Genetic variation in Tertiary relics: The case of eastern-Mediterranean Abies (Pinaceae).

The eastern-Mediterranean Abies taxa, which include both widely distributed species and taxa with minuscule ranges, represent a good model to study the impacts of range size and fragmentation on the levels of genetic diversity and differentiation. To assess the patterns of genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships among eastern-Mediterranean Abies taxa, genetic variation was assessed by eight nuclear microsatellite loci in 52 populations of Abies taxa with a focus on those distributed in Turkey and the Caucasus. Both at the population and the taxon level, the subspecies or regional populations of Abies nordmanniana s.l. exhibited generally higher allelic richness, private allelic richness, and expected heterozygosity compared with Abies cilicica s.l. Results of both the structure analysis and distance-based approaches showed a strong differentiation of the two A. cilicica subspecies from the rest as well as from each other, whereas the subspecies of A. nordmanniana were distinct but less differentiated. ABC simulations were run for a set of scenarios of phylogeny and past demographic changes. For A. ×olcayana, the simulation gave a poor support for the hypothesis of being a taxon resulting from a past hybridization, the same is true for Abies equi-trojani: both they represent evolutionary branches of Abies bornmuelleriana.

Morphometric and electrophoretic analysis of 13 populations of Anatolian black pine in Turkey.

The genetic variation in populations of Anatolian black pine (Pinus nigra Arn. subsp. pallasiana (L.) Holmboe.), one of the species covering large areas in Turkey, was investigated. Open pollinated seeds were collected from 13 populations in a natural distribution range. Six characters of seeds (length, width, ratio of length to width, weight/1000 seeds) and seedling characters (cotyledon number and hypocotyls height) and two enzyme systems viz. leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, (GOT) were investigated. Significant differences were detected among the populations for the morphological characters. In addition, isozyme patterns of two enzyme systems revealed that LAP has two loci (one with 2 alleles and the other with 3), while GOT has three loci (two with 3 alleles and the third one with 2 alleles). Polymorphic loci were 74% on the average. The mean number of alleles per loci was 1.94 and expected heterozygosity was 19%. The mean total genetic diversity was calculated as 0.203; the mean gene diversity within populations was determined as 0.188, and the average between subpopulations diversity was 0.016. The relative magnitude of genetic differentiation among subpopulations was measured as 0.074 indicating that only 7.4% of the total genetic diversity was there between populations. Average genetic distance was 0.093 according to Gregorius. Nei's genetic distance was 0.022.

Evaluating the seasonal changes of water quality of the Degirmendere and Galyan Rivers (Trabzon, Turkey).

The Degirmendere and Galyan (Degirmendere tributary) Rivers that discharge their water into the Black Sea are important watersheds in the northeastern part of Turkey. Water quality parameters were sampled from 1997 through 2001 for each year at five sites (three for Galyan, two for Degirmendere) along 29 and 42 km gradients, respectively covering all seasons. Surface water was collected from the sites and analyzed for temperature, total alkaline (MAAL), total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, conductivity (EC), nitrate (NO3), nitrite (NO2), total hardness (TH), phenolphthalein alkalinities (PAL) and organic matter (PV). Seasonal changes of water quality were analyzed statistically for both Rivers and evaluated according to the TS 266, EU and WHO standards. The analysis of variance results showed that Ca, Mg, MAL, NO3, pH, TDS and TH parameters of the Degirmendere River and Ca, DO, EC, MAL, NO3, pH and TH parameters of the Galyan River showed seasonal differences (p<0.05). The maximum values of the water pollution parameters for the two Rivers were below the threshold values throughout the study period. When both Rivers were compared, the mean values of the pollution parameters of the Degirmendere River were higher than those of the Galyan River and very close the limits. The results indicate that both Rivers can be used for the production of potable water during all seasons but only with an advanced treatment in the Degirmendere and a moderate treatment in the Galyan River, and for indirect and non-contact recreational activities.