NE Anatolia Research Articles

Kinematics and Basin Formation Along the Ezinepazar-Sungurlu Fault Zone, NE Anatolia, Turkey

The Ezinepazar-Sungurlu Fault (EzSF) is a major offshoot of the dextral North Anatolian Fault (NAF) zone, which bifurcates from the main fault strand around the Niksar pull-apart basin (37°E) and strikes through the Central Anatolian Block for 200 km to the west (34°E). The easternmost segment of the EzSF, the Ezinepazar Fault (EzF), which ruptured during the 1939 Erzincan earthquake (Mw= 7.8), has a very remarkable expression as a single-strand fault. Micromammal dating of young sediments along this segment indicate that the EzF was initiated during the Middle Pleistocene (0.7-1 Ma) and propagated westward accumulating 6.5±0.5 km maximum morphological offset. The central segment of the EzSF, the Deliçay Fault (DF), is expressed as an en-échelon pattern and controlled the formation of a narrow fault-wedge basin (Aydınca Plain). The stepover between the DF and its western continuation, the Geldingen Fault (GF), forms a young pull-apart basin (Geldingen Basin) where the maximum morphological offset is measured at 3.5±1 km. In the westernmost part of the fault zone, the deformation zone widens and the EzSF bifurcates into the Mecitözü (MF) and the Sungurlu faults (SF). The MF controlled the deposition of continental clastics, dated as Late Miocene-Early Pliocene by using mammal chronology (MN13-14). The Neogene-Quaternary stratigraphy of the basins along the EzSF indicates two phases of faulting-related basin formation. The first period took part during the Late Miocene-Early Pliocene; the second phase started with the initiation of the EzF in the east during the Middle Pleistocene. The western propagation of the fault caused the reactivation of older tectonic lines as an element of the NAF system. The offset distribution measured along the EzSF shows that accumulated long-term slip is not uniform along the fault, as it decreases gradually where the fault becomes distant from the NAF main strand. This projection is applicable to present day slip rate distribution along the EzSF, which is shown also by GPS measurements and is therefore important for earthquake hazard estimates for the region.

Contributions to the description and molecular properties of Erodium hendrikii Alpınar (Geraniaceae), endemic to Turkey

A Turkish endemic, Erodium hendrikii Alpınar, was firstly described from NE Anatolia in 1994 based on insufficient specimens. In the present study, the description of this poorly known taxon was emended by adding several macro- and micromorphological traits of its leaf and fruit observed under LM and SEM. Furthermore, it was compared with the closely related species E. malacoides (L.) L'Her based on both morphological and molecular data and a modified identification key for the Flora of Turkey was prepared. The conservation status was also re-assessed according to the IUCN threat criteria.

A study on biogeographical distribution of Turkish oak species and their relations with the Anatolian Diagonal

Due to its geological positions, Turkey contains different phytogeographical regions and had possible refuge regions for many plants and animals during the glacial periods. According to Davis a major flora boundary occurs in Turkey, along a diagonal belt running from NE Anatolia (S of Gumushane) to SW Anatolia, where it splits out the Cilician Taurus and Amanus mountains. The geographical distribution of Turkish Quercus L. taxa and their relations with the diagonal have been discussed. Only nine taxa out of 23 showed clear separations on the basis of the Anatolian Diagonal, which are Q. petraea subsp. iberica, Q. petraea subsp. pinnatiloba, Q. robur subsp. robur, Q. robur subsp. pedunculiflora, Q. pubescens, Q. ithaburensis subsp. macrolepis, Q. brantii, Q. trojana, and Q. libani. Beside the distribution of Turkish Quercus, the refuge regions mentioned by Davis and the potential palaeogeographical history of the Anatolian Diagonal have also been considered in detail.

Comparison of Recent Siliceous and Carbonate Mat Development on the Shore of Hyper-Alkaline Lake Van and Mt. Nemrut Soğuk Lake, NE Anatolia, Turkey

This article focuses on the molecular geochemistry of previously unreported carbonate- and siliceous-mat assemblages at two adjacent lake-shore environments. The first study area, on the Lake Van shore, is an intersection of hyper-alkaline lake water and seep water discharge, both of which represent an acid-base geochemical barrier. Comparing alkaline lake water with seep water samples collected from a biomineralization site reveals that seep water has an acidic character and is rich in Ca and Si cations. The second study area, Mt. Nemrut, is the largest volcanic caldera located west of Lake Van in eastern Anatolia, and is the only volcano that has erupted in historical time. While the main lithified-mat components of Lake Van's shore environments are Ca-carbonate and diatoms, Na-carbonate and diatom assemblages represent recent biomineralization in the Mt. Nemrut Soğuk Lake shores. In particular, the normal habitat for the development of these unique microbial mat assemblages can be changed in a short time by the decreasing seep water discharge into the Lake Van shore environment. A detailed study on these lake shore microbialites, before they are lost, would provide a great opportunity to understand the biogeochemical interactions that produce unique sediment fabrics.

An Alien Species New to the Flora of Turkey:Lysimachia japonica Thunb. (Primulaceae)

The Japanese species, Lysimachia japonica Thunb. (Primulaceae) has been recorded as a new alien for the Flora of Turkey from the NE Anatolia. The detailed description of the species together with its photographs is provided.

