Winter Activity of Reptiles in the Anatolian Peninsula

Abstract

The impact of global climate change, particularly the associated temperature increases, on the behavior and fitness of organisms, especially ectothermic species, is a topic of significant concern. This study investigates the winter activities of reptiles in the Anatolian Peninsula, considering the potential effects of climate change on their behavior. The research focuses on the responses of diverse reptile species to sudden changes in winter conditions, highlighting the importance of considering thermal fluctuations during periods of inactivity. Utilizing data gathered from social media platforms and online sources, the study identifies 23 reptile species exhibiting winter activity in the region. The data analysis reveals geographical patterns in the observed species, and the Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) technique is employed for clustering analysis. The results underscore the significance of understanding the impact of winter warming on reptiles in temperate zones, presenting valuable insights into the atypical winter behaviors of various species. The findings contribute to the broader field of climate change research, emphasizing the need to incorporate diverse and region-specific responses of reptiles to temperature fluctuations for more accurate predictions and conservation efforts.

Keywords

• Winter warming
• lizard
• snake
• tortoise
• Türkiye

ANADOLU YARIMADASINDAKİ SÜRÜNGENLERİN KIŞ AKTİVİTELERİ

Öz

Küresel iklim değişikliğinin, özellikle buna bağlı sıcaklık artışlarının, organizmaların davranışları ve yaşamsal uygunlukları üzerindeki etkisi, özellikle ektotermik türler için büyük bir endişe kaynağıdır. Bu çalışma, Anadolu Yarımadası'ndaki sürüngenlerin kış aktivitelerini, iklim değişikliğinin davranışları üzerindeki potansiyel etkilerini dikkate alarak incelemektedir. Araştırma, kış koşullarındaki ani değişimlere karşı farklı sürüngen türlerinin tepkilerine odaklanmakta ve hareketsizlik dönemlerinde termal dalgalanmaların önemini vurgulamaktadır. Sosyal medya platformları ve çevrimiçi kaynaklardan elde edilen veriler kullanılarak, bölgede kış aktivitesi gösteren 23 sürüngen türü tespit edilmiştir. Veri analizi, gözlemlenen türlerin coğrafi dağılımındaki desenleri ortaya koymuş ve kümeleme analizi için Aritmetik Ortalama ile Ağırlıksız Grup Yöntemi (UPGMA) kullanılmıştır. Sonuçlar, sürüngenlerin ılıman bölgelerdeki kış ısınmalarından nasıl etkilendiğini anlamanın önemini ortaya koyarak, farklı türlerin alışılmadık kış davranışlarına dair değerli bilgiler sunmaktadır. Bulgular, iklim değişikliği araştırmalarına katkı sağlamakta ve sürüngenlerin sıcaklık dalgalanmalarına verdiği çeşitlilik gösteren ve bölgeye özgü tepkilerin daha doğru tahminler ve koruma çabaları için göz önünde bulundurulması gerektiğini vurgulamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Kış ısınması
• kertenkele
• yılan
• kaplumbağa
• Türkiye

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