Bioecology and determination of distribution maps of anatidae species in some lakes (Sapanca, Poyrazlar, Taşkisiği and Küçük Akgöl) in the Eastern Marmara Region

Lake Sapanca, Lake Poyrazlar, Lake Taşkısığı and Lake Küçü Akgöl are some of the important aquatic environment in Marmara Region. These aquatic environments host a lot of birds and other aquatic creatures although there is dense human activity for all seasons. Current situations of Anatidae species in Lake Sapanca, Lake Poyrazlar, Lake Taşkısığı and Lake Küçü Akgöl haven't been well understood so we observed and got some important knowledge about their bio-ecology and distribution in each lake. Result of field study, 18 Anatidae species were recorded. In terms of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria, Aythya nyroca was categorized as near threatened (NT), Aythya ferina was vulnerable (VU) and Oxyura leucocephala was endangered (EN). Rest of the other species were classified as least concern (LC). Up to preservation citeria of Kiziroğlu (2008), 5 species are evaluated as A4 (Anser anser, Anas clypeata, A. strepera, A. querquedula and Tadorna ferruginea), 6 species as A5 (Anas crecca, A. platyrhynchos, A. penelope, Ayhthya fuligula, A. ferina and Netta rufina), 2 species as A3 (Aythya nyroca and Cygnus cygnus), 2 species as A3.1 (Tadorna tadorna and Cygnus olor), 1 species as A2 (Oxyura leucocephala) and 1 species as B2 (Bucephula clangula) and B3 (Mergellus albellus). The distribution maps of each Anatidae species were made. According to these maps, A. ferina, A. fuligula and A. platyrhnchos most abundant among Anatidae species that defined during this study. Also distribution maps show us that Anatidae species mostly prefer the reed beds that are most protective areas for species. Most of the Anatiade species breeding season begins especially in spring and ends in summer. Also, most of the recognized species are winter migrant. So none of the breeding Anatidae species was found in each lake, except A. nyroca which there was strong evidence about breeding of this species in Lake Poyrazlar. The intensive anthropogenic effects, environmental and climatic changes, interspecific and intraspecific competition that cause depression on Anatidae species were thought to be main reasons for non-breeding Anatidae species in these aquatic environments. If these effects are planned correctly, the depressions on aquatic creatures will decrease and therefore most of the creature can prefer these aquatic environments for food supply and breeding site. Thus, these aquatic environments will be able to more attractive places both human beings and a lot of animals.