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Copyright of Türkiye Jeoloji Bülteni is the property of TMMOB JEOLOJI MUHENDISLERI ODASI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Dolines are the characteristic landforms in karstic landscapes, and their morphometric characteristics are commonly used for surface karst research. More than 140,000 dolines were identified using 1:25,000 scale topographic maps (TOPO-Maps) in the West and Central Taurus, Türkiye's most important karst terrain. However, the accuracy of these TOPO-Maps in terms of real morphometric characteristics of dolines in the Taurus Mountains is unknown. For this reason, in this study, dolines were automatically delineated from high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) produced by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV-DEMs), and their morphometric characteristics were compared with the results obtained from 1:25,000 scale TOPO-Maps. UAV-DEMs with resolution below meter level provide a more accurate representation of the real Earth surface and thus landforms can be examined in more detail. In this study, six locations covering a total of 8.03 km2 were modeled with UAV. According to the results, the accuracy of the TOPO-Maps in terms of doline numbers was 0.24 (24%)–0.98 (98%), and this rate increased as the average area of the dolines increased. Doline density was always high with UAV-DEM data, and doline density had an average 99% increase when compared with TOPO-Map data. Due to UAV-DEMs providing the opportunity to calculate more morphometric characteristics, in this study, we provide information for the first time about the depth, slope, and volume characteristics of dolines in the Taurus Mountains. The mean depth, slope, and volume of solution dolines were 31 m, 45°, and 207,931 m3 in the Taurus Mountains, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out in July and August 2019 as a preliminary study to determine the benthic macroinvertebrate fauna of Karagöl, Çömçe and Yıldız Lakes, which are high-altitude lakes in the Aladağlar mountains. As a result of the examination of the collected macrobenthic fauna, seven speciesbelongingtothreefamiliesfromthreeorders(Diptera,ColeopteraandTrichoptera)inKaragöl Lake, four species belonging to three families from two orders (Diptera, Haplotaxida) in Çömçe Lake, and five species belonging to three families from three orders (Diptera, Trichoptera, Haplotaxida)inYıldızLakeweredetermined.Thetaxadetectedisanewrecordforthestudiedlakes. Shannon-Weaver diversity (H) and Shannon-Evenness density (EH) indices were applied in ordertodeterminethespeciesrichnessofthelakesandthedensityrelationshipsamongthespecies, respectively. Accordingly, the highest diversity was observed in Çömçe Lake with a value of 1.18, followed by Karagöl Lake, and Yıldız Lake with values of 0.87 and 0.83, respectively. While the most balanced distribution was observed in Çömçe Lake with a value of 0.81, this was followed by Yıldız Lake and Karagöl Lake, with values of 0.46 and 0.34, respectively. In order to determine the similaritiesbetweenthestationsaccordingtothedistributionofthedetectedtaxa,atwo-wayclusteringanalysisbasedontheBray-Curtissimilarityindexwasapplied.Accordingly,whilethehighestsimilaritywascalculatedbetweenKaragölLakeandYıldızLake,itwasdeterminedthatthere was no similarity between Yıldız Lake and Çömçe Lake.

This study was carried out in July and August 2019 as a preliminary study to determine the benthic macroinvertebrate fauna of Karagöl, Çömçe and Yıldız Lakes, which are high-altitude lakes in the Aladağlar mountains. As a result of the examination of the collected macrobenthic fauna, seven species belonging to three families from three orders (Diptera, Coleoptera and Trichoptera) in Karagöl Lake, four species belonging to three families from two orders (Diptera, Haplotaxida) in Çömçe Lake, and five species belonging to three families from three orders (Diptera, Trichoptera, Haplotaxida) in Yıldız Lake were determined. The taxa detected is a new record for the studied lakes. Shannon-Weaver diversity (H) and Shannon-Evenness density (EH) indices were applied in order to determine the species richness of the lakes and the density relationships among the species, respectively. Accordingly, the highest diversity was observed in Çömçe Lake with a value of 1.18, followed by Karagöl Lake, and Yıldız Lake with values of 0.87 and 0.83, respectively. While the most balanced distribution was observed in Çömçe Lake with a value of 0.81, this was followed by Yıldız Lake and Karagöl Lake, with values of 0.46 and 0.34, respectively. In order to determine the similarities between the stations according to the distribution of the detected taxa, a two-way clustering analysis based on the Bray-Curtis similarity index was applied. Accordingly, while the highest similarity was calculated between Karagöl Lake and Yıldız Lake, it was determined that there was no similarity between Yıldız Lake and Çömçe Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkish red pine is an important forest tree species because of its role in the ecosystem whose range includes many countries in the eastern Mediterranean basin. In addition, red pine is a preferred forest tree species due to rapid growth, usage in afforestation in arid areas and the production of non-wood forest products such as resin. