RESULT
Stand type, which is an important criterion in the ecology, distribution
and habitat selection of wild animals, is present in 54 different types
in the area and significantly affects the activities of the identified
species. Mab3 stand type is stand type that observed the most wild
animal species in the study area. Generally, it is seen that the
detected species are recorded more in mixed stand types where larch or
oak are mostly found. Species prefer degraded stands more primarily. The
pine species in pure or mixed stands are less preferred by the
identified species. The reason for this is the relatively poor living
cover layer of these types of stands, the low plant species and
quantities on which herbivorous and omnivorous wild animals can feed,
the high pine trees and the inability of many wild animal species to
find suitable and sufficient hiding places in there. Özkazanç (2019)
reported that prefered mixed stands more than pure stands, fir and beech
mixed stands are preferred more than other mixed stands, and damaged and
old stands are preferred more than healthy and young stands, by large
mammal wild animals. In this study which we have done differnt of
Özkazanç (2019) are preferred that degraded stands more thanhealthy
stands by wild animals. However, the forest structure, which is
deteriorated as a result of different human activities, has a
significant harmful effect on wild animals. As a matter of fact, Wardell
and Nichols (1991) reported that many factors, including mining,
logging, fire and plant diseases, cause deterioration of ecology in
forests and as a result, wildlife is adversely affected.
When the visibility and activity times of the observed species are
evaluated, it is seen that their activities start after 17:00 and
continue increasingly throughout the night. Species activities has began
to decrease with sunrise and reach their lowest levels after 09:00.
Between 09:00 and 16:59 hours is the time period when the activities of
the species are the least. Nabioğlu and Keten (2016) determined that the
activities of the species they detected were between 19:00-21:59 at the
highest level and between 11:00-16:59 at the lowest, Özkazanç et al.
(2017) has report that the most intense activities are between
18.00-22.00 and 04.00-08.00, and the least activity is between
10.00-17.00.
Tespit edilen büyük memeli yaban hayvanlarının gün içi aktiviteleri gibi
aylara göre olarak aktivitelerinde de benzerlik olduğu görülmektedir.
Türlerin hemen hepsi vejetasyon döneminin başladığı ilkbaharın başı yani
Mart ayında ve kış dönemine hazırlıklarının yapıldığı sonbaharın
ortalarında yani Ekim aylarında daha fazla kayıt altına alınmıştır.
Türlerin aylık aktivitesinin en az olduğu ay ise Ocak ayı olarak
belirlenmiştir. Nabioğlu ve Keten (2016)’in tespit ettikleri yaban
hayvanlarının sonbahar ve kış aylarında faaliyet gösterdiğini
belirlerken Özkazanç ve ark. (2017) türlerin Nisan ve Eylül
ayları arasındaki kayıtların daha fazla olduğunu, en çok yaban hayvanı
kaydının 427 adet ile Eylül ayında en azının ise 11 adet ile Ocak ayında
kayıt altına alındığını belirtmektedir. Yapmış olduğumuz bu çalışmada
ise foto kapanlar tarafından en çok kayıt 484 adetle Kasım ayında, en az
kayıt ise 188 adet ile Ocak ayında olmuştur.
An important variable that affects the distribution of the species in
the area and their habitat use is the altitude factor. Considering the
altitude, it is seen that the detected species are recorded more between
1200 and 1400 meters. Significant decreases are observed in the number
of recorded species at altitudes below 500 meters and above 1500 meters
in the area. In this regard, Özkazanç et al. (2017) has stated that big
wild animals are recorded more in the range of 1300-1399 meters, there
is a decrease in the number of records between 1600-1699 meters, and
there is a decrease not only the number of records but also the
diversity of recorded species below 1000 meters
In addition, Eurasian otter, jungel cat, wild cat and Eurasian lynx that
we identified in this study werenew records for the study area. This is
an indication that these species tend to spread in the Central
Anatolium.
Although each wild animal has its own general biology and population
ecology, these aspirations can vary under local conditions. For this
reason, it is very important to determine the characteristics of the
species from local to local by re-examining the general morphological,
ecological and biological information of the species in local
conditions, in determining both intra-species variations and
inter-species relations. In the light of the information to be obtained
from this studies, wildlife conservation and sustainability studies will
be safer and more effective.
The habitats of wild animals are directly or indirectly damaged by the
increasing human population, developing technology, increasing
consumption needs, increasing construction, agriculture and forestry
activities. In addition, illegal hunting threatens the population
density of many wild animal species.
With this study, the biodiversity of Eskişehir province, which is an
important hot spot for Turkey’s wildlife, has been contributed and the
habitat characteristics and activities of the identified species have
been determined. Protecting the wildlife and biological diversity both
in Turkey and in the world and transferring it to future generations in
a sustainable way is possible with the wishes of the species and the
protection of the natural areas they use. Determining the ecosystem
preferences of the existing fauna with such studies will provide a more
effective and conscious wildlife protection.