Abstract: Turkey as a consequence of its exceptionally diverse topographical structure and differing climatic features is one of the world’s richest countries of the world as regards to the diversity of the plant species. The Mediterranean region takes the first place in the country, in relation with the number of species grown in a single region. The aim in this study conducted in the rangelands of Isparta which is located in the Mediterranean regio between the years of 2008-2009 is to present the plant species diversity of the local rangelands. In the study area, 302 plant taxa belonging to 43 families and 190 plant genera were identified and 28, 39 and 234 of these belonged to the graminae, legume and other families, respectively. The family that is represented with the most number of taxa with 41 taxa is the Asteraceae family. It is followed by Fabaceae, Lamiaceae and Poaceae families, respectively with 39, 30 and 29 taxa. Among the 302 plant taxa, 84 of the plants are annual; 3 of them are annual and biennial plants; 14 of the plants are biennial and 201 of them are perennial plants. Among the taxa encountered in the study area, 73 of them were recorded as the element of the Mediterranean region; 64 taxa were recorded as the element of Irano-Turanian region; 17 of them were recorded as the element of Euro-Siberian region and 148 taxa were recorded as widepspread or belonging to an unknown region. Moreover, 82 plant taxa were endemic and the endemism ratio was identified as 27.15%.

INTRODUCTION

Turkey is one of the richest countries of the word as regards to its flora and vegetation. With approximately 9200 genera and 1200 species and subspecies taxa, the country has one of the richest floras of its climatic zone in the world according to the diversity of the plant species. Moreover, the endemism ratio is approximately 34% with 3925 endemic species (NPNC, 2007). The reason for such richness is that Mediterranean, Irano-turanian and Euro-Siberian floristic regions are located in Anatolia and they even merge in some sections (Davis, 1965-1985). Furthermore, the variety of the topographical, geological and geomorphological structures and climatic differences can be stated as among the reasons for this wide diversity of herbaceous and woody plants (Turkmen, 1987). The Mediterranean region takes the first place with 750 species in relation with the number of species grown in a single region within the country (Ekim et al., 2000).

The rangelands, among the natural resources take one of the first places when their significances in the ecological system, places in stockbreeding, roles in preventing the erosion, biological diversities and situations of becoming a gene center are considered (Acikgoz, 2001). In relation with the land use, the richest places are the rangelands with the numerous herbaceous and ligneous plants contained in these lands because the abundance of the number of plant species in the rangeland vegetations is a significant indicator of the biological diversity in the area.

The rangelands of Isparta region as the field of study are located in the intersection zone of Mediterranean and Irano-turanian floristic regions and also have considerably rich structures according to their natural vegetation. In this regard, the aim of this study is to determine the plant species diversity of the rangelands in Isparta region. Moreover, the determination of the endemic and endangered plant species which have the features of a biological heritage for the country is also, aimed with this study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted, between the years of 2008-2009 in Davraz Mountain, Kulova Plateau Rangeland (1650 m), Darioren Rangeland (1500 m), Kozagaci Plateau Rangeland (1450 m), Kayi village Rangeland (1400 m) and Kirtepe Rangeland (1200 m) situated within the province of Isparta (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1:	Research area

The study area is located in the transition area of the Mediterranean and continental climatic zones (Babalik and Sonmez, 2010). According to the data of Isparta meteorological station, the annual mean temperature is 12°C while the mean value of annual rainfall is 506 mm (TMS, 2009).

The study was conducted during the vegetation period between May and October in the both years and the assessment of the flora was performed, during these periods by visiting the rangelands which each had different topographical structures bi-weekly.

The samples of the plants identified in these lands were obtained and they were brought to the herbarium by means of placing them in the pressers. Moreover, the digital photographs of the plant species obtained from the areas were taken.

During the obtainment of the samples, it was taken special care that the organs of the plants such as flower, leaf, stem and root which are essential for the identification of the plants were picked as a whole and each sample was numbered.

