GENOTYPE-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION OF CIRSIUM (ASTERACEAE, CARDUEAE) TAXA DISTRIBUTED ON NORTH-EAST ANATOLIA BY USING SPATIAL ANALYST TECHNIQUES

Abstract

Cirsium Miller is perennial, biennial or rarely annual, spiny species and contains more than 250 taxa. This genus is represented 77 taxa at the level of species, subspecies and twenty eight of them are endemic to Turkey. Distribution of Cirsium depends on environmental conditions where they are grown. Therefore, to define and maintain environmental conditions of the local distribution area of plants are crucial to protect them from extinction. In this context, 6 provinces of north-east Anatolia of Turkey including Giresun, Trabzon, Rize, Artvin, Gumushane, and Bayburt were chosen as study area. After determining potential Cirsium distribution areas by field work, 109 plants representing 24 taxa were collected with location coordinates. By using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) techniques, environmental data such as elevation, slope, aspect, road, and river were collected for all regions. These data sets were combined in GIS database and analysed by using spatial analysis and surface analysis techniques. As a result, environmental data values were analysed and produced for each Cirsium distribution area. Cirsium distribution areas were categorized in view of classes of elevation levels, slope and aspect groups, distance to road and river, and so on. Variance analysis showed distribution of Circium taxa significantly correlated with environmental factors except aspect has not displayed any differences on distribution of taxa.