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between the productivity of red pine and ecosystem in the lower and middle belt of the Taurus Mountains, and to determine the interrelations between the productivity of red pine and ecosystem. Multivariate analyses (multiple regression analysis and artificial neural networks) were used to model the efficiency (biomass production) of red pine. From the multivariate analyses, a productivity model of the species was created with the slope, soil depth, and precipitation in the driest variables. A significant correlation was found between site index and site factors in the driest quarter. These variables had a statistically significant relationship with the site index in the multiple regression analysis. The forecast power of the model was 0.33. Of the methods used, the artificial neural network consisting of 2L10N (2 Layers 10 Neurons) had the highest margin of explanation (R2= 0.71) and the lowest margin of error. This model has the potential to open land aimed for afforestation studies with red pine in forestry areas. The results will shed light on afforestation studies to be carried out in the Western Mediterranean region and in similar ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new bivalve genera and species are described from Upper Triassic hydrocarbon seep deposits from the Kasımlar shales in the Taurus Mountains in southern Turkey. Terzileria gregaria and Kasimlara kosuni belong to the carditiid family Kalenteridae, and Aksumya krystyni belongs to the anomalodesmatan superfamily Pholadomyoidae. A single specimen is described in open nomenclature as Kasimlara sp. due to its significantly more angular shell profile compared to K. kosuni. The kalenterids Terzileria and Kasimlara narrow the stratigraphic gap between two seep-inhabiting “modiomorphid” clades: the Silurian–Devonian Ataviaconcha and the Late Jurassic–Cretaceous Caspiconcha. This raises the questions whether these four genera are members of a single phylogenetic lineage that continuously inhabited deep-sea hydrocarbon seeps from the Silurian to the Cretaceous (the “single lineage hypothesis”), or are repeated offshoots of various lineages that convergently developed similar morphological adaptations to this habitat (the “repeated colonization hypothesis”). Aksumya represents the first anomalodesmatan genus that appears to be restricted to the seep environment, considering that all previous claims of seep-inhabiting anomalodesmatans are questionable.

Copyright of Türkiye Jeoloji Bülteni is the property of TMMOB JEOLOJI MUHENDISLERI ODASI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Uplift history is an important factor in the structural patterns and karstification of the Taşeli Plateau. The morphological development of the study area consists of five stages according to its sedimentation, rotation, uplift, and climatic properties. (1) Shallow carbonates accumulated during the Early Miocene. (2) An emersion and drainage network developed as a result of the compressional neotectonic regime in the Late Miocene. (3) Dense joint systems were formed due to the ~40° clockwise rotation of the eastern limb of the Isparta Angle. (4) The climate of the study area changed as a result of rapid uplift from Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene. This caused the formation of dry valleys, underground karstification on the plateau surface, and headward erosion of rivers in the southern part of the area. (5) In the last stage, the plateau surface was densely covered by solution dolines and the dry valley network turned into relict valleys due to expanding extensional cracks during Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Norian–Rhaetian reef carbonates are exposed in several localities in Taurus Mountains. They predominately contain hypercalcified sponges, followed by scleractinian corals and other less numerous organisms. A coherent Norian–Rhaetian reef structure is exposed near the small town of Saklıkent, west of Antalya. Foraminifers occur in reef carbonates of Saklıkent by numerous genera as shown in this paper. Two species — Siculocosta taurica and Siculocosta sadati — are described as new. The foraminiferal association of Saklıkent is similar or almost identical to the associations known from the Norian–Rhaetian reefs of Sicily, Northern Calcareous Alps, and Greece but shows less similarity to the foraminiferal association from the Apennines, Italy. The most abundant foraminifers are milioliporoids, particularly galeanellids and cucurbitids. Some sessile and agglutinated foraminifers, including Alpinophragmium perforatum Flügel, which mostly occurs abundantly in the Norian–Rhaetian reef carbonates, could not be found in the Saklıkent reef. This association of foraminifera is reported for the first time from a Norian–Rhaetian reef in the Taurus Mountains of Turkey.

