Sand-Dune Vegetation of Igneada Coast in the Thracian Part of Turkey

Igneada is located in the northwest part of Turkey on the Black Sea coast and it is also near the national border between Turkey and Bulgaria. The Igneada region was accepted as one of the most important plant areas of Turkey. In this work, a study was made on the phytosociological structure of Igneada sand dune vegetation, which is the one of the important components of the richness in the region. At the end of the assessment of the data, 3 communities were defined. These communities are Otantho-Leymetum sabulosi, Medicago rigidula-Cionura erecta basal community and meadow behind the sand dune. The part of the sand dune closest to the sea has width of 30 m, ascends with a specific inclination and has no vegetation coverage. Behind this part, Otantho-Leymetum sabulosi occurs at places where the sand dune has an unstable structure. The Medicago rigidula-Cionura erecta basal community appears behind Otantho-Leymetum sabulosi and the sand dune has a stable structure at these areas. Behind these communities, another vegetation belt occurs, formed by the species that are cosmopolite or characteristic for meadow vegetation.