The effect of aspect on post-fire recovery of a mixed Lebanon cedar- anatolian black pine forest: After the first 5 years

The aim of the study was to examine the effect of aspect on post-fire recovery of a mixed Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) -Anatolian black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold subsp. pallasiana [Lamb.] Holmboe) forest in Köprülü Kanyon National Park, southern Turkey. Study plots were randomly selected according to three main aspects within the burned area. Density and height of seedlings of both species were determined. Plant coverage, plant species diversity and maximum height of vegetation were also examined. Aspect had a significant effect on total plant coverage and multiple comparisons indicated that total plant coverage on N-facing slopes was significantly lower than that on both W-facing and S-facing slopes. However, aspect had no effect on plant species diversity or maximum height of vegetation. The densities of seedlings of C. libani and P. nigra were very low on slopes of all aspects and aspect had no significant effect on seedling density in either species. However, grazed P. nigra seedlings were significantly shorter than ungrazed ones, but such a difference was not observed in C. libani seedlings. Goat browsing may be a more important factor affecting the recovery of these mixed forests.