The relations between birds and saproxylic beetles with stand characteristics in different aged oak forests in Mersin region

Oak forests have high biodiversity in insect and bird fauna, and old and hollow oak trees are important for this rich diversity. When rich biodiversity considers, the relationships between saproxylic insects and birds in oaks forests, which are different ages, were determined from 2017 to 2021 years in the Köseçobanlı location at Gülnar district of Mersin province. In this study, three different areas, which are young-aged, middle-aged, and old-aged areas, were carried out, and there were 45 window traps for saproxylic beetles at the beginning of May. Founded traps were controlled every month between May and October. Bird observation was made on points where the insect traps were set up, at twice in different years, and birds were recorded. The age and diameter of trees in the area, which was set up traps, were measured. A total of 45 increment pens took using the increment borer for age. Caliper was measured diameter values determined to all trees within a radius of 50 meters from the center of the point. In addition, the density of bush was calculated in terms of its relationship with birds data. In conclusion, there were 244 beetle species from 44 families in saproxylic beetle and 33 bird species. Thirty-three species from beetles were determined to be new records for Turkish fauna. While the most beetle species were in the Buprestidae family with 24 species, the highest number of individuals were Dermestidae family with 2354. According to the determination of the age of the trees, the old oak age is 774. The average age was determined as 467-313-25, respectively, in the old-middle-aged-young-aged area. The mean diameter was 48 cm in the aged area, 44 cm in the middle-aged area, and 8 cm in the young aged area.