activities.Thus, ecological rehabilitation strategies need to be implemented torecover certain areas. The main objectives of this study were to (1)evaluate the reintroduction of two selected native species in severelydegraded areas, and (2) determine if the survival and growth of anendemic shrub species, Senna arnottiana, increase when it is associatedwith a perennial grass, Pappostipa speciosa. These two species wereselected based on the results of a reference ecosystem analysis. In addition,two doses of hydrogel (polyacrylamide) were tested to evaluateits moistening effect. After three years, the survival rate of bothplant species was high (mean=79.6%), with no significant differencesamong hydrogel treatments and association between species. However,growth rates of S. arnottiana plants nursed by P. speciosa weresignificantly higher (P<0.05) than those of isolated plants. Our resultssuggest that the study, endemic shrub species is able to survivein isolation after its transplanting, and that P. speciosa is a suitablespecies for promoting a higher shrub growth during the first criticalyears of recovery of the degraded, arid and semiarid environments.

Abstract. Stemflow transports nutrient-enriched precipitation to the rhizosphere and functions as an efficient terrestrial flux in water-stressed ecosystems. However, its ecological significance has generally been underestimated because it is relatively limited in amount, and the biotic mechanisms that affect it have not been thoroughly studied at the leaf scale. This study was conducted during the 2014 and 2015 rainy seasons at the northern Loess Plateau of China. We measured the branch stemflow volume (SFb), shrub stemflow equivalent water depth (SFd), stemflow percentage of incident precipitation (SF %), stemflow productivity (SFP), funnelling ratio (FR), the meteorological characteristics and the plant traits of branches and leaves of C. korshinskii and S. psammophila. This study evaluated stemflow efficiency for the first time with the combined results of SFP and FR, and sought to determine the inter- and intra-specific differences of stemflow yield and efficiency between the two species, as well as the specific bio-/abiotic mechanisms that affected stemflow. The results indicated that C. korshinskii had a greater stemflow yield and efficiency at all precipitation levels than that of S. psammophila. The largest inter-specific difference generally occurred at the 5–10 mm branches during rains of ≤ 2 mm. Precipitation amount was the most influential meteorological characteristic that affected stemflow yield and efficiency in these two endemic shrub species. Branch angle was the most influential plant trait on FR. For SFb, stem biomass and leaf biomass were the most influential plant traits for C. korshinskii and S. psammophila, respectively. For SFP of these two shrub species, leaf traits (the individual leaf area) and branch traits (branch size and biomass allocation pattern) had a great influence during lighter rains ≤ 10 mm and heavier rains &gt; 15 mm, respectively. The lower precipitation threshold to start stemflow allowed C. korshinskii (0.9 mm vs. 2.1 mm for S. psammophila) to employ more rains to harvest water via stemflow. The beneficial leaf traits (e.g., leaf shape, arrangement, area, amount) might partly explain the greater stemflow production of C. korshinskii. Comparison of SFb between the foliated and manually defoliated shrubs during the 2015 rainy season indicated that the newly exposed branch surface at the defoliated period and the resulting rainfall intercepting effects might be an important mechanism affecting stemflow in the dormant season.

The phylogeography of Sibiraea angustata, an endemic shrub species, was studied in the Qinghai–Tibet plateau (QTP). We investigated 466 individuals of S. angustata from 39 populations basically covering its total distribution area. Eight haplotypes (A–H) were detected by sequencing the intergenic chloroplast spacer trnS–trnG (600 bp), and one ancestral haplotype (A) was found to be widely distributed. The level of differentiation among populations was very high (GST=0.768; NST=0.850) and a significant phylogeographical structure was revealed (NST>GST). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) similarily revealed a high level of differentiation among populations (84%, FST=0.842), indicating that little gene flow has occurred among populations mutually isolated by high mountains and rivers in the QTP. On the QTP platform there was only one widespread haplotype (A) in most populations, while populations along the eastern and southeastern edges had high diversity and unique haplotypes. Our results suggest that a glacial refugium may have been located on the eastern or southeastern edges of QTP during the last glaciation, and that interglacial and postglacial range expansion occurred from that refugium. Nested clade analysis (NCA) also suggests this scenario, which indicates that the current spatial distribution of cpDNA haplotypes and populations mainly resulted from long distance colonization, possibly coupled with subsequent or past fragmentation followed by range expansion and allopatric fragmentation.

Humanity has used plants for aesthetic purposes for centuries. Plants nowadays use cities for more livable habitats and similar purposes to satisfy the longing for nature of people who move away from nature due to increasing urbanization. So that plants attract attention as a commercial field plays a crucial role in economic development for many countries today. Our country, which is one of the richest geographies in terms of biodiversity globally, shows a total of 11466 plant taxa, 3800 of which are endemic. While the total number of plant species in all of Europe is around 12.000, in our country there are approximately 10.000 species. When the species and subspecies identified in recent years are added, around 12,000 taxa find natural habitats in our country. Mersin province is one of the important endemism centers of our country, with approximately 400 endemic species (endemism rate is approximately 23%). It is seen that the areas where geophytes spread intensively in the world are regions where the Mediterranean climate prevails, which is humid and warm in winters and dry and hot in summers. The Mediterranean Basin, where our country is located, is the second richest geophyte region in the world. Mersin province is one of the provinces located in the Mediterranean Basin. Within the scope of this study, it is to determine the usability of endemic plant species that are naturally distributed in Mersin province as ornamental plants and to ensure that they gain economic value in the ornamental plant market. For this purpose, in our study, some monocotyledon taxa that have an ornamental plant potential from endemic plant taxa in Mersin have been determined, and photographs of these taxa are presented. The recommended taxa are geophyte taxa, and the fact that they only spread in our country (some only in Mersin) is of great importance in bringing these species into the landscape as ornamental plants. A total of 20 endemic taxa belonging to 5 different monocotyledon families identified in Mersin were determined. The endangered extinction of some of these taxa proposed as ornamental plants is also of great importance in ensuring their generation by bringing them into the landscape with various production techniques.

Acaudaleyrodes ebeni sp. nov. is described and illustrated here from Ebenus stellata (Fabaceae: Papilionoideae) an endemic shrub species in Iran. Its taxonomic affinities are discussed and an identification guide to described species of the genus Acaudaleyrodes Takahashi is presented.