Southern Anatolia Research Articles

Late Glacial to mid Holocene lacustrine ostracods from southern Anatolia, Turkey: A palaeoenvironmental study with pollen and stable isotopes

This study investigates the ostracod assemblages obtained from a sediment core from a paleolake in the Sağlık plain in south-central Anatolia (Turkey). In addition to ostracods, oxygen and carbon stable isotopes of ostracod shells were analysed and pollen analysis of the core undertaken. The sediments comprise the Late Glacial and early Holocene interval with an approximate 14C age from 18,000 to 6700 14C years ago, after applying a correction for reservoir effects. Eight podocopid ostracod species were recorded, among them Cyprideis torosa and Candona sp. which were used for stable oxygen and carbon isotope analyses. C. torosa dominated during the Late Glacial while Candona sp. dominated most of the early Holocene assemblages. Both forms of C. torosa disappear abruptly close to the onset of the Holocene. Around this time, ostracod preservation was dominated by many black coloured valves and carapaces.Based on ostracod assemblage data and isotope analyses, relatively wet phases were identified for the Older Dryas, Younger Dryas, and during the mid-Holocene at around 7500 14C years ago. Relatively dry phases were identified during the Allerød interstadial, at the end of YD, and at about 6700 14C years ago. An oligotrophic and brackish lake persisted until shortly before the end of the YD, when, according to the δ 13C values, conditions gradually became more eutrophic. The sudden disappearance of C. torosa at the end of the YD seems the consequence of anoxic bottom water conditions and/or eutrophication.Alternating wet and dry phases characterize the early Holocene, with a longer period of wet and oligotrophic conditions around 7500 14C years ago (ca. 8300 calBP). Ostracod assemblages and isotope records indicate a dry and more productive lake around 6700 14C years ago (ca. 7550 calBP).

Cytotoxic Activities of the Crude Venoms of Macrovipera lebetina lebetina from Cyprus and M. l. obtusa from Turkey (Serpentes: Viperidae) on Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

In this study, we used human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) as an in vitro model to compare the cytotoxic activities of the venoms of two Macrovipera lebetina subspecies, M. l. obtusa from southern Anatolia and M. l. lebetina from northern Cyprus. Well-established 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was preferred to assess the cytotoxicity. Our results showed that venom reduced cell viability both in a time and dose-dependent manner. The cytotoxic effect of M. l. lebetina venom on HUVEC is reported for the first time in the present study.

First application in Turkey of the European Non‐native Species in Aquaculture Risk Analysis Scheme to evaluate the farmed non‐native fish, striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus

AbstractThe European Non‐native Species in Aquaculture Risk Analysis Scheme (ENSARS) was used to assess one of the most popular aquaculture species in the world, the striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (Sauvage, 1878), in two locations of southern Anatolia (Turkey). The overall mean risk score generated for P. hypophthalmus by the ENSARS Organism module (which assesses the risks of introduction, establishment, dispersal and impact) indicated that the species poses a medium risk under current climatic conditions. All other ENSARS modules rendered scores that indicated a moderately low risk under current climatic conditions. However, the risks of introducing novel diseases and the actual use (e.g. deliberate introduction to the natural habitats or food market) of the species both attracted scores indicating a medium risk. Confidence levels were medium or high for all modules except the Socio‐economic, with low confidence values also attributed to the risks for farming process of the organism, and its overall risk of spread into the wild during farming procedures and to marketing impacts. Recommendations are provided for further use of the ENSARS scheme, especially for a a priori assessment of potential aquaculture species in Turkey, where the sector has been remarkably developing in the last decades.

A giant early Pleistocene bird from eastern Europe: unexpected component of terrestrial faunas at the time of early Homo arrival

ABSTRACTGiant birds, comparable in size to elephant birds and moa, have never been reported from Europe. Here, we describe a femur from the lower Pleistocene of the north Black Sea area (Crimea) that is referred to Pachystruthio dmanisensis, comb. nov., a giant bird with an estimated body mass of about 450 kg. This value makes this extinct bird one of the largest known avians (comparable to Aepyornis maximus) and the only bird of such giant size in Europe and the Northern Hemisphere in general. In contrast to very large insular birds, Pachystruthio dmanisensis was a good runner, which may be explained by its coexistence with large carnivoran mammals. Pachystruthio dmanisensis and associated assemblage of fossil mammals are shared with the Dmanisi locality in Georgia (∼1.8–1.7 Ma); thus, this giant bird was likely a typical component of eastern European faunas at the time of early hominin arrival. We suggest that Pachystruthio dmanisensis, together with early Homo and a variety of mammals, reached the northern Black Sea region via the southern Caucasus and Anatolia, because the older (Pliocene) finds of this fauna are known from Georgia and Turkey.

