Anthropogenic barriers to the distribution of the Grey Wolf (Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) in the Beydağları Mountains area, Turkey

Abstract

Field observations, interviews with local people and Forestry Department workers and camera trapping were used to determine the status of wolves in the Beydağları Mountains and surroundings. Following interview data, camera traps were placed at 17 stations between 1100 and 1900 m a.s.l. in Çığlıkara Nature Protected Area (NPA) and were maintained for 1031 camera days, from 29 May to 25 September 2009. Wolf pictures were taken during the time period of 20:00 and 06:00 hours and at the altitude of 1600–1800 m a.s.l. The population density of wolves was 0.9 individual per 100 km2 in the trapping polygon, with a buffer area of 445.5 km2 calculated using Geographic Information System (GIS). Çığlıkara NPA regularly hosts a wolf population in the Beydağları region due to anthropogenic barriers, topological barriers (high mountain ranges) and habitat preferences. The other areas of the Beydağları region have human structures such as villages, roads, farmland, high plateau houses, etc, that negatively affect the wolf distribution pattern.