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Journals / Environmental Toxicology and Ecology / 2026 / Cilt: 6 Sayı: 1

Diurnal Terrestrial Insect Fauna and Conservation Importance of the Low and Mid-Elevation Zones of Kazdağları National Park and Its Surroundings (Northwestern Türkiye)

Kazdağları Milli Parkı ve Çevresinin (Kuzeybatı Türkiye) Düşük ve Orta Rakımlı Kesimlerinde Gündüz Aktif Karasal Böcek Faunası ve Koruma Açısından Önemi

Aylin Tüven(BALIKESİR ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-0603-3623
Başak Çinkul(DIRECTORATE OF PLANT PROTECTION RESEARCH INSTITUTE BORNOVA-İZMIR)0000-0002-4725-0520
Pages
34–50
Publication Date
2026-07-03
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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

In particular, the occurrence of the EN species Pontia chloridice (Hübner, [1813]), Anthocharis damone Boisduval, 1836, and Protaetia mirifica (Mulsant, 1842), together with the VU species Archon apollinus (Herbst, 1798) and Cordulegaster picta Selys, 1854, highlights the high conservation value of the study area.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:This study presents and evaluates the diurnal terrestrial insect (Insecta) fauna recorded from Kazdağları National Park and its surrounding areas (Balıkesir/Çanakkale, northwestern Türkiye) based on field surveys conducted between 2015 and 2020 during the April–September vegetation periods.
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Key Findings & Data:Regular observations and sampling were carried out at 20 localities ranging from 107 to 567 m.
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Conclusion & Impact:In particular, the occurrence of the EN species Pontia chloridice (Hübner, [1813]), Anthocharis damone Boisduval, 1836, and Protaetia mirifica (Mulsant, 1842), together with the VU species Archon apollinus (Herbst, 1798) and Cordulegaster picta Selys, 1854, highlights the high conservation value of the study area.
🔬Design:Lab & Field Experiment
📍Scope:2015 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Insecta · entomofauna · Lepidoptera

Abstract

This study presents and evaluates the diurnal terrestrial insect (Insecta) fauna recorded from Kazdağları National Park and its surrounding areas (Balıkesir/Çanakkale, northwestern Türkiye) based on field surveys conducted between 2015 and 2020 during the April–September vegetation periods. Regular observations and sampling were carried out at 20 localities ranging from 107 to 567 m. Direct observation, sweep-netting, and standard transect methods were employed for sampling actively flying taxa such as Lepidoptera and Odonata, while population monitoring studies were conducted monthly throughout the vegetation season. Coleoptera and several other taxonomic groups were sampled using beating tray (Japanese umbrella) methods, hand collecting from vegetation and under-stone microhabitats, and direct observations. As a result of the surveys, a total of 10 orders, 48 families, and 187 species belonging to the class Insecta were identified. Lepidoptera was the most species-rich order with 86 species belonging to 8 families, followed by Coleoptera (36 species, 13 families), Thysanoptera (23 species, 3 families), Orthoptera (10 species, 4 families), and Hemiptera and Hymenoptera (9 species each). According to the IUCN European Red List assessment (2025-2), among the recorded taxa, 3 species were categorized as Endangered (EN), 4 as Vulnerable (VU), and 7 as Near Threatened (NT). In particular, the occurrence of the EN species Pontia chloridice (Hübner, [1813]), Anthocharis damone Boisduval, 1836, and Protaetia mirifica (Mulsant, 1842), together with the VU species Archon apollinus (Herbst, 1798) and Cordulegaster picta Selys, 1854, highlights the high conservation value of the study area.

Özet

Kazdağları Milli Parkı ve çevresinde (Balıkesir/Çanakkale, Kuzeybatı Türkiye) 2015–2020 yılları arasında nisan–eylül dönemlerinde gerçekleştirilen arazi çalışmaları sonucunda elde edilen gündüz aktif karasal böcek (Insecta) faunası verileri bu çalışmada sunulmuş ve biyoçeşitlilik açısından değerlendirilmiştir. Araştırma kapsamında 107–567 m rakım aralığında yer alan toplam 20 lokalitede düzenli gözlem ve örneklemeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Lepidoptera ve Odonata gibi aktif uçucu türlerin örneklenmesinde doğrudan gözlem, atrap ve standart transekt yöntemleri kullanılmış; popülasyon durumlarının belirlenmesine yönelik arazi çalışmaları vejetasyon dönemi boyunca ayda bir yürütülmüştür. Coleoptera ve diğer bazı taksonomik grupların örneklenmesinde ise Japon şemsiyesi, bitki üzerinden elle toplama, taş altı mikrohabitatlarından manuel örnekleme ve doğrudan gözlem yöntemleri uygulanmıştır. Gerçekleştirilen örneklemeler sonucunda Insecta sınıfına ait 10 takım, 48 familya ve 187 tür tespit edilmiştir. Tür zenginliği bakımından Lepidoptera, 8 familyaya ait 86 tür ile en yüksek çeşitliliğe sahip takım olarak belirlenmiş; bunu Coleoptera (13 familya, 36 tür), Thysanoptera (3 familya, 23 tür), Orthoptera (4 familya, 10 tür) ile Hemiptera ve Hymenoptera (9’ar tür) izlemiştir. IUCN Avrupa Kırmızı Liste değerlendirmesine (2025-2) göre belirlenen türler arasında 3 tür Tehlike Altında (EN), 4 tür Hassas (VU) ve 7 tür Neredeyse Tehdit Altında (NT) kategorisinde yer almaktadır. Özellikle EN kategorisindeki Pontia chloridice (Hübner, [1813]), Anthocharis damone Boisduval, 1836 ve Protaetia mirifica (Mulsant, 1842) ile VU kategorisindeki Archon apollinus (Herbst, 1798) ve Cordulegaster picta Selys, 1854 türlerinin çalışma alanında tespit edilmesi, bölgenin koruma biyolojisi açısından yüksek öneme sahip olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Elde edilen bulgular, Kazdağları’nın nadir ve hassas böcek türleri açısından potansiyel refugium niteliği taşıdığını göstermekte olup, bölgedeki entomolojik çeşitliliğin ortaya konulmasına ve gelecekte gerçekleştirilecek kapsamlı faunistik ve ekolojik araştırmalara temel veri sağlamaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Tüven, A., Çinkul, B. (2026). Diurnal Terrestrial Insect Fauna and Conservation Importance of the Low and Mid-Elevation Zones of Kazdağları National Park and Its Surroundings (Northwestern Türkiye). Environmental Toxicology and Ecology, Cilt: 6 Sayı: 1, 34–50. https://doi.org/10.59838/etoxec.1951582

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