Zeynel Arslangündoğdu

The Western Conifer Seed Bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis (Heidemann, 1910), recorded in Turkey (Heteroptera: Coreidae).

The Western Conifer Seed Bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis (Heidemann, 1910), is an invasive alien species of North American (Mexico, the United States, and Canada) origin (HRADIL 2008, SIMOV 2008). In Europe, it was first found in Italy in 1999 (BERNARDINELLI & ZANDIGIACOMO 2001, TAYLOR et al. 2001, TESCARI 2001). From there, it quickly expanded its range to western and eastern Europe, and within the last ten years or so has colonised e.g. Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, England, and Spain (e.g. KMENT & BA A 2008, LIS et al. 2008, RABITSCH 2008). It was recently recorded in Montenegro in 2008 (HRADIL 2008) and Bulgaria in 2008 (SIMOV 2008). L. occidentalis may be transported with Christmas trees, in shipments of corn and possibly with landscaping materials or by transcontinental shipping. It is probably able to move into commercial pine plantations because of its strong flight ability (TAYLOR et al. 2001). In its natural habitat, the nymphs and adults spend the summer on pines and other coniferous trees, approximately 40 species of conifers, with a preference for Pinaceae (Pinus strobus, P. resinosa, P. sylvestris, P. ponderosa, P. nigra, P. mugo, P.contorta, P. halepensis) and Douglasfir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). It has also been observed on Abies, Cedrus, Picea and Juniperus, and non-coniferous plants including citrus (Citrus sp.) and pistachio (Pistacia vera)

Development of the population of the European Fallow Deer, Dama dama dama (Linnaeus, 1758), in Turkey

Abstract In order to conserve the last autochthonous population of the European Fallow Deer, Dama dama dama (Linnaeus, 1758), the Turkish Government began a breeding programme at Düzlerçamı near Antalya in 1966. The programme began with 7 animals and the numbers continuously increased until the mid-1980s, when they reached over 500 animals. However, the population then collapsed until the year 2000 and did not recover. Today it comprises less than 130 individuals. The reasons for the population collapse are not fully understood but are thought to be a combination of several factors related to increasing human pressure such as urbanisation, recreational activities, and poaching. The population is much below the carrying capacity of the area. Attempts to re-introduce Fallow Deer into other areas of Turkey have not been successful but should be further considered as an option to minimise the risk of extinction, as at present the entire gene pool of the Turkish autochthonous population is concentrated at Düzlerçamı.

The new record for Turkish invasive alien insect fauna Anoplophora chinensis (Forster, 1771) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Gelisen ulasim yollari sayesinde uluslararasi ticaret hizli bir sekilde artmaktadir. Bunun sonucu olarak kitalarin ve ulkelerin arasindaki dogal engeller ortadan kalkmis ve pek cok canli turunun yasam alanlarindan baska yerlere tasinmasi kolaylasmistir. Bu canlilar arasinda bocekler onemli bir yer tutmaktadir. Dogal yasam alanlarinda bocek populasyonlari pek cok etmen ile denge halindedir. Ancak bulunduklari alanlardan canli bitki ve agac malzeme ticareti (ithalat-ihracat) ile baska yerlere tasinmalari durumunda onemli sorunlara neden olabilmektedirler. Yeni yerlesim alanlarinda istilaci yabanci bocekler olarak nitelendirilen bu turlerin ortak ozellikleri arasinda hizli buyume ve ureme, yuksek yayilma yetenegi, cok degisik cevresel kosullara tolerans, pek cok bitki turu ile beslenebilme yer almaktadir. Son yillarda artan bitki ve agac malzeme ithalati bu turlerin Turkiye’de siklikla gorulmesine neden olmaktadir. Bu arastirma ile Anoplophora chinensis (Forster, 1771) (Coleoptera; Cerambycidae) Turkiye istilaci yabanci bocek faunasina yeni bir kayit olarak verilmektedir.

