Ayvalık (Balıkesir/Turkey) dune plant diversity, threatening factors and solution proposals

Abstract

Ayvalık and its environs are unique due to its coastal structure and natural beauties, and particularly the islands belonging to Ayvalık makes up the most important resource values. This study was carried out to determine the plant diversity in the coastal dunes of Ayvalık and its surroundings, to present the threat factors and to offer solutions. The study was conducted between 2016-2017. For this purpose; floristic and ecological observations were made in four seasons. As a result of floristic studies; 88 genera and 115 taxa belonging to 32 families were determined. Fabaceae (15 taxa), Asteraceae (14 taxa) and Amaranthaceae (8 taxa) families are dominant in the flora of the region. The most common taxa in dune areas are; Matthiola tricuspidata, Malcolmia flexuosa, Salicornia emericii, Cakile maritima, Anthemis rigida, A. tomentosa, Halimione portulacoides, Plantago coronopus subsp. commutata, Trifolium subterraneum, Eryngium maritimum, Allium sphaerocephalon and Euphorbia paralias. The role of human factors is particularly notable in a significant part of the coastal dunes in the region. Beach arrangements in dune areas, secondary housing construction in coastal areas, sand extraction from coasts, tourism, wetland drying and fires threaten dune habitats and plant species in the region. Especially due to the extensive use of the coastal areas and beach arrangements; The habitats of Sea daffodil (Pancratium maritimum) and Narcissus (Narcissus tazetta) have been greatly damaged. Moreover, the fact that P. maritimum bulbs were collected by the people there greatly reduced the populations of this species. It also is given solution proposals for protection of dune plants.