We present details on the timing of glaciations during the late Quaternary in the western Taurus Mountain Range of Turkey. Twenty‐five boulders from prominent moraines in three northern glacial valleys of Mount Dedegöl (37.40°N, 31.17°E, 2992 m above sea level, ∼15 km west of Lake Beyşehir) were dated based on cosmogenic 36Cl surface exposure. The geomorphological mapping of the N‐NE‐trending Sayacak, Kisbe and Karagöl valleys and their in situ produced 36Cl glacial chronology revealed several glacial episodes during the late Quaternary from (pre‐Last Glacial Maximum (pre‐LGM) to early Holocene. Pre‐LGM glaciations are represented by a push‐hummocky moraine complex in the northern Sayacak Valley and dated to 29.7 ± 2.9 ka. The ages obtained from these hummocky moraines give substantial evidence regarding ice accumulation before the global LGM. In the same valley, glaciers reached their maximum positions at the LGM and deposited lateral moraines at 19.7 ± 1.6 ka. Lateglacial moraines were dated to between 16.4 ± 0.7 and 12.0 ± 1.0 ka in the nearby east‐facing Karagöl valley. The youngest glacial stages occurred during the Younger Dryas stadial (11.5 ± 0.8 ka) and early Holocene (9.8 ± 1.4 ka) in Mount Dedegöl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new bivalve genera and species are described from Upper Triassic hydrocarbon seep deposits from the Kasımlar shales in the Taurus Mountains in southern Turkey. Terzileria gregaria and Kasimlara kosuni belong to the carditiid family Kalenteridae, and Aksumya krystyni belongs to the anomalodesmatan superfamily Pholadomyoidae. A single specimen is described in open nomenclature as Kasimlara sp. due to its significantly more angular shell profile compared to K. kosuni. The kalenterids Terzileria and Kasimlara narrow the stratigraphic gap between two seep-inhabiting "modiomorphid" clades: the Silurian-Devonian Ataviaconcha and the Late Jurassic-Cretaceous Caspiconcha. This raises the questions whether these four genera are members of a single phylogenetic lineage that continuously inhabited deep-sea hydrocarbon seeps from the Silurian to the Cretaceous (the "single lineage hypothesis"), or are repeated offshoots of various lineages that convergently developed similar morphological adaptations to this habitat (the "repeated colonization hypothesis"). Aksumya represents the first anomalodesmatan genus that appears to be restricted to the seep environment, considering that all previous claims of seep-inhabiting anomalodesmatans are questionable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the morphological identification of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) on bulbous plants in the Taurus Mountains in Turkey. Thirteen soil samples and bulbous roots were taken from the rhizosphere of bulbous plants. The soils were analyzed for the number of VAM spores and chemical and physical properties. In addition, the roots were examined for infection levels, and morphological identification of VAM spores was made. All tested plants are considered mycorrhizal plants. We determined three spore species (Glomus mosseae, Glomus hoi and Scutellospora calospora) from the surveyed soils. The spore distribution rates were as follows: G. Mossea 61.54 %, G. Hoi 23.07 % and Scutellospora calospora 15.38 %. Results suggest that VAM fungal spores and root colonization display variation in rhizosphere under bulbous plants in different ecological conditions.

Ammonoid mass occurrences of Late Triassic age were investigated in sections from A şağlyaylabel and Yukarlyaylabel, which are located in the Taurus Platform-Units of eastern Turkey. The cephalopod beds are almost monospecific, with > 99.9 % of individuals from the ceratitic genus Kasimlarceltites, which comprises more than hundreds of millions of ammonoid specimens. The ontogenetic composition of the event fauna varies from bed to bed, suggesting that these redeposited shell-rich sediments had different source areas. The geographical extent of the mass occurrence can be traced over large areas up to 10 km2. Each of the Early Carnian (Julian 2) ammonoid mass occurrences signifies a single storm (e.g. storm-wave action) or tectonic event (e.g. earthquake) that caused gravity flows and turbidity currents. Three types of ammonoid accumulation deposits are distinguished by their genesis: 1) matrix-supported floatstones, produced by low density debris flows, 2) mixed floatstones and packstones formed by high density debris flows, and 3) densely ammonoid shell-supported packstones which result from turbidity currents. Two-dimensional calculations on the mass occurrences, based on sectioning, reveal aligned ammonoid shells, implying transport in a diluted sediment. The ammonoid shells are predominantely redeposited, preserved as mixed autochthonous/parautochnonous/ allochthonous communities based on biogenic and sedimentological concentration mechanisms ( = in-situ or post-mortem deposited). This taphonomic evaluation of the Kasimlarceltites beds thus reveals new insights into the environment of deposition of the Carnian section, namely that it had a proximal position along a carbonate platform edge that was influenced by a nearby shallow water regime. The Kasimlarceltites-abundance zone is a marker-zone in the study area, developed during the drowning of a shallow water platform, which can be traceable over long distances.