Spring migration of the White Stork, Ciconia ciconia, and the Black Stork, Ciconia nigra, over the Bosphorus

Abstract The spring migration of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia (Linnaeus)) and the Black Stork (C. nigra (Linnaeus)) over the Bosphorus, one of the migration bottlenecks of the eastern European population, was studied in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010 at a ridge north of Sarıyer close to the Black Sea. The number of White Storks counted per season was up to 119,381 in 2008, but it was less than half of that in 2006 and 2009. These big fluctuations do not reflect population trends but are probably due to slight shifts in migration routes from year to year. The number of Black Storks varied between 1,118 in 2006 and 3,052 in 2008. The medians of spring migration were 6 April for White Storks and 17 April for Black Storks.

Autumn-2007 migration of soaring birds across the Bosphorus, Turkey

The Bosphorus Strait located in Istanbul, Turkey, is one the primary migration bottlenecks in Europe for soaring birds. This study aims to determine the abundance and the species composition of soaring birds that migrate over the Bosphorus, in order to address the knowledge gap on bird migration in Turkey. In this study, 27 bird species from 4 families and 3 orders were identified, and a total of 34.346 soaring birds were observed.

The First Record of Two-Lined Chestnut Borer Agrilus bilineatus (Weber, 1801) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) from Europe

ABSTRACT: The two-lined chestnut borer Agrilus bilineatus (Weber, 1801) is recorded for the first time from Europe. Two specimens were collected from Belgrad Forest (European part of Istanbul, Turkey). The new record extends the known distribution.

Autumn migration of the White Stork, Ciconia ciconia, and the Black Stork, C. nigra, over the Bosphorus (Aves: Ciconiidae)

The Bosphorus is one of the main migration routes for soaring birds in Europe. Migrating White Storks and Black Storks have been counted at Büyük Çamlica hill in the four autumn seasons of 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 for 78 days each year. The numbers recorded are significantly lower than those counted in the1970’s, and it is discussed whether this decline could be related to a change in migration routes caused by an increase in the size of the urban area of the City of Istanbul. The population of Istanbul has increased from 3.0 million in 1970 to 13.2 million in 2010.

Sakarya havzası sulak alanlarında aralık ayı su kuşu sayımı

Turkiye cografyasi yaklasik 500 sulak alana ev sahipligi yapmaktadir. Bu alanlardan 76’si uluslararasi oneme sahip olup toplam 1 295 546 hektarlik bir alani kapsamaktadir. Bu alanlar su kuslari icin cok onemli ve Anadolu’da bircok goc rotasinin kesistigi konumdadir. Ramsar sozlesmesine gore sulak alanin tanimi; “alcak gelgitle alti metreyi asmayan deniz suyu alanlarini da kapsamak uzere dogal ya da yapay; surekli ya da gecici; durgun ya da akar, tatli, aci ya da tuzlu; sazliklar, sulak cayirliklar, turbalik ya da batakliklar”’dir. Sulak alanlar diger ekosistemlerden farki islev ve degerlere sahiptirler. Calismada Sakarya Havzasinda bulunan Sapanca, Acarlar, Kanli, Kamis, Golkent ve Poyraz Golunde ve nehrin Karadeniz’e dokuldugu kiyi kesiminde Aralik 2003’de su kusu varliginin ortaya cikarilmasi amaclanmistir. Acarlar Golu haric tum sulak alanlarda sayim yontemlerinden noktada sayim yontemi kullanilmistir. Ancak Acarlar Golu subasar ormani oldugundan burada kuslar hat boyu sayim yontemiyle sayilmistir. Bu calismalar sonucunda 9 takima ait 11 familyadan 29 tur saptanmis ve toplam 55884 su kusu sayilmistir. Su kuslari icerisinde Sakarmeke (Fulica atra L., 1758) 32374 bireyle en fazla sayida, Kizil Gerdanli Dalgic (Gavia stellata (Pont. 1763)), Kizil Boyunlu Batagan (Podiceps grisegena (Bo. 1783)) ve Dikkuyruk (Oxyura leucocephala (Scop., 1769)) 1’er bireyle bolgede en az sayida gozlemlenen kus turleridir.