The Caelifera (Orthoptera) of the Akdağlar range and its relation with the vegetation fauna

ABSTRACT THE CAELIFERA (ORTHOPTERA) FAUNA OF THE AKDAGLAR RANGE AND ITS RELATION WITH THE VEGETATION Deniz ŞİRİN M.Sc. in Biology Adviser: Prof. Dr. Battal ÇIPLAK May 2003, 54 pages One year-long survey was conducted to assess the Caelifera (Orthoptera) species assemblage in various habitats in Akdağlar range, located in south-western part of Asia Minor. Diversity, distribution and relative abundance data were collected from six selected stations in the study area. Variation in habitat use within selected habitat types was demonstrated by altitudes and vegetation types. These stations are: Kalkan (160 m), Sütleğen (670 m), Ziyaret Tepe (1430 m), Eren Tepe (1680 m), Akdağ Subaşı (2120 m) and Akdağ İkiz göl (2450 m). In the study area, totally 31 species of Caelifera were recorded: 27 belong to Acrididae, 3 belong to Pamphagidae and 1 belongs to Tetrigidae. Regarding the biodiversity in the respective station, they can be ordered as follows: Ziyaret Tepe (16 species), Eren Tepe (11 species), Kalkan (9 species), Sütleğen (9 species), Akdağ Subaşı (5 species) and Akdağ İkiz göl (3 species). Of the total 3 1 species recorded from area Anacradium aegyptium aegyptium, Locusta migratoria, Acinipe davisi and Dociastaurus anatolicus always present below 1000 m in the maqui vegetation, Stenobothrus spp., Omocestus spp., Chorthippus dichrous, C. karelini karelini, Dociostaurus brevicollis, Paracyptera labiata, Calliptamus barbarus barbarus, Ca. tenuicercis tenuicercis, Pezotetix anatolica, Pyrgodera armata, Celes variabilis varabilis and Glyphomethis adaliae adaliae present between 1000 m - 2000 m in grass and high grass meadow vegetation and Tetratetrix depressa, Calliptamus coelasyriensis and Pseudoceles obscrus lateritius over 2000 m in Thorn-cushion vegetation. Other species do not show a spesif|c distribution according to altitudes or vegetation. mRegarding Caelifera abundance in the study area, the highest abundance were observed first in the Eren Tepe and second in Ziyaret Tepe. Thus it is concluded that grass and high grass meadow type vegetation is the most suitable habitat for Caelifera species in the area. KEY WORDS : Anatolia, Akdağlar, Caelifera, Distribution and Habitat Association COMMITTEE : Prof. Dr. Battal ÇIPLAK (Adviser) Prof. Dr. Ali ERDO?AN Asoc. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin GÖÇMEN iv