New evidence on the provenance of Red Lustrous Wheel-made Ware (RLW): Petrographic, elemental and Sr-Nd isotope analysis

The Red Lustrous Wheel-made Ware (RLW) is a distinctive Late Bronze Age ware produced from high quality red clay with an array of particular forms and a polished red surface. It has a wide distribution in the Eastern Mediterranean, mainly including central Anatolia, Cilicia, Cyprus, the Levant, and Egypt, indicating the important role of the ware in displaying possible cultural, commercial, and political interconnections. Its unique and identical character throughout its distribution area still complicates the identification of its provenance. Therefore, it has been the subject of numerous archaeological and archaeometric studies. In previous archaeological studies, a Cypriot origin for the ware has been proposed and generally accepted. In comparison to archaeological research, Cyprus and/or Anatolia are suggested as the origin of RLW in previous archaeometric studies. However, the latest discoveries from Anatolia suggests that the production place of RLW could be located in Rough Cilicia in southern Anatolia, as new RLW forms have been identified at Kilise Tepe level III (1500–1300 BCE).This study focuses on the newly identified RLW forms of jar and its subgroups excavated at Kilise Tepe, level III (c. 1500–1300 BCE). We report archaeometric results of petrographic, trace element and Sr (87Sr/86Sr) and Nd (143Nd/144Nd) isotopic analysis of RLW samples, not only from Kilise Tepe in southern Anatolia but also from Boğazköy/Ḫattuša in central Anatolia, and Tell Atchana/Alalakh in the Amuq Plain as comparative material. Archaeometric results suggest that the new RLW forms with their subgroups belong to the main chemical and mineralogical corpus of RLW. These results support the thesis that Kilise Tepe is the site with the largest variety of RLW forms, and also the hypothesis that the origin of RLW might be in Rough Cilicia in southern Anatolia. A few samples from each site were defined as outliers, indicating that there are small amounts of RLW produced from other clays, the sources of which remain unidentified.

Pollen-inferred regional vegetation patterns and demographic change in Southern Anatolia through the Holocene

Southern Anatolia is a highly significant area within the Mediterranean, particularly in terms of understanding how agriculture moved into Europe from neighbouring regions. This study uses pollen, palaeoclimate and archaeological evidence to investigate the relationships between demography and vegetation change, and to explore how the development of agriculture varied spatially. Data from 21 fossil pollen records have been transformed into forested, parkland and open vegetation types using cluster analysis. Patterns of change have been explored using non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) and through analysis of indicator groups, such as an Anthropogenic Pollen Index, and Simpson’s Diversity. Settlement data, which indicate population densities, and summed radiocarbon dates for archaeological sites have been used as a proxy for demographic change. The pollen and archaeological records confirm that farming can be detected earlier in Anatolia in comparison with many other parts of the Mediterranean. Dynamics of change in grazing indicators and the OJCV ( Olea, Juglans, Castanea and Vitis) index for cultivated trees appear to match cycles of population expansion and decline. Vegetation and land use change is also influenced by other factors, such as climate change. Investigating the early impacts of anthropogenic activities (e.g. woodcutting, animal herding, the use of fire and agriculture) is key to understanding how societies have modified the environment since the mid–late Holocene, despite the capacity of ecological systems to absorb recurrent disturbances. The results of this study suggest that shifting human population dynamics played an important role in shaping land cover in central and southern Anatolia.

Phylogenetic relationships of native Turkish cattle breeds using microsatellite markers

A total of 20 microsatellite DNA markers were used for genetic characterization and determination of phylogenetic relationships of native cattle breeds of Turkey, including the Anatolian Grey (AG), Anatolian Black (AB), South Anatolian Red (SAR), East Anatolian Red (EAR), Southern Anatolian Yellow (SAY), and Zavot (ZAV). DNA samples were isolated from 271 blood samples using an organic method. Amplified polymerase chain reaction products were separated by capillary electrophoresis and genotypes were determined for 20 microsatellites. A total of 269 different alleles were determined. The lowest (7.80) and highest (10.80) mean allele numbers were observed for the ZAV and SAY populations, respectively. TGLA122 was the most polymorphic locus; however, only 7 different alleles were observed for INRA005. A total of 40 different private alleles were determined. The general FIS values were between 0.034 and 0.123. Due to the close location to the domestication center, higher genetic diversities were observed. The observed genetic diversities and the results of the phylogenetic analyses were in agreement with evolutionary history and the geographical origins of Turkish native cattle breeds.

