PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE STEPPE COMMUNITIES OF NATURAL PASTURES IN ŞANLIURFA, UPPER MESOPOTAMIA, TURKEY

This phytosociological study was carried out in the steppe of Fatik Mountains in Sanliurfa, between the years 2002-2005. At the end of this study, it was underlined that the dominant vegetation type was steppe in the region and different steppe associations were determined. These were also; Festuco callieri–Teucrietum poliae ass. nova, Astragalo strictifolii–Salvietum sclarea ass. nova, Phlomido bruguieri–Thymbretum spicatae ass. nova, Asphodelo aestivum–Teucrietum poliae ass. nova, Cynodo dactyloni–Bromoetum danthoniae ass. nova, and Prosopo farctae–Avenetum erianthae ass. nova. During the floristic surveys, 153 taxa belonging to 26 families and 107 genera were identified. Poaceae with 31 taxa (20.3%), Asteraceae with 24 taxa (15.7%), Fabaceae with 22 (14.4%), and Apiaceae with 13 taxa (8.5%) were the richest families.