Yumurtalık Lagoon National Park

Tag

City: Adana

Area (ha): 16,979.94

Announcement Date: 16.10.2009

General features

Biodiversity

Flora: The area is located within the Mediterranean Phytogeographical Region. During the studies, 272 taxa belonging to 68 families were identified in the area. Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine), mixed with Pinus brutia (Red pine), forests are the most important part of the area in terms of flora. In addition to the fact that the Aleppo Pine, which is a rare species for Turkey, forms a forest here, there are 5 priority species for protection for the area. All of these species continue their existence in forest clearings. The main herbaceous species belonging to the dune ecosystem that stand out in the area are; Halopeplis amplexicaulis, Echinops smokeii, Heliotropium ovalifolium, Pancratimum maritimum, Zygphyllum album, Echinops smokeii, Bromus psammophilus.

Fauna: 41 of the 120 Odonata (insect group including dragonflies and damselfly beetles) species living in Turkey are found in the area. A population of Callinectes sapidus (Blue Crab) was detected between the sea coast and the sand dunes with a density of 1 nest per square meter. There are 35 mammal species belonging to 12 families in the Ceyhan Delta. Among these, garden shrew, bats, Anatolian squirrel, hare, pygmy gooseberry, mole rat, ape (mongoose), wolf, badger and otter add importance to the area.

There are 75 species of terrestrial vertebrates in the region. Yumurtalık Lagoons is an important accommodation, resting and feeding area on the bird migration routes passing through Anatolia. In a study conducted in March, April and May in the past, a total of 252 bird species were identified in the area. Thousands of different species of ducks, cuckoos, flamingos, aardvarks, maple plovers and small sandpipers overwinter in the area. According to sources, it is stated that the number of birds wintering in the Yumurtalık Lagoons in the past exceeded 70,000. During migration, apelicans, storks and shorebirds form very crowded groups. Stork, white pelican, flamingo, spoonbill, black-bellied sandpiper, harlequin bird are among the birds seen in high numbers compared to the censuses made during migration periods in previous years. Birds breeding in the area are Little Tern, Tern, Swamp Swamp, Laughing Tern.