The Eastern Khoy metamorphic complex of NW Iran: a Jurassic ophiolite or continuation of the Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone?

The Khoy complex in NW Iran has been widely regarded to consist of both Jurassic and Cretaceous ophiolites, but whereas the western Late Cretaceous ophiolite is unequivocal the nature of the eastern Jurassic body has been unclear. Field observations show that the presumed eastern meta-ophiolite has no similarities to an ophiolite sequence. Here, we report geological and zircon–rutile–titanite U–Pb data for rocks from the presumed Jurassic ophiolite obtained to verify whether these are real ophiolitic units and to understand their relations either to the Late Cretaceous Zagros–Bitlis ophiolites in western Iran–southern Anatolia or to the Sevan–Akera (northern Armenia) and Izmir–Ankara (southern Pontides) complexes. The new U–Pb ages show that the ‘presumed’ ophiolite is in fact a collage of Ediacaran to Cambrian ( c. 606–517 Ma) and Jurassic ( c. 160 Ma) meta-igneous rocks, similar to ages obtained for igneous rocks of the Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone, which has been interpreted as a Jurassic continental rift. The Jurassic igneous rocks contain abundant Ediacaran, Ordovician–Silurian and Carboniferous–Permian inherited zircons, further suggesting involvement of pre-existing continental crust. Our results indicate that Jurassic continental rifting provided a lithospheric weakness along which a new subduction zone formed in Late Cretaceous times.

Ricotia candiriana (Brassicaceae), a new species from southern Anatolia, Turkey

Ricotia candiriana, from Alakır Valley (Kumluca, Antalya) in southern Anatolia (Turkey), is described as a new species and compared with its related species (R. davisiana). Its phylogenetic relationships within the genus are provided based on the nuclear-encoded ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) threat category and observations on the ecology of the population are noted. The seed micromorphology of R. candiriana was examined using a scanning electron microscope and compared with R. davisiana.

Trade in the Mediterranean Basin between the 8th and 6th century BCE, with Emphasis on the Dodecanese

Assyria’s growing power in the 1st millennium BCE led to an increase in its tribute demands addressed at Levantine cities; as a result, a need arose to intensify and expand further west the search for precious metals. Assyrian military and economic pressure mobilized the Phoenicians to expand their trade zone beyond the regional scale and to become the suppliers of basic resources to a vast empire. This can be seen in the Dodecanese. Rhodes but also Cos played an important part in that network of contacts and connections between the Aegean and the Near East, as is emphatically indicated by the artefacts found, especially those dating to late 8th and 7th centuries BCE. Due to its special geographic location, the island became a go-between and stopping point for the trade travelling from the eastern Mediterranean to Cyprus and mainland Greece. Objects dedicated in the sanctuaries at Ialysos, Kameiros, and Lindos attest to far-away Near-Eastern contacts. In this context, a large number of silver hoards have been attested in the southern Levant between the 10th-6th centuries BCE. The hoards contained, in varying proportions, silver ingots, nuggets, scrap metal, and small jewellery items, however, the silver itself originated from the territories of Greece (mostly Laurion), southern Anatolia and from Iberian sources.

On the genus Sunius Stephens, 1829 of Turkey VII. Two new micropterous species from southern Anatolia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae, Paederinae)

Two new species of Sunius Stephens (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae, Paederinae) from southern Anatolia are described, illustrated and distinguished from related congeners: Sunius orgeli sp. n. (Nigde) and Sunius cercii sp. n. (Konya and Karaman). Some specimens of the new species were collected with subterranean pitfall traps in the mesovoid shallow substratum. Additional records of three species of Sunius from Turkey are reported. The genus is now represented in Turkey by 41 species, 37 of them are endemic.

