Effects of Different Variables on Habitat Selection and Temporal Activities of Wild Animals; The Case of Central Anatolia

Abstract

In this study, which was carried out between 2015-2019, were taken 3730 photographs and video recordings with the number of 6380 camera trap days at 142 different points with the camera traps. At the end of the study, 13 different large mammal wild animal species were identified. In the study area, wild boar (Sus scrofa) 845, hare (Lepus europaeus) 634, red fox (Vulpes vulpes) 565, gray wolf (Canis lupus) 549, golden jackal (Canis aureus) 322, red deer (Cervus elaphus) 224, stone marten (Martes foina) 174, European badger (Meles meles) 89, brown bear (Ursus arctos) 86, Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) 84, jungle cat (Felis chaus) 69, wildcat (Felis silvestris) 52 and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) 28 times have been observed. The distribution of the identified species according to altitude and stand type, and their activities according to months and hours of the day were evaluated. It has been determined that the determined species prefer mixed and degraded stand types, they are more intense between 1200-1400 meters, daily activities are more frequent at night and they are more active in the spring and autumn seasons.