EFFECTS OF LAND USE AND TOPOGRAPHIC VARIABLES ON DISTRIBUTION OF PINE MISTLETOE (Viscum album subsp. AUSTRIACUM (WIESB.) VOLLM.) IN NORTHEASTERN TURKEY

Abstract

This study evaluates the distribution of pine mistletoe in scots pine ecosystems in relation to topographic variables and land uses. A total of 109 sample plots were selected from pure Scots pine forests in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. Of the sample plots, 69 (63%) were mistletoe infected and 40 (37%) were uninfected. The 6-class dwarf mistletoe rating was used for infection severity. Pearson correlation analysis results showed significant relationships between mistletoe infection severity and topographic variables in 30 m buffer and land use in 500 m buffer. The t-test results showed that there was a significant difference between mean topographic variables and land use in mistletoe infected and uninfected sample plots. The results of the binary logistic regression analysis showed that altitude, productive forest, slope, and road distance were the most significant predictor of the distribution of pine mistletoe as topographic variables and land uses. Common direction of mistletoe infected areas, in addition to expressing Scots pine ecosystems, was a wide range of land use, more humid areas and heterogeneous land structure.