Epikarstik Kuşağın Denetiminde Gelişmiş Mağara Örneği Olarak: İkiz İncirli Çengirek (Marmaris - Muğla)

Abstract

During the cave research in Bozburun Peninsula, it was understood that İkiz İncirli Çengirek (cave), one of the many caves discovered, was formed by speleogenetic processes at the epikarstic zone. The formation of many caves in the Bozburun Peninsula region is due to the numerous weak tectonic lineations, suitable climatic conditions, lithology needed for cave formation, and exposure to long-time denudation. Speleogenetic researches carried out in Turkey ignored the role of the epikarstic zone. İkiz İncirli Çengirek is an excellent example for evaluating the impacts of processes in the epikarstic zone on the speleogenesis of the cave. Tectonic weaknesses occurred as a result of tectonic movements during the İkiz İncirli Çengirek formed through tectonic weaknesses that happened as a result of tectonic movements during the Plio– Pleistocene, provided the necessary conditions for the formation of İkiz İncirli Çengirek Cave at that location. Dripping and water-film action in the epikarstic zone under the control of fluviokarstic processes shaped and deepened the morphological structure of the cave. As a result of favorable environmental conditions, the cave is home to many species of Lyciasalamandra flavimembris, cave grasshoppers belonging to the Dolichopoda sp. genus, and other organisms, such as bats, scorpions, and spiders whose species are yet to be identified.