Ramsar Sites of Turkey - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

Mixed wide leaved mangrove forest: In Geleric Forest, Fraxinus angustifolia
Frangula alnus - Quercus robur - Smilax excelsa are composed seasonally mangrove
forest. Fraxinus angustifolia is the dominant species.
Coastal sand dune: Sand dunes at western part are larger and higher according to the
sand dunes at eastern part. Surrondings <strong>of</strong> Cernek Lake is the place where the largest
eastern sand dunes located. The dominant plant species <strong>of</strong> the sand dunes are Euphorbia
sp., Pancratium maritumum, Verbascum sp. And Cyperus capitatus. The dominant plant
species <strong>of</strong> the gravelous sand dunes (primer dunes) are Euphorbia paralias, Medicago
marina, Eryngium maritimum, Xanthium strumarium, Pancratium maritumum, Juncus
acutus, Salsola kali, Tournefortia sibirica.
Shrub community in sand dunes: The shrub communities consits <strong>of</strong> species <strong>of</strong>
Hippophae rhamnoides - Paliurus spina-christii in high sand dunes and Rubus sanctus
Juncus littoralis in sand dunes. Additionally, there is a coppice area where 6-8 metres
long Laurus nobilis is dominant species in the location between Cernek Lake and the
coast.
Herbaceous communities at inner sand dunes: There are herbaceous sand dunes,
apart from the sand dunes with bushes and shrubes, covering the flat areas formed
between the woody areas, especially nearby Cernek Lake. Herbaceous communities, with
rich composition <strong>of</strong> annual plants, grow on drier soil.
Agricultural areas: Main crops in the agricultural areas are cereal and rice. There are
segetal communities (temporary communities composed by invasive species in the
agricultural areas) in and at the edge <strong>of</strong> the fields while the ruderal communities (the
communities in the soil with wastes such as garbage and gravel) are at road and at the
edge <strong>of</strong> the channel.
Residential areas: This areas cover centre <strong>of</strong> the districts, villages, secondary houses
and treatment units.
Other habitat types: Sea, maquis, etc.
Flora
Kizilirmak Delta is an important area for plants with 355 species, in <strong>Turkey</strong>. Delta
is designated as one <strong>of</strong> the 122 Important Plant Areas due to its rare plant species. There
are nine endangered species among the plant species <strong>of</strong> the Delta. Rhaponticum
serratuloides
and the Delta in <strong>Turkey</strong>. One <strong>of</strong> the other important plant species <strong>of</strong> the Delta is
Pancratium maritimum), because <strong>of</strong> gathering the bulbs and
tourism activities in the sand dunes, used to have a wide range in Mediterranean and
Jurinea kilaea, lives in the Delta and in a very few
coastal areas <strong>of</strong> the Black Sea, in <strong>Turkey</strong>.
Kizilirmak Delta is Leucojum aestivum known with its medicinal importance.
Wild Life
Fishes
Kizilirmak Delta is an important area for many fish species. There are 29 fish
species, belonging to 11 family, identified in the Delta. Sturgeons (Acipenseridae sp.),
those fish species <strong>of</strong> the Kizilirmak Delta. Knowing that Kizilirmak Delta with only two
remaining areas is the last habitats for sturgeons highlights the importance <strong>of</strong> the
Kizilirmak Delta to stop extinction <strong>of</strong> the species. There are records for Russian Sturgeon
49