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

Year 2020, Volume: 4 Issue: 1, 14 - 25, 01.06.2020

Okan Ürker , Salih Tora Benzeyen

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

Supporting Institution

Ornithological Society Of The Middle East The Caucasus And Central Asia

Project Number

26671-B

Thanks

Natura, The Society for the Conservation of Nature and Culture - Turkey had studied the bird diversity and abundance in the endangered Anatolian Sweetgum Forest patches around the lake Köyceğiz, Muğla-Turkey. With the support of Ornithological Society of Middle East (OSME) and The Rufford Foundation, Primary Bird Surveys on the Anatolian Sweetgum Forests study had been held with several field studies. We thank Itri Levent Erkol (Doga/BirdLife Turkey) and Alp Giray for their assistance in the field, and Richard Porter (World Land Trust) for his technical advice during the study. Ornithological Society of the Middle East (OSME) was the main financial supporter of the present study. The study was also partly supported by The Rufford Foundation (The Project ID 26671-B). The authors declare that they do not have any conflict of interest regarding this paper.

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