Attributes of trees used by nesting and foraging woodpeckers (Aves: Picidae) in an area with old pollarded Oaks (Quercus spp.) in the Taurus Mountains, Turkey

• We used three woodpecker species as umbrella species for old deciduous forests, andanalysed their preferences in an area with old pollarded oaks in the Taurus Mountains,Turkey. Using plot inventories, we physically characterised trees utilised fornesting and foraging amongst woodpeckers in general and the Middle SpottedWoodpecker (Leiopicus medius) in particular. Trees more frequently visited by foragingwoodpeckers differed from randomly chosen trees by being taller, having alarger circumference, greater bark furrow depth and shorter distance to neighbouringtrees. Nesting trees were taller, had a higher proportion of dead wood but a lower surfacearea of natural cavities. Our results suggest that the woodpeckers in the study arearely upon woodlands containing mature trees, thus have the potential to functionas suitable umbrella species’ to highlight the conservation value of oak forest habitatsin southern Turkey.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Annan naturvetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Other Natural Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Piciformes

birds

pollarded trees

Quercus

oak

umbrella species

biodiversity

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)