Title
East Thracian steppes on marl clay alternating with downy oak forests (Quercus pubescens) and Paliurus spina-christi-scrub
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Turkey: east Thracian (Ergene basin)
area frequency
2 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
No details
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
A climatically and edaphically determined alternation of steppes, thermophilous downy oak forests and arid scrub. The character and species composition of the Thracian "steppes" are to a large extent unknown. Horvat, Glavač and Ellenberg (1974) described a spiny shrub, thistle and ephemeral-rich sub-Mediterranean Phrygana type after a literature evaluation.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Quercus pubescens, Ulmus minor, Carpinus orientalis, Pyrus elaeagrifolia, isolated Quercus cerris, Acer campestre
Shrub layer
Crataegus monogyna, Cornus mas, Ulmus minor, Carpinus orientalis, Pyrus elaeagrifolia, Paliurus spina-christi, Pistacia terebinthus, Rosa canina, Phillyrea latifolia (locally), Prunus spinosa
Lianas
Rubus fruticosus agg.
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
No details
Diagnostically important species
Quercus pubescens, Ulmus minor, Carpinus orientalis, Paliurus spina-christi, Prunus spinosa
Ecological variants
No details
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
No details
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Spring sites with Vitex agnus-castus; Salix alba forest with Humulus lupulus.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
Balkan oak forests (G28, G29), downy oak-bitter oak forests (G32, G33), Oriental hornbeam-downy oak forests (G59), Pinus brutia forests (K22), alluvial and lowland forests (U18, U36).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
Only a few strongly degraded forest remnants, at the margins occasionally oak forests, in parts Pinus nigra plantations, scrub.
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Extensively exploited pastures in small areas.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
Large areas have been converted into areas of arable land: cultivation of wheat, sunflowers, sugar beets, corn, watermelons and honeydew melons.
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
Cities, villages and industrial plants.
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
basins, weakly undulating hilly country with river valleys
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
lowland; 50-200 m
Geology (bedrock)
sediments of the Miocene, Pliocene (Tertiary)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
vertisols of gault clay-substrate (in winter poorly permeable), gray-brown podzolic soil of Pliocene-material (deep, clayey loam soils with quarzgravel); (pellic vertisols; stony chromic luvisols)
soil texture
clayey loam, clay
soil moisture, water balance
dry, periodically dry
soil reaction
weakly acidic alkaline
soil fertility
mesotrophic, meso-eutrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
IV(VII)
average annual temperature
12,5-13,5 °C
average annual precipitation
550-650 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
22-24 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
January 2-4 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
very high water deficiency in summer, mostly continental climatic conditions.
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Near-natural vegetation only remaining as remnants and heavily degraded.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
Mixed broadleaved forests, scrub, steppes (Phrygana).
causes of endangerment
Agricultural use, air pollution (SO2).
required measures for protection and restitution
Preservation of more natural forests and scrub, establishment of protected areas.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
No details
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
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Most important references (author, year)
Irmak, Kurter & Kantarcı 1980; Kantarcı 1975; Kantarcı 1976; Kantarcı 1978b; Kantarcı 1989b; Kantarcı 1994; Kantarcı 1996; Kantarcı 1997c; Kantarcı 1997d; Kantarcı & Karaöz 1998
Compiled by
M.D. Kantarcı