A new Bithyniidae speciesPseudobithynia guldenisp.n. is described from the Mediter-ranean region of Turkey based on shell and male genitalia morphology. An identification key for the species ofPseudobithyniaof Turkey is given. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FA659D77-5B02-4C2F-9A6D-D61E676778E1 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A new species, Dysderocrates tanatmisi sp. n., is described on the basis of both sexes from the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Herein, we present the morphological and diagnostic characters and illustrations of the genitalia of both the male and female members of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The İvriz detachment fault has been determined on the southern border of the Ulukışla basin separating the metamorphic Bolkar Group of the Taurus Mountains and the Paleocene-Lower Eocene Halkapınar formation of basin deposits. The fault dips towards the north and has kinematic indicators (asymmetric grain/grain aggregate porphyroclasts, oblique foliation, and S-C fabrics), suggesting a top-to-the-N-NE sense of shearing. The clastic material originating from the Bolkar Group in the sedimentary units of the Ulukışla basin demonstrates that the detachment fault could have been be active during Latest Cretaceous-Eocene times. The İvriz detachment may have initiated as part of a high-angle breakaway fault (the Aydos main breakaway fault) in the south of the Ulukışla basin. The breakaway fault then rotated to a low-angle normal fault and its northern continuation played an important role in the exhumation of the Central Anatolian Crystalline Complex. This implies that the Upper Cretaceous-Eocene sedimentary basins in central Anatolia were supradetachment basins rather than collision- or arc-related basins as previously suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

İnceleme alanı, Alacahan, Çetinkaya, Kangal ve dolayını kapsamaktadır. İnceleme alanında allokton ve otokton konumlu kaya türü toplulukları yer almaktadır. İnceleme alanında yer alan metamorfik kütleler bu çalışma sonucunda formasyon ve üye düzeyinde ayrıntılı bir şekilde ayırt edilerek Bolkardağı napına dahil edilmiştir. Geç Devoniyen-Geç Kretase yaş aralığında çökelen ve yeşilşist fasiyesinde metamorfizma geçiren Bolkardağı napı, alttan üste doğru; Geç Devoniyen yaşlı Düzce formasyonu, Karbonifer yaşlı Kınalar formasyonu, Geç Permiyen yaşlı Çayderesi formasyonu, (?)Orta-Geç Triyas-Kretase yaşlı Kayaköy formasyonu ile Geç Kretase yaşlı Karaböğürtlen formasyonu şeklinde ayırtlanmıştır. Kınalar formasyonunun tabanında yer alan kuvarsitler ‘Bakırtepe üyesi’, Karaböğürtlen formasyonunun tabanında yer alan metaçakıltaşları ise ‘metaçakıltaşı üyesi’ olarak ayırtlanmıştır. Kendi içinde ekaylanmalar sunan Bolkardağı napının üzerine Yeşiltaşyayla karışığı ile karışık içerisinde blok ve dilimler şeklinde yer alan Gülbahar napı, Güneş ofiyoliti, Munzur napı tektonik dokanakla; Hekimhan formasyonu, Kangal formasyonu, Yamadağ grubu volkanitleri, Göbekören bazaltı ve Pliyo-Kuvaterner örtü birimleri ise açısal uyumsuzlukla gelmektedir

The deposits of the Carnian Kasımlar Formation within the Taurus Platform Units of south-western Turkey represent an important archive of a Late Triassic ecosystem. New palaeontological information was obtained by analysing the Kasimlarceltites mass occurrence, located within the Kasımlar Formation and named after the Lower Carnian (Julian) ammonoid genus Kasimlarceltites. This is the dominant taxon (> 94%) within the mass occurrence: nearly 775 million ammonoids and 50 million gastropods were extrapolated for the whole extension (at least 5 km2) of the Kasimlarceltites beds. This calculation is one of the main findings within this study, as it is the first time that such a fossil mass occurrence was quantified. Additionally, orientation measurements of the planispiral ammonoids and the helical gastropods enabled reconstructing the history of the mass occurrence and interpreting the underlying transport mechanisms. Further taphonomic aspects (e.g. biofabric, preservation, bioerosion or genetic classification) as well as comparisons with samples of the same acme zone from different localities near Aşağiyaylabel (AS IV, KA I-II) point to a two-phased genetic history. Accordingly, local mass mortality within the Kasimlarceltites fauna due to oxygen fluctuations or methane degassing may have initially led to a primary accumulation. These deposits were then reworked and redeposited basinward by gravity flows to create the present-day secondary allochthonous concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating Quaternary glaciations by terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide dating provides unique insights into glacial landscapes. However, postglacial processes may reshape these topographies via weathering, erosion and deposition, especially after the glaciers have entirely disappeared. Understanding the timing of Quaternary glaciations in the areas developed under different geomorphological processes may be challenging. In this study, we produced a detailed geomorphological map of Mt. Barla in the Western Taurus Mountains of Turkey. We found that geomorphological processes such as karstification and mass movements provided favourable settings for the valleys to be carved by glaciers during the Late Pleistocene. We applied in-situ cosmogenic 36Cl surface exposure dating to moraine boulders to reveal the glacial chronology and the geomorphological evolution. We dated moraine boulders (n = 11) from two glacial valleys that show at least two and possibly three deglaciations during the Late Pleistocene. For Gedik Valley, the left lateral moraine marks the LGM glacier retreat by 16.6 ± 2.6 ka (MIS 2). On the other hand, the terminal moraine indicates that the most extensive glaciation occurred at 42.1 ± 5.2 ka (pre-global LGM) in this valley. The outer terminal moraine age (45.5 ± 6.8 ka) in Kapıdere Valley confirms this MIS 3 extension. Our results also imply even a possible earlier glaciation in Kapıdere Valley at 78.5 ± 17.6 ka (MIS 5), even though more data are needed to confirm this extent. • Non-glacial surface processes provided the basis for glacier formations in Mt. Barla. • Multiple glacier advances occurred during the Late Pleistocene. • Using 36Cl cosmogenic exposure dating, we report the oldest glacial event in Turkey. • Lateral moraines imply glaciation during MIS 5 (78.5 ± 17.6 ka). • Lateral moraines indicate final deglaciation during MIS 2 (16.6 ± 2.6 ka). