Determining indicator plant species of Pinus brutia Ten. Site index classes using interspecific correlation analysis in Antalya (Turkey)

ABSTRACT Background: We performed a vegetation study in Antalya, where the Mediterranean climate prevails, in order to determine the indicator plant species of red pine (Pinus brutia Ten.). Red pine can be widely distributed from sea level to 1200 meters. Its main distribution is in the main Mediterranean vegetation zone between 500-1000 meters. However, the variation of the habitat factors may be low in this range. Therefore, the productivity relationships of species such as red pine, whose sustainable use is important, cannot be directly explained by environmental variables. In such cases, it is important to determine the indicator plant species. For this reason, indicator plant species of red pine productivity (site index class I) were determined by using interspecific correlation analysis (ICA) in the study. Then, using principal components analysis, the relationship of indicator plant species with the variables of elevation, slope, aspect and soil depth was revealed. In the principal components analysis, the plant species that were determined as an indicator were also added to the graph as a class variable, and the effects of the variables on the indicator plant species were also investigated. Results: The results of the ICA showed that Dryopteris flix-mas (L.) Schott, Abies cilicica (Antoine & Kotschy) Carrière, Cedrus libani A. RICH and Colutea cilicica Boiss. & Bal. species were negative indicators of red pine productivity. On the other hand, Cistus creticus L. and Smilax aspera L. species were positive indicators of productivity Conclusions: Interspecific correlation analysis is a useful tool to determine the ecological properties of species that have a local distribution or a vertical distribution in a narrow altitude range. It also offers practical and effective results, especially for species with high commercial value such as red pine.