Search

We used three woodpecker species as umbrella species for old deciduous forests, and analysed their preferences in an area with old pollarded oaks in the Taurus Mountains, Turkey. Using plot inventories, we physically characterised trees utilised for nesting and foraging amongst woodpeckers in general and the Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Leiopicus medius) in particular. Trees more frequently visited by foraging woodpeckers differed from randomly chosen trees by being taller, having a larger circumference, greater bark furrow depth and shorter distance to neighbouring trees. Nesting trees were taller, had a higher proportion of dead wood but a lower surface area of natural cavities. Our results suggest that the woodpeckers in the study area rely upon woodlands containing mature trees, thus have the potential to function as suitable umbrella species’ to highlight the conservation value of oak forest habitats in southern Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulation of copper, zinc, cadmium and lead in gill, liver, spleen, kidney and muscle tissues of Ciarías gariepinus was studied after exposing the fish to 5 ppm Cu, 5 ppm Zn, 1 ppm Cd, 1 ppm Pb and to the same concentrations of their mixture over 1, 7 and 15 days. Atomic absorption techniques were applied in determining tissue metal levels. Highest Cu and Zn accumulation was observed in liver and kidney tissues at all exposure periods whereas highest Cd and Pb accumulation was in gill and liver tissues. The lowest metal accumulation was observed in muscle tissue. Accumulation of these metals in the tissues studied increased compared to control when exposed singly. Tissue accumulation of metals, however, decreased when exposed to metals in mixture compared with single exposures to metals. It was concluded that exposure to these metals in mixture had an antagonistic effect on metal accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]