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upper Triassic Norian reef boulders, exposed in a locality in the Central Taurids, southern Turkey, yielded a high number of hypercalcified sponges, including Sphinctozoans, Inozoans, Spongiomorphids, and Chaetetids. The reef boulders are exposed near the fountain Tavuk Çeşme, located at the road leading from the town of Aksu to Yenişarbademli. Geologically this locality belongs to the Anamas Akseki Autochthon. In this paper a new inozoan sponge, Bicoelia corticifera nov. sp., is described from Tavuk Çeşme. It is a cylindrical and unbranched sponge, found in several thin sections. The sponge is characterized by 2 axial spongocoels, and the sponge wall is composed of fine reticulate fiber skeleton and a distinct outer wall. Usually several specimens grow closely side by side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first glacial chronology of Mt. Karanfil (3059 m above sea level; a.s.l.), a small mountain in the south-central Taurus Range in Turkey. Well-preserved terminal and lateral moraines are clustered in four groups; M1, M2, M3, and M4, between ∼2000 and ∼2400 m a.s.l., composed of limestone blocks. Each moraine group originated from one to three cirque areas (C1, C2, C3, and C4 cirques) on the mountain's northern face between 2400 and 2600 m a.s.l. The best estimated mean ages of moraines M1 (17.3 ± 2.4 ka), M2 (18.6 ± 1.6 ka), and M3 (20.0 ± 2.6 ka) indicate that glaciers reached their maximum extents on the global Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), and they were persistent till the Late Glacial. The last moraine group (M4), more oriented towards the north, is dated to 14.6 ± 2.4 ka, implying that the M4 glacier lasted a few thousand years more. Also, a relict rock glacier in the C1 cirque floor was dated to 9.9 ± 0.9 ka and testifies to the development of permafrost conditions at the onset of Holocene. The timing of glaciation on Mt. Karanfil is close to the global LGM, as similar terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide chronologies were obtained from other mountains in the eastern Mediterranean. We also used the Parallel Ice Sheet Model (PISM) to reconstruct the glaciers and climate during the LGM on Mt. Karanfil. Twenty-one palaeoclimate simulations were run as a function of present temperature and precipitation to reach the steady-state glacier extents, and the modelled glacial areas were compared with the field-observed ice extents. The best-fit scenarios indicate that the LGM climate on Mt. Karanfil was 8.3 ± 0.5 °C colder than today if the precipitation levels were the same as today. More humid (20% wetter) or arid (20% drier) conditions than today bring the palaeotemperature estimates to 6.9 ± 0.4 °C or 10.4 ± 0.6 °C lower than the present, respectively. • First glacial chronology using twenty-one cosmogenic 36Cl samples on Mt. Karanfil. • Glaciers reached their maximum extents at the end of LGM. • Parallel Ice Sheet Model (PISM) was used to reconstruct palaeoglaciers. • Modelled and observed ice extents were matched to infer palaeoclimate. • LGM climate would be 8.3 ± 0.5 °C colder than today if the precipitation levels were same as today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Namaras rock avalanche (NRA) deposit originated from the northern flank of the glaciokarstic Geyikdağ Mountain in the Central Taurus Range, SW Turkey. The deposit has an area of ~0.430 km2 and an estimated average thickness of 10 m, corresponding to 4.3 million m3 volume. The fan-shaped deposit area consists of house-sized Jurassic-Cretaceous neritic limestone boulders that overlie lateral and hummocky moraines down into the valley. We used geomorphological mapping and 36Cl surface exposure dating to obtain six boulder ages which unravelled the NRA age, the number of events and their geometric features. Our results indicate that the NRA consists of two successive mid-to-late Holocene events; the first high magnitude main event with a weighted average age of 4.59 ± 0.25 ka followed by a second low magnitude event with a weighted average age of 3.77 ± 0.20 ka. 36Cl exposure dating of the lateral moraine covered by the rock avalanche deposit yielded approximately an age of ~12.30 ± 1.20 ka. The older event with a maximum runout distance of 1550 m and 600 m elevation loss yielded in a travel angle of 21°. Similarly, the younger event with 1720 m maximum runout length and 640 m vertical elevation loss resulted in a travel angle of 20°. The bedded limestone with cross-joints in the glacial cirque preconditioned the NRA slope failure. The significant lag time between deglaciation and the rock avalanche indicates that the glacial erosion and debuttressing acted as preparatory factors. Based on the low seismic activity in the Central Taurus Range and the synchronicity of the rock avalanche with mid-to-late Holocene climatic transitions, we propose that climatic factors may have triggered the NRA failure. The age of the older main event coincides with the warm drought period of the mid-Holocene associated with torrential rainfalls in the Taurus Mountains, while the age of the younger event correlates with the long wet period in the late Holocene. Thus, the main NRA event may have been triggered by the influence of warm temperatures and intense rainfall, while the second event may have been triggered by prolonged period of high precipitation. The two events of the NRA are coeval with the enhanced rock slope failures dating back to 5–3 ka in the Alps. • A rock avalanche with two successive events in the SW Turkey was mapped and dated. • First event: high magnitude, with 0.415 km2 area and 4.59 ± 0.25 ka age • Second event: low magnitude, with 0.127 km2 area and 3.77 ± 0.20 ka age • The glacial erosion appears as the preparatory factor of the rock avalanche. • The mid-Holocene climatic variabilities possibly triggered the rock avalanche. