Ali Erdoğan

Marine turtle nesting at Patara, Turkey, in 2000

Abstract The reproduction of the sea turtle population at Patara in southern Turkey was investigated in 2000. Two Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) nests were identified, which is the first record for the area, and the westernmost nesting site in the Mediterranean. 85 Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) nests were found, but hatchlings emerged from only 19 of them. Beach erosion and the covering of nests by shifting sand dunes was responsible for the loss of 54% of all nests. Although 72% of all emergences occurred on the eastern half of the beach and 74% of all clutches were laid there, there was no significant difference found in nesting success between both beach sections, which differ markedly in structure and human impact.

Sexual and non-sexual social preferences in male and female white-eyed bulbuls

While the function of ornaments shaped by sexual selection is to attract mates or drive off rivals, these signals may also evolve through social selection, in which the social context affects the fitness of signallers and receivers. Classical ‘mate choice’ experiments often reveal preferences for ornaments, but few studies have considered whether these are strictly sexual or reflect general social preferences. Indeed, an alternative possibility is that ornaments evolve through ‘non-sexual social selection’ (hereafter ‘social selection’). We examined the role of ornamentation (yellow ventral patch) and familiarity (individuals recognize group mates with which they have had previous interactions) on mate choice (opposite-sex stimuli preference) and social choice (same-sex stimuli preference) in both male and female white-eyed bulbuls (Pycnonotus xanthopygos). In the mate choice test, females preferred unfamiliar males with increased yellow. There were no biologically important differences in male preferences based on familiarity or intensity of patch colour. In the social choice test, females preferred to associate with familiar females. Males preferred to associate with familiar males but also preferred to associate with less ornamented males. Our results suggest that ornamentation and familiarity are important features, playing different roles in males and females, in both social and sexual selection processes.

On the distribution of the White-spectacled Bulbul, Pycnonotus xanthopygos (Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1833), in Turkey

Abstract According to a study performed between 2001 and 2003, the White-spectacled Bulbul is mainly distributed in the coastal Mediterranean region of Turkey and extends from Patara/Gelemiş near Kaş in the west to Türkoğlu in Kahramanmaraş province in the east. The vertical distribution extends from sea level to 1260 m in the non-breeding season. In the breeding season, the species has its highest density in the coastal area up to 400 m a.s.l. The highest nesting area was found at Belen in the Amanus Mountains at 740 m. The main areas of occurrence are the Antalya lowlands, the Çukurova and the coastal band of Hatay where dense populations are found. Low densitiy is found in particular in the areas of Ermenek (south-central Anatolia) and Nurdağı (southeastern Anatolia).

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE BREEDING ECOLOGY OF THE HOUSE SPARROW (PASSER DOMESTICUS L.): TIMING OF BREEDING AND BREEDING SUCCESS

Breeding activity of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) occurred between March and August; up to four successful clutches per pair were found in each breeding season. Timing of breeding activities and breeding patterns were compared for the years 2001 to 2003. Of the 656, 760, and 600 (total 2016) eggs laid in the three years, 334 (50.91%), 426 (56.05%), and 362 (60.33%) (total 55.65%) hatched; 224, 276, and 209 (total 709) nestlings fledged, giving a breeding success in terms of eggs laid of 34.2%, 36.1%, and 34.8% (total 35.2%); 67.1%, 64.8%, and 57.6% (63.2%), respectively, in terms of the eggs hatched. The mean number of fledglings per clutch was 2.70 ± 0.13, 2.42 ± 0.09, and 2.36 ± 0.11 (2.49 ± 0.06). The mean nestling weight at hatching and before fledgling (day 15) was 1.81 g ± 0.40 (n = 59) and 21.10 g ± 0.30 (n = 94), respectively. These data provide a base against which future population changes can be monitored.

A GIS-based approach to assess the population size of Krüper’s Nuthatch, Sitta krueperi at a newly found breeding area in Inner Anatolia

Abstract A new breeding area for Krüper’s Nuthatch (Sitta krueperi Pelzeln, 1863) was discovered in the Ak Mountains of Yozgat province of Inner Anatolia in pure Scots Pine (Pinus silvestris) woodland. The average bird density was 1.23±0.85 individuals/km2. The Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) was applied for altitude and habitat characteristics of Scots Pine within a raster of 500 x 500 m, and, based on this, a model distribution map was prepared using a Geographic Information System (GIS). Using a HIS-based threshold of more than 0.7 and the area of habitat, we calculated the population size of Krüper’s Nuthatch in the Ak Mountains region as 558 individuals.

Forest pest control by common redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus L.) near Antalya, Turkey

This research was conducted in two Mediterranean forest study plots (Bük-Lütfi Büyükyıldırım BL and Elmalı Cedarforest EZ) near Antalya, Turkey, between 2000 and 2002. Adult redstarts fed their nestlings exclusively with insects (79.5%). Three hundred and thirty seven prey items were identified of which 34.4% were Coleoptera, 17.2% Lepidoptera, 11.6% Diplopoda, 9.8% Diptera, 8.0 % Hymenoptera, 5% Heteroptera, 4.7% Arachnida, 2.7% Orthoptera, 1.8% Myriapoda, 1.2% zu Sedantaria, 0.6% each scorpions, Homoptera, and Dermaptera, and 0.3% each Chilopoda, Neuroptera, and earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris). Fourteen different forest pest species were identified of which seven species were Lepidoptera, four Coleoptera, two Hymenoptera and one Orthoptera.

The breeding biology of the White-spectacled Bulbul, Pycnonotus xanthopygos, at the northwestern edge of its distribution range

Abstract The White-spectacled Bulbul, Pycnonotus xanthopygos, is an abundant and possibly invasive species in Turkey, where it has gradually expanded its distribution and breeding range in both western and southeastern directions. This study focused on its breeding biology, which is still poorly known. The breeding activity extends from February until September. The preferred nesting areas are mainly gardens and maquis groves, where 24 different nesting tree species have been identified. The clutch size is 3.3 ± 0.8 eggs per pair, nesting success 68%, hatching success 94%, fledgling success 95%, and overall breeding success 89%. While nesting success differs significantly between the years, we found no significant differences in hatching, fledging, and overall breeding success between the years studied. Despite favourable climatic conditions in the Mediterranean region, the species makes only one brood per year in a relatively extended breeding season extending over seven months, and has a relatively a high reproduction rate per nest.

First record of Blyth’s Pipit, Anthus godlewskii (Taczanowski, 1876), from Turkey (Aves: Motacillidae)

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