A new hypogean species of the genus Domene Fauvel, 1873 from Turkey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae)

Domene bordonii sp. n. is described and illustrated from Geyik Mountains, Konya province, central southern Anatolia. This new hypogean species was collected with a subterranean pitfall trap in the mesovoid shallow substratum.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:72D06EC5-885F-4BCC-8066-A16B28016697

An approach to compare the environmental conditions of Acer in the Miocene and in the modern flora of Turkey, based on wood anatomy

AbstractIn this study, xeromorphy ratios were calculated for Acer L. (maple) fossil woods in order to infer the precipitation conditions in the Miocene at the sites of the fossils, based on a comparison with the xeromorphy ratios of selected extant Acer species. The four studied petrified wood samples came from three localities of the Galatean Volcanic Province in Turkey: Kozyaka village (Bolu Province, Seben District), İnözü Valley (Ankara Province, Beypazarı District), and Kıraluç precinct between Nuhhoca and Dağşeyhler villages (Ankara Province, Beypazarı District). The calculated xeromorphy ratios ranged from 3 to 18 for the present-day wood and from 13 to 19 for the early Miocene wood. Values over 10 (11–18) represent xeric conditions; the lower values (3–7) indicate mesic conditions in modern Acer woods. The xeromorphy ratios of the Miocene wood indicate xeric conditions; we conclude that the sites of the fossil Acer woods were xeric, very similar to the modern Acer woodlands of central and southern Anatolia.

Psallusthomashenryi sp. n. and Psalluslucanicus from Turkey (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Miridae).

Psallus (Psallus) thomashenryisp. n. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae: Phylini: Phylina) is described from southern Anatolia, Turkey. Illustrations of the dorsal habitus and male genitalia are provided. Its habitus is similar to other uniformly orange species of the subgenus Psallus Fieber, 1858, particularly P.asthenicus Seidenstücker, 1966 from which it can be easily distinguished by the combination of extremely small size (2.3 mm in both sexes) and different morphology of the vesica. Psallus (Psallus) lucanicus Wagner, 1968 is recorded for the first time from Turkey. Psallus (Psallus) aurora (Mulsant & Rey, 1852) is removed from the list of Turkish fauna based on a reevaluation of the voucher specimen. An updated checklist of the species of Psallus known to occur in Turkey is provided. The relevance of Anatolia and the Syro-anatolian-transcaucasian region in the Palearctic distribution of Psallus is discussed. The westernmost record of another mirid, Plagiognathusmarivanensis Linnavuori, 2010, is provided.

A new species from southern Anatolia (Dedegöl Mountain Series—Çürük Mountain) in Turkey: Hypericum bilgehan-bilgilii (Hypericaceae)

Hypericum bilgehan-bilgilii is here described and illustrated as a new species of section Triadenioides, from the Southern Anatolia, Turkey. Distribution map, habitat and ecology, etymology, the Turkish name for the new species, and dichotomous key are given. The new species is compared with morphologically close species, H. ternatum and H. pallens.

First Balanced Cross Section Across the Taurides Fold-Thrust Belt: Geological Constraints on the Subduction History of the Antalya Slab in Southern Anatolia.

Eastern Mediterranean subduction accommodated Africa‐Eurasia convergence since Mesozoic time and produced multiple subducted slab fragments in the mantle below Anatolia. These included the north dipping Cyprus and ENE‐dipping Antalya slabs, which are currently separated by an upper mantle slab gap. Segmentation of these slabs, and associated mantle flow, may have contributed to <8 Ma uplift of the Central Anatolian Plateau. The western Central Taurides fold‐thrust belt in southern Turkey is in the upper plate above the Antalya slab and contains a geological record of its subduction. We present the first orogen‐scale balanced cross section of the Taurides and find that it formed in two stages: (1) Cretaceous to middle Eocene thrusting resulted in a minimum of 73‐km shortening, and (2) Mio‐Pliocene thrusting resulted in a minimum of 17.5‐km shortening. Eocene shortening accounts for only ~5 Myr of Africa‐Eurasia plate convergence. It is unlikely that >400 km of post to middle Eocene plate convergence was accommodated between the Taurides and its Beydağları platform foreland and instead must have been accommodated south of Beydağları. The associated southward plate boundary jump separated the Antalya slab from the African plate and the Cyprus slab. The isolated Antalya slab was left in an intraplate setting and is probably still attached to Beydağları today. We suggest the continental composition of the Antalya slab may have prevented its detachment. Finally, the gap between the Antalya and Cyprus slabs existed since at least Eocene time; their decoupling likely did not contribute to late Neogene Central Anatolian Plateau uplift.

