Altitude
The altitude, which affects the habitat selection and distribution of
wild animals was considered as an important and limiting factor for also
our study area. It is seen that the species in the area are mostly
within the forest border regions and are concentrated between 800 and
1500 meters. The between 1300-1399 meters has been the most preferred
altitude limit with 788 records. This has followed by 1200-1299 meters
with 735 records and 1100-1199 meters with 392 records. Both the total
number of records and the number of observed species decreased as you
descended below 800 meters and rose above 1,500 meters. However,
considering the habitat characteristics of the jungel cat and eurasian
otter, it was only detected between 700-900 meters. Both species were
detected in Balıkdamı Wildlife Development Area, which is the most
important protected area of the region (Figure 5).
Figure 5. The number of determined species depending on altitude.
51% of the detected species were observed 1913 times in total between
1100-1399 meters. This height layer is the best region in terms of both
forest and stand richness. Another reason why this altitude range is
more preferred by wild animals is that it is away from human pressure
compared to low altitudes and it has better living conditions compared
to high altitudes due to reasons such as winter conditions, food and
water. The wild boar, which is the most dominant species in the area,
was observed 197 times between 1200-1299 meters. The reason why this
species shows an extreme elevation between 900-999 meters is due to the
active agricultural activities at this altitude. The wild boars here
avoid going up to high altitudes, as they have constant and fresh access
to agricultural food. Increasing rural migration today poses the danger
of wild boars heading to lower altitudes. If we rank the highest number
of species depending on the altitude; Eoropean hare 187 times 1300-1399,
red fox 166 times 1300-1399, grey wolf 165 times 1330-1399, golden
jackal 73 times 900-999, red deer 37 times 1200-1299, beech marten 44
times 1100-1199, European badger 19 times 1200- 1299, brown bear 22
times 900-999, Eurasian otter 75 times 800-899, jungel cat 43 times
800-899, wild cat 10 times 900-999, Eurasian lynx 9 times between
1100-1199 meters were observated.
There are two different situations in the selection of habitat depending
on the altitude in the study area. The first of these has seen in the
jackal. According to Demirsoy (1996), the golden jackal is not normally
found in places higher than 600 meters in Turkey. However, this species
has been found at all altitudes from 100 meters to 1499 meters in the
study area. Another extreme situation is that red deer can be seen
between 100-600 meters. This elevation ranges are used as agricultural
fields. The reason for this species to come to such low altitudes has
been interpreted as escaping from harsh winter conditions and predatory
gaze. Another finding related to altitude is that there is a connection
between the hunter and the prey, just like in the stand type. For
example, grey wolf is most common with wild boar and red deer
(1200-1299), and Eurasian lynx is with European rabbit (1100-1399) at
the same altitudes. Again, depending on the seasons, it was observed
that the species in the study area preferred higher altitudes in summer
and lower altitudes with relatively less snow cover in winter.