A Multivariate Analysis in Relation to Edaphic and Environmental Factors of Rangelands Vegetation of Mugla Province

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to compare in 20 differentrangeland sample areas that determined in order to environmentalvariables, vegetation and soil properties by multivariate ordinationanalysis in Mugla province. Cluster analysis was made to determinethe similarity and species compositions of sample areas, and as aresult of this analysis, three different groups have occurred.Additionally, detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) was madeafter the indicator species analysis. The interaction betweenenvironmental and soil-borne factors as altitude, distance to village,soil depth, pH in saturated soil with water, lime and surface stoninesswere found to be significant and this significance was expressed bygraphs. Moreover, it was indicated that relationship with species inthe vegetation of the variables that were determined as significant bytables and figures. The relationship with the species in the vegetationof the variables that were determined as significant was alsoindicated. The result of the study showed that environmentalvariables as soil depth, soil pH saturated with water, stony surface,altitude and distance to villages had a significant effect on the speciesdiversity and distribution in the samples areas.