Investigation of the effect of stand characteristics to habitat use of large mammal species in Artvin Meydancik region

Standing characteristics have an important role in habitat usage of wild animals. The main purpose of this study is to determine the effect of stand characteristics on the important mammalian species in the Artvin Meydancık region. For this purpose, stand characteristics were determined at 45 sampling points in different elevation steps. At these points, camera trap, direct and indirect observation studies were carried out. Later, the relationships of these species were analyzed with stand characteristics at the relevant points. In the studies carried out, it was seen that broad -leaved forest, edge habitats types coniferous forest and opened habitats, came to the fore in the stand uses of species such as bear, wolf, lynx, wild boar, jackal and karaca. Similarly, it was observed that identified birds prefer the edge habitat types more because of the combination of food and shelter facilities. As a result, the defective oak and forest interior openings, which are considered to be relatively inefficient in terms of forestry, have a prominent place in the habitat use of both large mammalian species and common birds. It can be said that the forest mosaics adorned with forest internal deficits are more important than the uniform forest structures in order to improve the population status of these species that we can express as edge species. Again, studies have been carried out to determine more individuals in areas with stand sub-layers. This situation showed that the diversity of horizontal and vertical mammals and bird species play an important role (about %80) in habitat preference. In addition, it is recommended that cutting and maintenance works should be carried out outside the reproductive period in order to minimize the damage of the related wild animals.