Abstract:

Roads have important effects on forestecosystems including degradation and fragmentation of habitats. However, lightavailability along the road edge increases which reflects the diversity andamount of plant species. This study is aimed to investigate the road edgeeffect on tree growing by measuring the differentiation of tree diameters alonga sample road located within Linden stands. The study was conducted inKaracabey province of Bursa where Linden has the largest distribution inTurkey. Field data were collected from sample trees selected from 5-meter-widestripes at road edge and from control zone away from road edge. The treediameters at breast height (DBH) and trunk core samples were collected fromsample trees located in the specified zones. Statistical analysis was conductedto indicate whether there is a differences in DBH and DBH growth values betweentrees at road edge and ones at control zone. The results indicated thatincreasing distance from road edge resulted in reduction in the average treediameters as well as DBH growth values. There was a statistically significantdifference between DBH values for trees at road edge and ones at control zone.On the other hand, there was no significant difference between DBH growthvalues.

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