The Political Micro-Economy of the Armenian Genocide, 1915–1922

ABSTRACTAfter the end of World War I, Armenians who survived the genocide began to return to their homeland by 1918. During this period, concrete steps were taken in terms of legal and administrative measures to return movable and immovable properties deported Armenians were forced to leave behind. Following the government of the CUP, necessary legal mechanisms were introduced to ensure both the return of Armenians from their deportation points and the restitution of movable and immovable properties. However, to what degree these mechanisms were implemented on the local level is disputable. This article attempts to reveal the implementation process of administrative regulations regarding the restitution of Armenian properties at the local level. It specifically examines how Armenian properties were restituted to their rightful owners who returned to the districts of Cebel-i Bereket and Osmaniye in Adana Province, located in the Cilicia region (today known as southern Anatolia).

Multilocus phylogeny and coalescent species delimitation in Kotschy's gecko, Mediodactylus kotschyi: Hidden diversity and cryptic species

Kotschy's Gecko, Mediodactylus kotschyi, is a small gecko native to southeastern Europe and the Levant. It displays great morphological variation with a large number of morphologically recognized subspecies. However, it has been suggested that it constitutes a species complex of several yet unrecognized species. In this study, we used multilocus sequence data (three mitochondrial and three nuclear gene fragments) to estimate the phylogenetic relationships of 174 specimens from 129 sampling localities, covering a substantial part of the distribution range of the species. Our results revealed high genetic diversity of M. kotschyi populations and contributed to our knowledge about the phylogenetic relationships and the estimation of the divergence times between them. Diversification within M. kotschyi began approximately 15 million years ago (Mya) in the Middle Miocene, whereas the diversification within most of the major clades have been occurred in the last 5 Mya. Species delimitation analysis suggests there exists five species within the complex, and we propose to tentatively recognize the following taxa as full species: M. kotschyi (mainland Balkans, most of Aegean islands, and Italy), M. orientalis (Levant, Cyprus, southern Anatolia, and south-eastern Aegean islands), M. danilewskii (Black Sea region and south-western Anatolia), M. bartoni (Crete), and M. oertzeni (southern Dodecanese Islands). This newly recognized diversity underlines the complex biogeographical history of the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Feeding ecology and prey selection of sand smelt, Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810 in Eğirdir Lake (southern Anatolia, Turkey)

Feeding ecology and prey selection of sand smelt (Atherina boyeri, Risso, 1810) were investigated by taking monthly samples (January to December 2010) at four stations of Lake Eğirdir, (Turkey) using gill nets (mesh sizes 10–100 mm) and purse-seines (mesh size 6 mm). A total of 49 out of 612 analysed stomachs were empty (8.01%); stomach contents included eight major prey categories: zooplankton, phytoplankton, Arachnida, Arthropoda, Insecta, fishes as well as unidentified organisms and remains. Dominant prey items included cladocerans (Bosmina longirostris [% N = 67.92], Alona quadrangularis [% N = 5.06]), copepods (Nitokra hibernica [% N = 9.30], Mesocyclops leuckarti [% N = 3.35]), and arthropoda (Corophium curvispinum [% N = 3.46]). The importance of Insecta, Arthropoda, fishes, and unidentified eggs increased in the diet with increasing size of the sand smelt, whereas the contribution of Cladocera and Copepoda decreased. Sand smelt strongly preferred B. longirostris (selectivity index V = 0.639, χ2 = 81.689, p < .01), N. hibernica (V = 0.205, χ2 = 8.429, p < .01), and A. quadrangularis (V = 0.159, χ2 = 5.039, p < .01) despite their low abundance in the environment. Atherina boyeri (V = −0.699, χ2 = 97.812, p < .01), Aphanius anatoliae (V = −0.328, χ2 = 21.463, p < .01), Insecta (V = −0.229, χ2 = 10.497, p < .01), and Keratella cochlearis (V = −0.265, χ2 = 14.009, p < .01) were the most abundant prey in the environment, however they were negatively selected by sand smelt. Knipowitschia caucasica, Asplanchna priodonta, Trichocerca sp., Lecane sp., and Acaridae also inhabit the lake, but were not found in the sand smelt food items. Cladocerans dominated during autumn and winter, arthropods, copepods, rotifers and phytoplankton in spring, whereas Insecta and fishes were dominant in summer.

Redescription of Alburnus kotschyi Steindachner, 1863, with comments on Alburnus sellal adanensis Battalgazi, 1944 (Teleostei: Leuciscidae).

Alburnus kotschyi is re-described and a neotype is designated. It is found in a small isolated coastal stream at Arsuz at the eastern Mediterranean coast as well as in the Ceyhan and Seyhan River drainages in southern Anatolia. Alburnus adanensis, from the Seyhan River, seems not to have been found again since its first description in 1944 and might be extinct.