The Importance of Endangered Anatolian (Oriental) Sweetgum Forests for the Bird Species

Abstract

The research was undertaken to assess bird diversity and abundance in the endangered and fragmented Anatolian (oriental) sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis) forests, a rare, relict endemic of the eastern Mediterranean Basin. Five visits organized in three different sweetgum forest patches were performed around lake Köyceğiz between March 2018 and January 2019. In total, 76 bird species were recorded in all study sites. Among these species, evidence showed 14 breeds in these forests, while 34 have possibility to breed, and the rest were recorded as passage or wintering species. Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) had been selected as an indicator species for the health of Anatolian Sweetgum forest patches since it showed a high dependency on these forest patches although there were suitable feeding and breeding habitats in surrounding areas. The results also suggest that Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) and Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) are possible indicators because they both winter and breed in Anatolian Sweetgum forests. The results suggest that Anatolian Sweetgum forest patches are important habitats for many birds, and the conservation efforts of these forests are also important for many bird species of southwestern Anatolia.

Keywords

• Anatolian (oriental) sweetgum forests,bird community,bird diversity,conservation of birds and forests,habitat fragmentation,Liquidambar orientalis

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