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Newly initiated research at Direkli cave is helping to define an initial understanding of Epipaleolithic hunter-gatherer traditions in the central Taurus region of southern Turkey. Detailed analysis of the Direkli faunal assemblage suggests that in the late Epipaleolithic the cave functioned as a short-term logistical camp used to intercept wild goats ( Capra aegagrus) in the high peaks around the cave, primarily in the late summer and fall. In addition, hunters opportunistically exploited deer and a variety of other small taxa, including tortoise, in the forested vicinity of the site. Evidence for low intensity and seasonal occupation of the cave indicates that Epipaleolithic foragers in the region were highly mobile, utilised a wide range of resources, but primarily scheduled use of the cave in order to exploit high ranked wild goat resources. This represents the first window into the nature of foraging systems just prior to the emergence of agricultural economies in this important region of Turkey. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rough Cilicia Archaeological Survey Project investigates landscape transformation as a component to its regional survey of ancient Rough Cilicia (south coastal Turkey opposite Cyprus). Rough Cilicia was celebrated during antiquity for pristine cedar forests that stood between 1500 and 1800 m in altitude along the slopes of the Taurus Mountains. Today along the front range of the Taurus Mountains this forest is completely denuded or otherwise replanted with recent growth in the past 80 years. We employ paleoenvironmental analysis of relic cedar forests in the Taurus Mountains to construct a timeline of anthropogenic disturbances associated with population growth over time and thereby assess the sustainability of ancient forestry practices. To obtain these data, the team recovers pollen and carbon samples from geomorphologic trenches excavated in the cedar zone, tree ring data from dendrochronological survey of the existing forest, and archaeological data from remains of ancient highland settlements. Preliminary results indicate that current perspectives about the timing of deforestation in this region are flawed and that the initial deforestation coincided with regional site abandonment and population decline at the end of antiquity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a detailed facies analysis and paleo-depth reconstruction of a latest Early Carnian platform drowning-sequence from the Anatolian terrane (Turkey, Taurus Mountains). A total of eight sedimentary microfacies zones were recorded. An open platform margin passes through a deeper shelf margin setting into a basinal environment influenced by more open-marine conditions. The analysis demonstrates an unexpected, pure carbonate depositional system through the so-called Carnian Pluvial Episode (CPE), which has previously been associated with dramatic climate changes throughout the Tethys region. One main finding, based on sedimentological and paleontological analyses, is a much later drowning of the carbonate platforms in Turkey than in other places. The termination of the Kartoz platform postdates the onset of the CPE in the western Tethys by one ammonite zone, corresponding to about 2 million years. The distinctly earlier demise of (north)western Tethyan carbonate platforms and reefs points to a diachrony of this event throughout the Tethys. The decline of carbonate productivity clearly occurs earlier at higher paleolatitudes and later in equatorial areas. Interpreting the CPE as the result of a global or at least Tethys-wide climatic event is therefore highly ambiguous. The described facies changes at Aşağiyaylabel probably mirror different coupling effects and, only minimally, the Tethyan-wide climate changes during the Carnian Pluvial Episode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are of global concern due to their ubiquitous presence and toxicity. The occurence of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), -dibenzofurans (PCDFs), co-planar biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDT), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in forest soil collected from Taurus mountains may have adverse effects on the environment and health. The aim of the study was to investigate the outcome and distribution of POPs in the environment and the possible grasshopper effect along an altitude transect from sea level up to nearly 2,000 m a.s.l at a spatial distance of about 60 km in the southeastern Turkish Mediterranean Sea. Methods: The samples were collected at a height of 121, 408, 981, 1,225, 1,373, 1,639, and 1,881 m above sea level from Taurus Mountains, Turkey. The results were confirmed using high-resolution gas chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. Results: The levels of the PCDD in forest soil from Taurus Mountains varied from nearly 4 to 12 pg g dry weight (dw). PCDF concentrations ranged from 2 to 7 pg g dw. Considerably high DDT levels detected in five stations indicated (3,223-24,564 pg g) its extensive local application or atmospheric transport. PCB levels were determined between 80 and 288 pg g dw. HCH concentrations ranged from 141 to 1,513 pg g dw. The other OCP was between 102 and 731 pg g. Conclusion: Although the use of POPs has been banned, our results show that they could still be found in Turkey. Their presence may be attributed to the degradation of pesticides which are newly banned and, as well as to the atmospheric migration and deposition. The lattitude of sampling sites, the chemical, and physical parameters of soil have observed no effect on the fate of POPs in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upper Triassic Norian reef boulders, exposed in a locality near the fountain 'Tavuk Cesme' ('Chicken Fountain') in Taurus Mountains, southern Turkey yielded a large number of hypercalcified sponges, including 'sphinctozoans', 'inozoans', 'spongiomorphids', and 