Invasive Species, Coypu (Myocastor coypus)

Year 2020, Issue: 6, 3 - 13, 20.12.2020

Nahit Pamukoğlu Mete Türkoğlu

Abstract

New species that are not included in the natural fauna of an ecosystem and come to a region from outside in different ways are called invasive species. Invasive species that settle in new areas, begin to be observed naturally in these areas, then proliferate and cause a decrease in biodiversity, adversely affect nature and human life. The damages of invasive species can be ecological and economic as well as affect human health. Viruses such as bird flu (H5N1), swine flu (H1N1) and covid 19 (SARS-CoV-2) that have emerged in many countries in recent years can be given as examples. The survival of a wide variety of species requires very different habitats and different climatic characteristics. Turkey hosts many convenient features for alien species as well as for the survival of native species. Therefore, alien species that enter our country in any way have a high chance of survival. As an example of an invasive mammal species, we can give the coypu (Myocastor coypus). In Turkey, some researchers suggest that the coypu eats the green parts of aquatic plants, rhizomes (bulbs), sometimes agricultural plants and fruits, sometimes invertebrates, and gnaws on reeds. It is also stated that it causes economic and ecological losses in agricultural areas and wetlands by consuming rice seedlings, reeds and aquaculture. However, it is also stated by some researchers in our country that although they are an invasive species, the coypu can easily breed, feed and reproduce in wetland areas and do not harm nature.

Keywords

invasive species, Myocastor coypus, nutria

İSTİLACI BİR TÜR, SU MAYMUNU (Myocastor coypus)

Abstract

Bir ekosistemin doğal faunasında yer almayan, farklı yollarla bir bölgeye dışarıdan gelen yeni türlere istilacı tür denmektedir. Yeni alanlara yerleşen, bu alanlarda doğal olarak gözlenmeye başlayan, sonra çoğalan ve biyoçeşitlilikte azalmaya sebep olan istilacı türler doğayı ve insan yaşamını da olumsuz yönde etkilemektedir. İstilacı türlerin zararları ekolojik ve ekonomik olabildiği gibi insan sağlığı üzerine de etkili olabilir. Son yıllarda birçok ülkede ortaya çıkan kuş gribi (H5N1), domuz gribi (H1N1) ve Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) gibi virüsler buna örnek olarak verilebilir. Çok çeşitli türlerin yaşaması çok değişik yaşam ortamları ve değişik iklim özellikleri gerektirir. Türkiye, doğal türlerin yaşaması için olduğu kadar pek çok yabancı tür için de uygun özellikler barındırır. Bundan dolayı ülkemize herhangi bir biçimde giren yabancı türlerin yaşama şansı da yüksektir. İstilacı türlerden memeli türüne bir örnek olarak su maymununu (Myocastor coypus) verebiliriz. Türkiye’de bazı araştırmacılar tarafından su maymununun su bitkilerinin yeşil kısımlarını, rizomları (soğanları), bazen tarım bitkilerini ve meyveleri, bazen omurgasızları yedikleri ve sazlıkları kemirerek beslendikleri ileri sürülmektedir. Ayrıca pirinç fideleri, sazlar ve su ürünlerini tüketerek tarımsal alanlarda ve sulak alanlarda ekonomik ve ekolojik kayıplara yol açtığı da belirtilmektedir. Bununla birlikte yine ülkemizde, bazı araştırmacılar tarafından istilacı bir tür olmalarına rağmen su maymununun sulak alanlarda çok rahat bir şekilde üreyip, beslenip, çoğalabildikleri ve doğaya da zarar vermedikleri de ifade edilmektedir.

Keywords

istilacı tür, coypu, nutria, Myocastor coypus

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