Central Anatolian BioProvince

This BioProvince (as defined by Armen Takhtajan) comprises the arid and semi-arid parts of Anatolia including the Anatolian Plateau. Surrounding mountains give it a bowl-like configuration – a feature that has helped to keep the area isolated. As a consequence a number of unique plant formation have developed. It has a steppe climate with hot, dry summers and cold winters and there are significant temperature differences between day and night. Precipitation is low, much of it falling as snow in winter. To the east it is bounded by the so-called Anatolian Diagonal, which runs from the vicinity of Bayburt southwest through the province of Erzincan and then along the Anti-Taurus. This marks a distinct floral break separating this BioProvince from the adjacent Armeno-Iranian BioProvince. The flora includes a large number of endemic species (about 30% of the flora) and several endemic genera including Crenosciadum, Cyathobasis, Kalidiopsis, Olymposciadium, Physocardamum, Phryna, Sartoria and Tchihatchewia.  However, there are many centres of endemism particularly on gypsaceous and marly-gypsaceous soils - the most import being Beypazari, Cankiri and Sivas.

The following accounts for this BioProvince have been written or will be written with particular reference to endemic and locally important species. Accounts available are displayed in green or yellow. Those displayed in red are either in the pipeline or awaiting expert contributions.

 

Index
Major Ecosystems
Endemic Vascular Plant Flora
Bryophyte Flora
Fungus Flora
Lichen Flora
Invertebrate Fauna
Amphibian Fauna
Reptile Fauna
Bird Fauna
Mammal Fauna
Conservation Status