Observations on Behavior of Wild Goat (Capra aegagrus, Erxleben 1777)

Wild (bezoar) goat (Capra aegagrus, Erxleben 1777) was studied in Köprülü Canyon Area and Termessos-Düzlerçamı Area in Antalya-TURKEY. Based on questionary survey and observations from June 2003 to August 2004, wild goats used eight different vegetations – maquis, Turkish pine (Pinus brutia), juniper (Juniperus excelsa), juniper mixed cedar (Cedrus libani), black pine (Pinus nigra), fir (Abies cilicica subsp. isaurica), cedar and sub-alpine – from 200 m to 2500 m. Wild goats preferred escape terrains with more than 30o angle within these habitats. Any food preferences were not observed except hyacinth (Muscari spp). Rutting season started in the middle of December in Köprülü Canyon Area and in the beginning of December in Termessos-Düzlerçamı Area. Rutting season lasted for 30-40 days and pregnancy period took 5-5.5 months. The first births occurred in the middle of May in Köprülü Canyon Area and in the beginning of May in Termessos-Düzlerçamı Area. Ratios of males associate with females were 0.47:1 in Köprülü Canyon Area and 0.57:1 in Termessos-Düzlerçamı Area. Bias in the sex ratios was a result of anthropogenic pressure

Relative Habitat Use by The Red Fox (Vulpes Vulpes) in Koprulu Canyon National Park, Southern Abnatolia

Habitat use by the red fox was investigated by the scent-station method in Koprulu Canyon National Park, southern Anatolia. Compositional analysis showed that, out of four main habitat types, Anatolian black pine forests were the most used one by red foxes. However no significant relation could be detected between the number of red fox visits and vegetation structure and elevation, conforming the generalist behaviour of the species.Wo

Effect of the pest Marchalina hellenica Gennadius (Homoptera, Margarodidae) on the growth parameters of Pinus brutia Ten. in Mugla Region (Turkey)

Marchalina hellenica Gennadius is a common pest prevalent in Pinus brutia Ten. forests in Mugla province of Mediterranean Region of Turkey (28 degrees 20'03"E; 37 degrees 12'18"N). The pest is known to suck sap from a number of pine tree species, especially Pinus brutia. The goal of this research is to determine whether the pest has a negative impact on the volume increments of Pinus brutia trees and forests. Two areas with identical site conditions are selected for study: one non-infested and one infested with Marchalina hellenica. The effects of site quality and age on the sampled trees have been eliminated. The diameter growth at breast height, basal area (the cross-sectional area of a tree at breast height) and the increment of tree volume are determined separately for both study areas. A t-test applied to volume increments of both infested and noninfested trees of all ages proves that infestation causes significant negative impacts on trees between the ages of 40 and 80 years. The greatest loss of increment in single trees is 2.0% (of the volume of non-infested tree) which occurs at the age of 70 years old. When considering the entire stand, the greatest loss of increment is 3.4% (of the volume of non-infested stand) which occurs at the age of approximately 45 years

Presence of large and medium-sized mammals in a burned pine forest in southwestern Turkey

RIASSUNTO - Presenza di grandi e medi mammiferi in pinete incendiate della Turchia sud-occidentale. Nel periodo Novembre 2005-Agosto 2006, è stata verificata, tramite trappole fotografiche, la presenza di mammiferi di grandi e medie dimensioni in foreste di Pinus brutia integre e incendiate della Turchia sud-occidentale. Sono state ottenute fotografie di tre specie, cinghiale (Sus scrofa), volpe (Vulpes vulpes) e faina (Martes foina). Le prime due sono state rinvenute in entrambe le aree, mentre la faina è stata accertata solo in boschi incendiati. I risultati del presente studio suggeriscono che gli stadi successionali intermedi successivi ai roghi possono essere ricolonizzati dalle comunità di mammiferi