'chaetetids'. The sphinctozoans from this locality are described in this paper. Geologically, this locality belongs to the Anamas-Akseki autochthonous. The reef boulders of this locality are exposed near the 'Tavuk Cesme' fountain, located at the road, leading from the town of Aksu to Yenisarbademli. The following taxa are described: Amblysiphonella taurica nov. sp., Anthalythalamia riedeli Senowbari-Daryan, Calabrisiphonella sphaerica nov. sp., Calabrisiphonella cuifi nov. sp., Cinnabaria minima Senowbari-Daryan, Colospongia recta nov. sp., Colospongia sp. 1, Colospongia sp. 2, Colospongia sp. 3, Cryptocoelia compacta nov. sp., Cryptocoelia? sp., Deningeria crassireticulata Senowbari-Daryan, Zühlke, Bechstädt and Flügel, Discosiphonella minima Senowbari-Daryan and Link, Gigantothalamia ovoidalis Senowbari-Daryan, Hajarispongia dipoyrazensis nov. sp., Hajarispongia cortexifera nov. sp., Kashanella irregularis Senowbari-Daryan, Kashanella cylindrica nov. sp., Parauvanella ferdowsensis Senowbari-Daryan, Parastylothalamia cylindrica nov. gen., nov. sp., Asiphothalamia polyosculata nov. gen, nov. sp., Sollasia norica nov. sp., and Thaumastocoelia sphaeroida Senowbari-Daryan. The most abundant sponge is Amblysiphonella taurica nov. sp. followed by Hajarispongia dipoyrazensis nov. sp., Colospongia and Discosiphonella minima Senowbari-Daryan and Link are also relatively abundant. The stylothalamid sponge Parastylothalamia nov. gen. is an abundant sponge genus in other Norian reefs of the Taurus Mountains, but is rare at the 'Tavuk Cesme' locality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to identify the Chironomidae and Chaoboridae fauna of 11 high altitude lakes located in the Taurus Mountains Range in south-west Anatolia (Turkey), two expeditions were conducted in July 1996 and July 1997. As a result, a total of 19 taxa were determined; of them 17 taxa belong to Chironomidae and two to Chaoboridae. All the recorded taxa are firstly recorded from the study area. The ecological requirements and the distribution of the identified species are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper is the first study of pyritized mudstones (PM) in the Permian–Triassic (P–T) boundary section of the Çürük Dağ (Taurus, Antalya Nappes, Turkey). The mudstones were generally formed as lensoidal-shaped layers or infill materials within nodular platform limestones (hardground). Normal marine fauna is diminished in the pyritized limestones, whereas tube-like microorganisms are apparently increased with the association of pyrite crystals consisting of both framboidal and cubic crystals. The total rock volumes are up to 50–60% clay minerals and are mainly made up of in situ kaolinite and subordinate mixed layer clays (illite–vermiculite). Kaolinite preferentially developed on feldspar crystals, sometimes covering ostracoda bivalves together with gypsum micronodules composed of fan-shaped gypsum crystals. The origin of the kaolinite is, in situ, directly related to feldspar dissolution via heterotrophic bacteria. Thus, kaolinite is found along with bacterial structures. Other mineralogical compositions include established quartz (mostly β-quartz), gypsum crystals (100–200μm) glauconite and magnetite. Magnetite grains comprise a minor amount (1–2%) and show some bacterial-induced crystal orientations. Glauconite is formed as an accessory mineral that occurs as infill material in biogenic grains. On the other hand, some microspheres represented by a silica-dominated composition are only observed in scanning electron microscopes (SEM) studies under high magnification. Isotope values (d34S) obtained from the pyritized mudstones show an isotopic heterogeneity that suggests that the pyritized mudstone consists of at least two components, with different sulphur-concentrations and d34S values. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fissidens fontanus and F. osmundoides (Fissidentaceae, Bryopsida) are recorded for the first time in Turkey. The former was collected from Dörtyol (Hatay Province) in the Amanos Mountains and the latter from Adana - Gülek Gate (Gülek Boğazi). The nearest locality to Turkey for F fontanus is Israel, while F. osmundoides is known nearby in Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, the Caucasus region, and Iran. There are now 22 species of Fissidens present in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To investigate the human impact on eastern Mediterranean ecosystems in a subhumid to semi-arid region of the Near East. Location This paper considers data from Bereket (1410–1440 m a.s.l.), an intramontane basin surrounded by the Kokayanık Tepe (1830 m a.s.l.) and the Beşparmak Dağları (2280 m a.s.l.), in the western Taurus Mountains of south-west Turkey. Methods Late Holocene samples were collected along an 800-cm-deep sediment profile cored in the secondary valley of the Bereket basin. Descriptive vegetation data and modern pollen samples (moss polsters) were collected at elevational intervals of c. 15 m along an altitudinal transect from the Bereket basin (over Tepe Düzen, 1600 m a.s.l.) to Ağlasun Dağı (1700 m a.s.l.). Information about the spatial distribution of the present land cover was obtained from ASTER satellite imagery. Digital elevation-derived data and geological information were used to examine the relationship between actual land cover and other environmental variables. Results The well dated Bereket sequence provides a unique record of biennial-to-decadal landscape changes driven primarily by intensive human impact from 360 cal. yrbc to 650 cal. yrad. Since 360 cal. yrbc, over-exploitation of the land has led to altitudinal variation of tree lines, a destruction of the natural forest ecosystems ( Pinus– Quercus cerris mixed forest), and an extensive spread of forest-steppe in the highlands. The present-day distribution of vegetation in the basin area shows that human activities remain the major factor influencing the