Investigation of the Flora, General Vegetation Structure and EUNIS Habitat Types of Some Natural Protected Areas in Gülnar and Silifke (Mersin-Turkey)

Investigation of the Flora, General Vegetation Structure and EUNIS Habitat Types of Some Natural Protected Areas in Gülnar and Silifke (Mersin-Turkey) This study aims to determine the floristic characteristics, EUNIS habitat types and general vegetation structure of Çağlayan, Ilısu and Yerköprü Waterfalls, Göksu Delta, Narlıkuyu, Roman Ruins, Şeytanderesi and Cambazlı Cistern and Akdere Tahta Limanı natural protected areas in Gülnar, Mut and Silifke districts of Mersin (Turkey). A total of 218 different taxa belonging to 65 families and 174 genera were identified in the study. A total of 31 taxa were identified in Çağlayan Waterfall, 32 in Ilısu Waterfall, 55 in Yerköprü Waterfall, 62 in Göksu Delta, 47 in Narlıkuyu, 26 in Roman Ruins, 63 in Akdere Tahta Liman, 63 in Şeytanderesi and 85 in Cambazlı Cistern. A total of 8 (3.66%) endemic plant taxa were identified in this study. According to phytogeographic regions, 77 taxa were Mediterranean (35.32%), 11 taxa were Euro-Siberian (5.04%), 7 taxa were Irano-Turanian (3.21%), 45 taxa were widely distributed (20.64%) and 78 taxa were of unknown phytogeographic region (35.77%). In this study, 22 sub-habitat types related to 9 main habitats were identified. In terms of general vegetation structure, character species of Quercetea Ilicis and Cisto-Micromerietea syntaxonomic classes were found in all study areas. Character species of Quercetea Pubescentis class were observed in all areas except Göksu Delta, Şeytan Creek and Cambazlı Cistern. In Şeytan Creek and Cambazlı Cistern and Akdere Tahta Liman, character species belonging to the Querco-Fagetea syntaxonomy class were found differently from the others. Keywords: Natural sites, flora, eunis habitat types, vegetation, mersin.