Urban Tree Composition and Diversity Assessment in a Public Park Using Taxonomic Imbalance Indicators: The Case of Atatürk Park, Kahramanmaraş

Çakır M., Tuğluer M.

Turkish journal of forest science (Online), cilt.9, sa.2, ss.439-454, 2025 (TRDizin)

Özet

This study aims to analyze the urban tree composition of Atatürk Park in Kahramanmaraş through indicators of taxonomic imbalance. 733 tree individuals were identified within the park, representing 25 species, 22 genera, and 14 families. Species diversity was evaluated using 10-20-30 rule in conjunction with the Pest Vulnerability Matrix (PVM). The findings revealed that Cupressus sempervirens L. accounted for 30.42% of all individuals, indicating clear dominance at the species level. Additionally, Gleditsia triacanthos L. (16.23%) and Acer negundo L. (10.10%) exceeded the recommended species thresholds. The five most common species constituted 74.76% of the total, while the top ten species represented 93.99%. At the genus level, Cupressus (30.42%) was the most dominant, and at the family level, Cupressaceae (32.20%) exceeded the 30% threshold. These results show taxonomic imbalance ratios of 30.42% for species, 30.42% for genus, and 32.20% for family levels, indicating that the park falls within the high vulnerability category according to the PVM. Among all tree individuals, 59.89% were angiosperms and 40.11% were gymnosperms; phenologically, 59.75% were deciduous broadleaf, 40.11% coniferous, and only 0.14% evergreen broadleaf. Regarding provenance, native species made up 62.76% of the population, while exotic species constituted 37.24%. These findings reveal that the park exhibits insufficient taxonomic diversity and a high dependence on a few taxa, which contributes to ecological vulnerability. As a result, tree-planting strategies based on taxonomic balance and increased use of native species are recommended to promote sustainable urban forestry.