Akdeniz Ekosistemlerinde Günümüz Yangın Rejimlerinin Şekillenmesinde Doğal ve Antropojen Faktörlerin Rolü

Abstract

The aim of this project is to investigate the relative role of anthropogenic and natural drivers shaping fire regimes in Mediterranean type ecosystems of Turkey. In the study, three groups of data including climatic, topographic and anthropogenic factors were evaluated in addition to the fire data. Fire data were included satellite fire records of NASA. BIOCLIM variables were used to investigate the effect of climatic factors on fire regimes. Road net, population and demographic data, agriculture and livestock activities data were used to investigate the effect of anthropogenic factors on fire regimes. Other natural variables that were accounted on in the study based on geographic and topographic data, PET and forest structure. The data was statistically analyzed by generalized linear models analysis, and regression techniques. Our results showed that despite the intense effects of humans, natural factors are still the main drivers of fire regime in the study area. Moreover, study showed that elevation from sea level also had a significant effects on fire regimes. Lastly, results also showed agricultural lands have serious potential to distort results while investigating natural fire regimes. This study is the most comprehensive study on pyrogeography in Turkey. Moreover, this thesis is also contributing to close the lack of data and information on fire regimes in the eastern Mediterranean Basin.