A New Natural Distribution Area of the Kasnak Oak (Quercus vulcanica [Boiss. and Heldr. ex] Kotschy): Budağan Mountain (Tavşanlı and Emet Districts, Kütahya Province)
The kasnak oak (Quercus vulcanica [Boiss. and Heldr. ex] Kotschy) is an endemic oak species in Türkiye whose largest distribution area is in the western part of the Turkish Lake District. The literature on current plant studies has emphasized some of the natural distribution areas of the kasnak oak in Türkiye to be found in the Murat, Türkmen, and Şaphane mountains in Kütahya province. The kasnak oak’s distribution is unknown regarding Budağan Mountain (İnyanı Peak 1612 m) which lies between Tavşanlı and Emet districts in western Kütahya. The field studies carried out in July 2022 on Budağan Mountain were the first to identify the presence of the kasnak oak there. Kasnak oaks are located in the dry forest area formed of junipers on land made of limestone at an altitude range of 1430-1600 m on Budağan Mountain, with dolines offering a more favorable environment in terms of humidity, especially on the northern side of the mountain. Young kasnak oak groups develop at the base of the dolines and have a height of 3-4 m Individual oaks can reach 80 cm in diameter and 12 m in length.
This study involves the natural distribution of the kasnak oak, an endangered (NT) group according to the risk categories of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), on Budağan Mountain, an area that has not been previously studied in detail. In addition, the study aims to contribute to the information about the natural distribution of this endemic species and to reveal the area’s ecological characteristics.
Kasnak Meşesinin (Quercus Vulcanica [Boiss. And Heldr. Ex] Kotschy) Yeni Bir Doğal Yayılış Alanı: Budağan Dağı (Tavşanlı-Emet, Kütahya)
Türkiye’deki endemik meşe türlerinden biri olan kasnak meşesi (Quercus vulcanica [Boiss. and Heldr. ex] Kotschy)’nin Anadolu’da en geniş yayılış alanı Göller Yöresi’nin batı kesimidir. Mevcut literatürde, Türkiye’deki doğal yayılış alanları içerisinde kasnak meşesinin Kütahya ilinde Murat Dağı, Türkmen Dağı ve Şaphane Dağı’nda olduğu vurgulanmaktadır. İlin batısında, Tavşanlı ile Emet ilçeleri arasında yükselen Budağan Dağı (İnyanı Tepe 1612 m) üzerindeki yayılışı bilinmemektedir. Budağan Dağı’nda Temmuz 2022 yılında yapılan arazi çalışmaları esnasında kasnak meşesinin varlığı ilk defa tarafımızca tespit edilmiştir. Kasnak meşesi (Quercus vulcanica) Budağan Dağı’nın 1430-1600 m yükseltileri arasında kalker yapılı arazide, ardıçların oluşturduğu kuru orman sahasında, nem bakımından daha elverişli bir ortam sunan dolinlerin içerisinde özellikle kuzeye bakan yamaçlarında bireyler halinde yer almaktadır. Dolinlerin tabanlarında ise 3-4 metre boya sahip gençlik halinde kasnak meşesi toplulukları gelişme imkânı bulmuştur. Meşe bireylerinin çapı 80 cm ‘yi, boyu ise 12 metreye kadar çıkmaktadır.
Bu çalışma, Dünya Doğayı Koruma Birliği (IUCN) 'nin risk kategorilerine göre Tehdit Altında (NT) grubunda yer alan daha önce hakkında detaylı araştırma yapılmamış kasnak meşesinin Budağan Dağı’ndaki doğal yayılışını konu almaktadır. Ayrıca, bu endemik türün doğal yayılışı ile ilgili bilgilere katkı sağlamayı ve sahanın ekolojik özelliklerini ortaya koymayı da amaçlamaktadır
Türkiye has seen various climate types prevail and different ecosystems form due to its geographical location and geomorphological features. These geographical features have increased plant species diversity. In fact, Türkiye is located at the intersection of the Mediterranean, Euro-Siberian, and Iran-Turan phytogeographic regions. The vegetation elements of Türkiye have also spread to such areas as the Mediterranean plant element areas in the south and west, the Euro-Siberian community areas in the north, the Iran-Turan plant areas in the east, and in the interior (Dönmez, 1972; Atalay, 2002; Avcı, 2005).
