Vegetation and plant diversity of high-altitude mountains in eastern karadeniz (black sea) region of Turkey and climate change interactions

Abstract

This chapter presents an overview of the plant diversity and climate change interactions covering the eastern Karadeniz region (Black Sea). The flora and plant associations reported from the high altitudes in the region are summarized. A total of 3210 vascular plant taxa have been reported as native or naturalized in the region; of these, 465 taxa are endemic to Turkey, 50 endemics are included in the critically endangered list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) while 67 are in the endangered list. As far as the climate change scenario is concerned, it is possible to observe 200-400-m upward shifts in the plant belts in the western part of the region and upward movement of the tree line in the eastern part. The upward shift in the tree line will probably threaten the biodiversity of the alpine grassland areas where most of the endemic taxa are distributed. Many alien plant taxa have already been naturalized in the region, and it is estimated that many others will move to the region with change in climate.