Türkiye’nin İç Batı Anadolu Bölümü Clerıdae (Insecta: Coleoptera) Familyası Üzerinde Araştırmalar

Abstract

In this thesis study, faunistic, ecological, zoogeographic, and systematic research was conducted in the Inner West Anatolia Section, located at the intersection and transition point of Turkey's Mediterranean, Central Anatolia, Aegean, and Marmara regions, through fieldwork conducted from May to October 2019, March to October 2021, and March to October 2022, covering a total of 1420 localities with 166 days of fieldwork. In systematic evaluations, examination of 992 collected specimens led to the identification of 16 species belonging to 5 genera from 2 subfamilies. The general morphologies of these species were studied, detailed morphological descriptions were provided, and reproductive organ structures of 15 species (excluding one species without a male specimen) were documented through stereo microscope images, while 14 species had Scanning Electron Microscope photographs taken. Male reproductive organ drawings and identifications were discussed by comparing them with literature data for the identified species. In faunistic evaluations, habitat information, sampling methods, and distributions by family and genus were presented for the identified species. Within the scope of the thesis study, 8 species were recorded for the first time in the research area, and the Cleridae fauna in the study area increased from 10 species to 18 species. Ecological evaluations revealed that the species detected in the study area were observed within elevation ranges of 1101-1300m, collection temperature ranges of 25.1-30°C and 30.1-35°C, and the highest number of species was detected in June according to collection months. Ecological niche modeling was employed to examine the potential suitable habitats of Trichodes apiarius (Linnaeus, 1758) and Trichodes suspectus Escherich, 1892 under current conditions and various future climate scenarios. It was determined that T. suspectus may experience a significant decrease in suitable habitats, while T. apiarius might shift towards northern latitudes. Zoogeographic evaluations assessed the distribution of the identified species in Turkey's geographical regions and the sub-regions of the Palearctic region. The research area exhibited similarities in zoogeographic composition with 13 species shared with the Mediterranean and Central Anatolia Regions, and 15 species shared with the Eastern European sub-region of the Palearctic. According to major chorotypes, 5 species from the research area were found to have Turano-European and South-West Asiatic distribution.