Scientific studies supported by the university in Hakkari have rapidly expanded the records related to the city's plant diversity. Mükemre, working in the Department of Plant and Animal Production, stated that field research started six years ago has revealed the province's flora in more detail.
Within the scope of the studies, researchers traveled kilometers in the city center and rural districts. They examined about 5,000 plant samples collected from the field in the laboratory and recorded them after the identification process.
New species recorded
Mükemre explained that in previous studies, they identified 500 plant species seen for the first time in the province and later recorded an additional 300 species. Thus, approximately 800 species were added to Hakkari's biodiversity data between 2020 and 2025, 220 of which are endemic.
Recalling that the number of species identified in Hakkari until 2020 was 1,169, Mükemre said there were 95 endemic species at that time. Field studies conducted until 2024 identified 500 new taxa, raising the number of endemic species to 119.
Studies focused on mountains and plateaus
The research was concentrated around the Cilo and Sat Mountains, Meydan Belek, and Berçelan Plateaus. Mükemre noted that studies to determine the flora in Berçelan Plateau are in the final stage, with about 55 endemic species identified there.
They also conducted studies to reveal the medicinal, toxic, and edible properties of the plants. Mükemre stated that in TÜBİTAK-supported projects, they examined the health benefits and usage methods of these species. She emphasized that they worked in the field for days, carefully collecting complete specimens including root, leaf, stem, and fruit.
Mükemre pointed out that incomplete samples cause identification problems, highlighting the importance of complete material. The collected plants are pressed and dried over a period of one to ten days, then identified, glued onto herbarium sheets, labeled, and their characteristics recorded.
Preserved in the herbarium
The identified samples are preserved at the herbarium center within the university. This center stores dried plant specimens in an organized manner and allows researchers from both inside and outside the province to conduct studies there.
Mükemre said that in the final stage, the samples are kept in a deep freezer for three days, thus becoming herbarium material. It was noted that as the studies continue, the records of Hakkari's plant diversity will keep increasing.
