Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING, cilt.43, 2019 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)
Cemeteries harbor and protect the diversity of forest species in urban areas. Inventories of species contribute to a valuable understanding of the indigenous biodiversity within the cemeteries. The goal of this study was to compare the composition of tree and shrub species in cemeteries belonging to the Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities in Istanbul, Turkey. Five cemeteries (Karacaahmet - Muslim; Zincirlikuyu - Muslim; Sisli - Greek Orthodox; Balikli - Armenian; Haskoy - Jewish) were analyzed to identify and interpret similarities in the density of floral species. The importance of preserving some of these species due to their rarity or threat level was established. Effects of management practices among the selected cemeteries were also encountered. Abies nordmanniana subsp. bornmuelleriana, Viburnum tinus, Fraxinus ornus Cerasus mahaleb, Euonymus latifolius and Liquidambar orientalis were important threatened species. Each of the five cemeteries exhibit different vegetation characteristics and species important to the individual religious traditions. The most widespread species at Karacaahmet were Cupressus spp. (46%) and Pistacia terebinthus (15%). At Zincirlikuyu, tree species were almost identical to those at Karacaahmet and included Cupressus spp. (34%) and Pinus spp. (18%). Tree species identified at Sisli included Cupressus spp. (43%) and Bwcus sempervirens (16%). At Balikli, Rosa spp. (46%) was widespread over the entire site. Cupressus spp. (19%) and Euonymus japonica (15%) were the most widespread tree species at Balikli. Finally, the most prevalent species at Haskoy were Ligustrum lucidium (35%), and Euonymus japonica (18%). The Karacaahmet and Zincirlikuyu exhibited the diversity of plant species. They were followed by Balikli, Sisli, and Haskoy, respectively. The density of plant species was highest at Zincirlikuyu, followed by Karacaahmet, Haskoy, Sisli, and Balikli. A centralized system of management that recognizes and respects the differences in religious beliefs, cultures, and site conditions could be beneficial for the Istanbul cemeteries which are natural and cultural heritage bridges from the past to the future.