Ramsar Sites of Turkey - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
Ramsar Sites of Turkey - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
Ramsar Sites of Turkey - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
WILDLIFE<br />
Flora<br />
The existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> numerous different habitats such as aquatic, terrestrial, salt and<br />
freshwater has supported plant variety. 27 phytoplankt<strong>on</strong> species are recorded in the<br />
site. Also 428 species <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 73 families were recorded;; 48 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which are endemic to <str<strong>on</strong>g>Turkey</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
Poa speluncarum and Puccinellia bulbosa caesarea are the most vulnerable tax<strong>on</strong>s am<strong>on</strong>g<br />
these.<br />
Comm<strong>on</strong> reed (Phragmites australis) and narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia) in the<br />
reedbeds;; European white waterlily (Nymphaea alba), bladderwort (Utricularia australis),<br />
lesser duckweed (Lemna minor), opposite-leaved p<strong>on</strong>dweed (Groenlandia densa) and<br />
comm<strong>on</strong> water plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica) in freshwater areas;; water mint<br />
(Mentha aquatic), sharp rush (Juncus littoralis), creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens)<br />
and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) in flooded meadows;; salicornia (Salicornia<br />
europaea), Artiplex nitens in halophytic areas;; milk vetch (Astragalus macrocephalus<br />
finitimus), harmal (Peganum harmala) and white worm wood (Artemisia herba-alba) in<br />
salt steppes are the leading plant species recorded in the site.<br />
Fish<br />
Seven fish species <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> four families are recorded. The streams in Sultan Marshes are<br />
important for the narrow range fish species named Aphanus danfordii. Again yag baligi<br />
(Phoxinellus anatolicus) recorded in the site is listed in Internati<strong>on</strong>al Uni<strong>on</strong> for<br />
C<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nature (IUCN) red list threatened species categories.<br />
Amphibians and Reptiles<br />
Three amphibian species are recorded in Sultan Marshes. European tree frog (Hyla<br />
arborea) am<strong>on</strong>g these species is listed in IUCN Red List least c<strong>on</strong>cern category. European<br />
green toad (Bufo viridis) is listed in Annex II and marsh frog (Rana ridibunda) in Annex<br />
III <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bern <str<strong>on</strong>g>C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
Of reptiles ten species <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 10 classes are recorded. Spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca)<br />
am<strong>on</strong>g these species is listed in IUCN Red List vulnerable category. European p<strong>on</strong>d turtle<br />
(Emys orbicularis) is categorized as lower risk in the same list.<br />
Birds<br />
Sultan Marshes is a rather important area for birds due to being located in the juncti<strong>on</strong><br />
point <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> two main bird migrati<strong>on</strong> routes through Europe, Asia and Africa. The site is<br />
known to provide 247 bird species with feeding, breeding and staging possibilities.<br />
Sultan Marshes in <str<strong>on</strong>g>Turkey</str<strong>on</strong>g> is <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the important breeding sites for threatened pygmy<br />
cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmeus), white-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala) and<br />
marbled duck (Marmar<strong>on</strong>etta angustirostris). Eurasian golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria),<br />
Eurasian spo<strong>on</strong>bill (Platalea leucorodia), glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), gadwall (Anas<br />
11