Ecological strategies of terrestrial plant species belonging two different habitats in Kızılırmak Delta (Samsun/Turkey)

Abstract: This study was carried out on four plant species in wetland and disturbed habitats within the terrestrial ecosystem. The study compares some leaf traits (foliar nitrogen and phosphorus concentration, specific leaf area, and specific leaf mass) and ecological strategies (Grime’s CSR strategies and Ellenberg ecological indicator values) of these plant species in different habitats. While the difference of leaf traits between species was statistically significant, the difference between habitats was found to be significant for all leaf traits except for foliar P concentration. Lathyrus palustris L. subsp. palustris and Ranunculus constantinopolitanus (DC.) d’Urv. show the C strategy, while Cardamine impatiens L. subsp. impatiens and Holosteum umbellatum L. var. glutinosum (M.Bieb.) Gay show the C/CS and C/CR, respectively. Ellenberg indicator values for N were similar in all habitat species. pH indicator values of species in wetland habitat were higher than the disturbed habitat species. As a result, it is determined that plant species similar to macro-environmental features have different strategies. Both intra-species and inter-species interactions and microenvironmental differences are the main reasons for these results.