The lands where the plants were obtained and their picking times were noted. Since, the plants came into blossom at different times, obtaining samples from the plants with different blossom periods were ensured by visiting the same lands at various dates in the vegetation period. After the species identification of the plants brought to the herbarium is performed, their lengths of lives, element regions and conditions of endemism were then determined (Davis, 1965-1985; Davis et al., 1988; Guner et al., 2000; Tutin et al., 1964-1980).

During the identification of the plants, the flora studies conducted in Isparta and its surroundings (Fakir, 2006; Babalik and Fakir, 2009; Fakir et al., 2009; Ozcelik and Ozturk, 1999; Ozcelik and Korkmaz, 2002) and the data of the Herbariums belonging to Faculty of Forestry and Faculty of Science and Letters at Süleyman Demirel University were used. Furthermore, the danger categories and endemism conditions of the plants taxa according to the IUCN threatened categories were shown in Table 1 (IUCN, 2001; Ekim et al., 2000). The abbreviations used in the floristic list are as follows:

Table 1:	Plant taxa encountered in the study area and some of their significant characteristics

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In the study areas, total of 302 plant taxa, belonging to 43 families and 190 genera were encountered. Some characteristics of the taxa identified in the rangelands such as their plant families, lengths of lives, element regions, endemism conditions and IUCN risk categories are shown in Table 1. Among the 302 plant taxa identified in the study areas, 28, 39 and 234 of them belonged to the graminae, legume and other families, respectively. About 84 among these plants are annual; 3 of them are annual and biennial plants; 14 of the plants are biennial and 201 of them are perennial plants.

About 73 of the plant taxa were recorded as the element of the Mediterranean region; 64 taxa were recorded as the element of Irano-Turanian region; 17 of them were recorded as the element of Europe-Siberia region and 148 taxa were recorded as widespread or belonging to an unknown region (Table 2). Moreover, 82 plant taxa were endemic and the endemism ratio was calculated as 27.15%.

When these endemic species are evaluated according to IUCN (2001) risk categories, it can be observed that 8 of them falls into the category of Endangered (EN) while 4 of them is categorized as Vulnerable (VU) and 65 of the endemic species falls into the category of Least risk (LC) whereas 5 of them is classified in the Data Deficient (DD) category (Table 1) (IUCN, 2001; Ekim et al., 2000). The family that is represented with the most number of taxa with 41 taxa is the Asteraceae family.

Table 2:	Phytogeographic distribution of the plant taxa located in the study area

Table 3:	The families with the most number of taxa at the species and subspecies level

It is followed by Fabaceae, Lamiaceae and Poaceae families, respectively with 39, 30 and 29 taxa (Table 3).

The families that contain the most of number of genera, on the other hand can be listed, respectively as Asteraceae (27 genera), Poaceae (23 genera) and Brassicaceae (19 genera) families.

CONCLUSION

As a result of the study, the region of Isparta was observed to have a considerably rich flora with a total of 302 plants from 43 families and 190 genera. The fact that the rangelands in the field of study were located in the intersection zone of Mediterranean region and Irano-Turanian floristic regions and accordingly contained various topographical structures and climatic features had a significant effect on this diversity of plants in the region. Nonetheless, 77 taxa among the 82 endemic plant taxa identified in the rangelands within the field of study are threatened according to the IUCN (2001). The most significant factor causing this threat in the rangelands is encountered as early grazing and overgrazing. It was ascertained that the rangelands in Isparta region were benefited 2-2.5 times exceeding its grazing capacity (Babalik, 2007). Thrusting animals, more in number than it can feed into the rangelands; these animals eating the grass together with their roots and practice of grazing during the period when these grass are newly growing and thus not fully developed, cause the extinction of vegetation that covers the surface of the soil and the decrease in the quality of rangelands (Balabanli et al., 2005). The endangered species, especially are eaten by the animals before they reach their seeding periods under the pressure of early and excessive grazing thus, their number decreases day by day and their generations are imperiled. For the protection of endemic and endangered plant species which are considered as natural heritages, there is a need for preventing the excessive and disorganized benefitting from the rangelands and in these regions: