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Journals / Bilge International Journal of Science and Technology Research / 2026 / Cilt: 10 Sayı: 2

Habitat Suitability Modelling for the Krüper's Nuthatch (Sitta krueperi) in the Kaz Mountains and Surrounding Area

Kaz Dağları ve Çevresinde Anadolu Sıvacıkuşu' nun (Sitta krueperi) Habitat Uygunluk Modellemesi

Semih Kenar(CANAKKALE ONSEKIZ MART UNIVERSITY, INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE)0009-0006-5533-8625
Akın Kıraç(CANAKKALE ONSEKIZ MART UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-5596-2256
Pages
328–345
Publication Date
2026-10-14
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The results obtained demonstrate that the distribution of S. krueperi is largely shaped by vegetation structure, topographic features and climatic conditions, thereby providing a scientific basis for planning and management efforts aimed at the species’ conservation.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Biodiversity loss, habitat fragmentation and climate change are among the primary environmental pressures affecting species distributions.
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Key Findings & Data:Thirty sightings of the species obtained during field surveys, along with bioclimatic, topographic and remote sensing-based environmental variables, were incorporated into the model.
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Conclusion & Impact:The results obtained demonstrate that the distribution of S. krueperi is largely shaped by vegetation structure, topographic features and climatic conditions, thereby providing a scientific basis for planning and management efforts aimed at the species’ conservation.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Sitta krueperi · habitat uygunluk modellemesi · NDVI

Abstract

Biodiversity loss, habitat fragmentation and climate change are among the primary environmental pressures affecting species distributions. The fact that species dependent on specific habitat conditions are particularly sensitive to environmental changes makes the identification of potential habitats crucial from a conservation biology perspective. In this study, the potential habitat suitability and distribution patterns of the Krüper’s nuthatch (Sitta krueperi), a bird species live to the Eastern Mediterranean region, were modelled using the MaxEnt (Maximum Entropy) method in the Kaz Mountains and surrounding areas. Thirty sightings of the species obtained during field surveys, along with bioclimatic, topographic and remote sensing-based environmental variables, were incorporated into the model. The multiple relationships between environmental variables were assessed using Pearson correlation analysis, and variables showing high correlation were excluded from the analysis. In model calibration, 70% of the data was used for training and 30% for testing, with analyses conducted in 10 replicates. The model performance was found to be high, with AUC values of 0.947 and 0.927 calculated for the training and test data, respectively. Jackknife analyses indicated that the August NDVI, March NDVI, annual mean temperature (BIO1), Topographic Position Index (TPI) and Topographic Wetness Index (TWI/CTI) variables had the strongest influence on species distribution. Response curves revealed that habitat suitability increases in areas with high vegetation cover density, whilst it decreases under conditions of rising temperature and high humidity. Habitat suitability maps indicated that the most suitable areas for the species are concentrated in coniferous forest ecosystems at medium elevations. The results obtained demonstrate that the distribution of S. krueperi is largely shaped by vegetation structure, topographic features and climatic conditions, thereby providing a scientific basis for planning and management efforts aimed at the species’ conservation.

Özet

Biyoçeşitlilik kaybı, habitat parçalanması ve iklim değişikliği, türlerin dağılımlarını etkileyen başlıca çevresel baskılar arasında yer almaktadır. Özellikle belirli habitat koşullarına bağımlı türlerin çevresel değişimlere karşı daha hassas olması, potansiyel yaşam alanlarının belirlenmesini koruma biyolojisi açısından önemli hale getirmektedir. Bu çalışmada, Doğu Akdeniz bölgesine endemik bir kuş türü olan Küçük Sıvacı Kuşu (Sitta krueperi)'nin Kaz Dağları ve çevresindeki potansiyel habitat uygunluğu ve dağılım örüntüleri MaxEnt (Maximum Entropy) yöntemi kullanılarak modellenmiştir. Türün arazi çalışmaları sırasında elde edilen 30 varlık kaydı ile biyoklimatik, topoğrafik ve uzaktan algılama temelli çevresel değişkenler modele dahil edilmiştir. Çevresel değişkenler arasındaki çoklu bağlantı Pearson korelasyon analizi ile değerlendirilmiş ve yüksek korelasyon gösteren değişkenler analiz dışında bırakılmıştır. Model kalibrasyonunda verilerin %70’i eğitim ve %30’u test verisi olarak kullanılmış, analizler 10 tekerrür halinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Model performansı yüksek bulunmuş olup eğitim ve test verileri için AUC değerleri sırasıyla 0,947 ve 0,927 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Jackknife analizleri, Ağustos NDVI, Mart NDVI, yıllık ortalama sıcaklık (BIO1), Topografik Pozisyon İndeksi (TPI) ve Topografik Islaklık İndeksi (TWI/CTI) değişkenlerinin tür dağılımını en güçlü şekilde etkilediğini göstermiştir. Yanıt eğrileri, habitat uygunluğunun yüksek bitki örtüsü yoğunluğuna sahip alanlarda arttığını, sıcaklık artışı ve yüksek nem koşullarında ise azaldığını ortaya koymuştur. Habitat uygunluk haritaları, tür için en uygun alanların orta yükseltilerdeki ibreli orman ekosistemlerinde yoğunlaştığını göstermiştir. Elde edilen sonuçlar, S. krueperi’nin dağılımının büyük ölçüde vejetasyon yapısı, topoğrafik özellikler ve iklimsel koşullar tarafından şekillendirildiğini ortaya koymakta olup türün korunmasına yönelik planlama ve yönetim çalışmalarına bilimsel bir temel sağlamaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Kenar, S., Kıraç, A. (2026). Habitat Suitability Modelling for the Krüper's Nuthatch (Sitta krueperi) in the Kaz Mountains and Surrounding Area. Bilge International Journal of Science and Technology Research, Cilt: 10 Sayı: 2, 328–345. https://doi.org/10.30516/bilgesci.1959752

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