The kasnak oak (Quercus vulcanica [Boiss. and Heldr. ex] Kotschy) is an endemic oak species in Türkiye. Its widest distribution area in Anatolia occurs in the western part of the Turkish Lakes Region. Among the natural distribution areas in Türkiye, the literature on current plant studies has emphasized the kasnak oak as being found in Murat Mountain, Türkmen Mountain, and Şaphane Mountain in Kütahya province. Its distribution on Budağan Mountain (İnyani Peak 1612 m), which rises between Tavşanlı and Emet districts in western Kütahya, had been unknown. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the information about a new distribution area of the species in Türkiye.
“The first sample of kasnak oak was reported from the volcanic mountain of Karadağ (Karaman) in the 1800s, and it was derived from the word ‘vulcanica,’ which means related to the volcano” (Avcı, 2004, p.113-114; Baytop, 1995). Quercus vulcanica is distributed between temperate and continental climate zones. It likes deep, fertile, moist soils with no drainage problems and is resistant to limescale. It is mostly found in the valleys, at the bases of the dolines (Avcı, 1996; Sabuncu, 2002; Genç et al., 2011). Its wood is very valuable. It is also especially suitable for cladding due to the extreme narrowness of the annual rings and their smooth stems (Gökşin, 1979). The kasnak oak is preferred in the production of parquet and alcohol barrels (Yaltırık & Efe, 2000; Sabuncu, 2002). It is thought to be preferred in the production of wine barrels and kasnaks [hoops/cyliners] because of the lightness of the wood and the ease with which it can be processed (Avcı, 2004).
The field studies carried out in July 2022 determined the presence of kasnak oaks on Budağan Mountain. While carrying out the field study on the mountain, a longitudinal section of vegetation was addressed, roughly in a north-south direction. During this research, the study used a hand-held GPS to record the geographical locations, coordinates, elevation values, aspect, and slope characteristics of the kasnak oaks in order to determine the habitat preferences. The research also took plant samples from different localities. The diameters of the kasnak oak specimens were measured at the breast height (1.3 m). In addition, observations were made regarding the lithological, soil, and geomorphological characteristics of the areas where the kasnak oak specimens had distributed over the mountain. The study also took and identified plant samples belonging to other species present alongside the Quercus vulcanica.
The research has used the program ArcGIS ver. 10.8.2 to create the images and perform the analysis. The study also used ArGIS to create location, physical, slope, aspect, and geological maps of the kasnak oaks’ distribution areas and performed a Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) analysis was performed to determine the general vegetation distributions on Budağan Mountain. The coordinate information collected from the field was also transferred to the maps with the help of the program. Interpolation was also used to make the distribution map after determining the lower southern and northern borders using the kasnak oak profile that had been extracted from the south and north.
The kasnak oak is found in the dry forest area consisting of junipers (Juniperus excelsa and J. foetidissima) in the highly cracked exposed limestones of Budağan Mountain, the kasnak oak is particularly distributed along the north-facing slopes and bases of the dolines, which are suitable for moisture. The results obtained from the field studies show the specimens to be in their youth stage and to prefer doline bottoms. A very small number of dolines are found in which the kasnak oak has formed a community. These kasnak oaks are usually in their youth stage. The measurements made on the kasnak oak specimens, which occur in a Mediterranean element, show individual specimens measuring 80 cm in diameter at the breast height and with a height of 12 meters to be able to be encountered, in addition to the groups of bush-shaped kasnak oaks up to 3-4 meters in height that are clustered inside doline bottoms.
The kasnak oaks are found on the mountain at an elevation range of 1430-1600 m. The fact that they have survived on the mountain to the present day is due to the difficulty of transportation, as well as the deficient topography as a result of karstification events. In other words, the karstic area where the kasnak oak is distributed has allowed the species to avoid anthropogenic effects.
The kasnak oak is one of Türkiye’s endemic species and has been classified as LC (Low Risk; Stephan, 2018) according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) risk categorization, while classified as LR (Less Threatened; Ekim et al., 2000) in the Red Book of Turkish Plants. While this species does face the possibility of becoming threatened, it should be taken under protection as soon as possible together with Corylus colurna in Budağan Mountain.