character of modern ecosystems. Main conclusions This research demonstrates the long-term local destructive effects of human impacts on the mountainous ecosystems in a small Anatolian intramontane basin since 360 cal. yrbc, and the capacity of these ecosystems to recover during periods of reduced human impact. The late Holocene history and modern vegetation characteristics show that the past and present-day distribution and composition of vegetation are influenced primarily by human activity, and that substrate, elevation, slope and orientation are of secondary significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two expeditions were carried out during July 1996 and July 1997 in order to determine the Oligochaeta fauna of 16 high altitude lakes located in the Taurus Mountains in south-west Anatolia (Turkey). No previous faunistic studies exist from the Taurus Mountains regarding physico-chemical features and Oligochaeta fauna. Fifteen species were identified, comprised of the families Tubificidae (11 species), Naididae (3 species), and Lumbriculidae (1 species). Among the samples, Tubificidae were the most dominant (73% of the specimens), followed by Naididae (20%) and Lumbriculidae (7%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Basic soil parameters of Kozlar high plateau in Mut (Mersin) have been investigated. Soil samples were collected from the eroded, maquis and forest habitats of the research area in January, October, April and July between 2000 and 2002. The average values for soil moisture, CaCO3, saturation percentage, field capacity, salinity, conductivity, pH, total carbon and total nitrogen were found in the range of 4.0–19.7%, 25.0–33.3%, 39.7–72.1%, 22.0–56.0%, 0.027–0.074dS/m, 0.80–1.2μS/cm, 7.5–8.1, 0.82–5.50%, and 0.10–0.58%, respectively. Generally, despite no significant differences among the soil parameters of the three habitats, only three parameters, saturation percentages, amount of total carbon and of carbon mineralization differed significantly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Noccaea camlikensis sp. nov. (Brassicaceae) is described and illustrated from a localized serpentine range in southern Turkey. Its close relationship to N. cariensis, from which it differs in leaf and carpological characters, is discussed. The protologue of this fairly unknown species can now be amended to cover better the morphological variability of this taxon. A comparative study of seed-coat anatomy advocates its move from Thlaspi to Noccaea; the relevant combination N. cariensis (Carlström) Parolly, Nordt & Aytaç is made. The ecology of both vicarious species is discussed and their distribution mapped. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 150, 409–416. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to determine the macrobenthic invertebrate fauna of Lake Egrigöl, located at 2000 m in the central Taurus Mountains, 4 field studies were conducted between June and September, 2000, and June and September, 2001. The specimens were obtained by collection of mud samples using an Ekman-Birge grab and by sifting with a fine 500 µm sieve, and were preserved in 4% formaldehyde solution. Additional samplings were also performed from the shore with hand nets with a mesh size of 180 µm. On average, 1036 benthic invertebrate specimens were found per square meter in Lake Egrigöl; 939 of these specimens were oligochaets, 95 were chironomid larvae and 2 were chaoborid larvae. With regard to the rational distribution of these groups, oligochaets were the predominant group with 90.64%, followed by chironomid larvae (9.17%) and chaoborid larvae (0.19%). With regard to the rational distribution of these groups by station, Station 4 (25.90%) was the richest and Station 3 (15.05%) the poorest. Since all, the mollusk specimens from the mud samples were already dead and their shells were decalcified, mollusk species are not included in the averages. Amphipod specimens were sampled from a spring just beyond the lake, and Decapoda specimens sampled from the shore are also not included in the averages. As a result of samplings performed from each meter from the shore to 9 m in depth in the first station, the maximum number of specimens was found at the seventh meter. It was also noticed that oligochaets were abundant at the seventh and eighth meters, whereas chironomids were abundant at the second and sixth meters. The abundances of the groups in respect of months were analyzed using the chi-square test and differences between distributions of the groups according to depths were analyzed using 2-way variance analysis. All of the determined taxa were first records from the lake. Furthermore, Potamothrix moldaviensis (Oligochaeta) is reported from Turkey for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to determine the Malacostraca fauna of water bodies in the Taurus Mountains, southern Anatolia, 2 field studies were conducted in 1996 and 1 997. As a result, Asellus aquaticus (L. 1758). Gammarus balcanicus Schäferna 1922, Gammarus longipedis G.S. Karaman & Pinkster 1987 and Stygobromus ambulans (F. Müller 1846) were determined from the investigated area. All the determined taxa are recorded for the first time from these localities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sources of tin being exploited by the metalworkers of Early Bronze Age Anatolia remain to be identified. While K.A. Yener and P.J. Vandiver ('Tin Processing at Goltepe, an Early Bronze Age Site in Anatolia,' supra pp. 207-38) present very impressive evidence for some sort of mining and metalworking activity at Kestel and Goltepe, they fail to demonstrate that tin must have been the metal being sought after in these operations. Nor can it be shown that the general area of southeastern Anatolia was a significant center of bronze metallurgy during the third millennium. Even Egypt, with well-documented sources of tin, seems to have made little use of bronze before ca. 2000 B.C.