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.