A comparative study on two closely relative Tulipa L. taxa from NE Anatolia

This study presents observations on the anatomical, palynological and ecological features of Tulipa gumusanica Terzioglu and its morphologically similar relative, T. armena Boiss. var. armena, in order to clarify their similarities and differences. We found that these taxa have some important differences with regard to anatomical, palynological and ecological features, as well as morphological traits. General anatomical traits of both examined taxa are similar, both having isolateral leaves with distinct hypodermis and a stem with distinct monolayer collenchyma close to the epidermis. However, some anatomical characters such as mesophyll width, average number of stomata on lower epidermis, and epidermal cells on upper epidermis are found to be important in delimiting these taxa. In addition, considerable differences have been observed in pollen shape and size. The species differ ecologically in that T. gumusanica prefers slightly acidic soil with low organic content in the woodland, whereas T. armena var. armena prefers slightly alkali soil with high organic content in steppe vegetation.

Helichrysum yurterianum(Asteraceae, Inuleae), a New Species from NE Anatolia, Turkey

Helichrysum yurterianum Y. Gemici, Kit Tan, H. Yildirim & M. Gemici (Asteraceae, Inuleae) is described and illustrated. It is a serpentine endemic restricted to the province of Erzincan in NE Anatolia, Turkey. Its affinities are with H. arenarium and H. noeanum, which both have a wider distribution. Anatomical and ecophysiological data for the new taxon are provided.

Perspectives for earthquake prediction in the Mediterranean and contribution of geological observations

Abstract Accelerating seismic strain caused by the generation of intermediate-magnitude preshocks in a broad (critical) region, accompanied by decelerating seismic strain caused by the generation of smaller preshocks in the seismogenic region are systematically observed before strong mainshocks. On the basis of this seismicity pattern a model has been developed that seems promising for intermediate-term earthquake prediction, called the ‘Decelerating in-Accelerating out Seismic Strain Model’. Recent seismological data for the Mediterranean region are used here for backward and forward testing of this model. The selection of the broader Mediterranean region as a test area was motivated not only by the interest of time-dependent seismic hazard assessment in a high-seismicity and highly populated region but also by the fact that the Mediterranean is a natural geophysical and geological laboratory where both complex multi-plate and continuum tectonics are found in a more or less convergent zone. Within this complex geotectonic setting several geological phenomena such as subduction, collision, orogen collapse and back-arc extension take place, leading to the generation of a broad spectrum of mainshocks, reaching M W = 8.0 or greater for subduction-related thrust events and a variety of corresponding seismicity levels and neotectonic activity ranging from very low (e.g. large parts of Iberian peninsula) to very high (broader Aegean area). The backward procedure shows that all six strong (M ≥ 6.8) mainshocks that have occurred in the Mediterranean since 1980 had been preceded by preshock sequences that followed this seismicity pattern and satisfy all model constraints. Application of the model for future mainshocks has led to the identification of nine regions (in the Pyrenees, Calabria, NE Adriatic, Albania, Northern Greece, SE Aegean, NW Anatolia, western Anatolia, NE Anatolia) where current intermediate-magnitude seismicity satisfies the constraints of the model and corresponds to strong (M ≥ 6.2) mainshocks. The magnitudes, epicentres and origin times of these probably ensuing mainshocks, as well as their corresponding uncertainties, are estimated, so that it is possible to evaluate the model potential during the next decade (2006–2015). Furthermore, it is shown that geological observations of surface fault traces can contribute to the accurate location of the foci of future strong mainshocks in the Mediterranean and to an estimation of their sizes. For this purpose, globally valid relations between fault parameters based on geological observations (surface fault length, L S , and fault slip, u S ) and measures of mainshock size (mainshock magnitude, subsurface fault length, L , and fault slip, u ) are proposed.

Chromosome numbers of AlchemUla series Vulgares from NE Anatolia (Turkey)—a preliminary report

This paper presents the chromosome numbers of nine species from the section AlchemUla, subsection Heliodrosium, series Vulgares. The studies were carried out on plants from the Northeast Anatolia (Turkey). The following chromosome numbers have been detected; A. valdehirsuta 2n= 96–106, A. monticola 2n= 101–110, A. stevenii 2n= 98–106, A. crinita 2n= 102–108, A. compactilis 2n= 98, A. heterophylla 2n= 100–105, A. minusculiflora 2n= 87–97, A. pseudocartalinica 2n= 98–108, A. straminea 2n= 80–91. The species of genus AlchemUla studied from Northeast Anatolia are proven to be polyploids like the majority of species from the section AlchemUla investigated from various geographic areas.

Three New Delphiniums from Turkey

Three more new species of Delphinium (Ranunculaceae) belonging to sect. Delphinastrum DC, are described and illustrated from S and NE Anatolia: D. petrodavisianum, D. kitianum and D. iris.

The climate and vegetation of Turkey

SynopsisThere are 3 types of climate in Turkey: Mediterranean, Continental and Oceanic. The greatest part of the country, including much of the montane area, comes under the influence of various types of Mediterranean climate; the Continental climate occurs in two distinct areas in N and NE Anatolia; the Oceanic climate prevails in the region bordering the Black Sea. The forest vegetation of Turkey may also be divided into 3 main classes: QUERCETEA ILICIS; QUERCETEA PUBESCENTIS; QUERCO-FAGETEA. The first is confined to a coastal zone of the Mediterranean, the second is throughout the inner Mediterranean area, the last is in the Euxine zone of N Anatolia. Steppe vegetation belongs to the class ASTRAGALOBROMETEA widespread in C Anatolia and the Taurus.