THE EFFECTS OF AFFORESTATION IN ARID LANDS ON THE DIVERSITY OF PLANTS, BIRDS, AND BUTTERFLIES AT DIFFERENT SPATIAL LEVELS

To mitigate the negative effects of erosion and climate change, afforestation is being carried out in arid lands worldwide. Although the positive effects on soil properties, carbon sequestration, and ground cover are known, its effects on biodiversity have not been comprehensively assessed. This project aims to reveal the effects of dryland afforestation on biodiversity, specifically on the taxonomic and functional diversity of plants, butterflies, and birds. Biodiversity sampling was carried out during the first year’s growing season in 6 pairs of fields. In each field, three different sections with 0–10, 11–25, and 25–50 age groups, plus one unforested (control) section, were surveyed separately. Plant sampling was conducted and soil samples were taken in 100 m² plots. Butterfly counts were carried out once or twice a month using the Pollard Walk method along fixed 250-m long transects. Breeding bird counts were conducted using the distance sampling method along the same transects. Alpha, beta, and gamma diversity were calculated for each taxonomic group, both taxonomically and functionally. Currently, the datasets are being analyzed using various methods, including ordination and generalized linear mixed-effect models (GLMM). The outputs will guide arid-land afforestation around the world to better support biodiversity. The project will contribute to the National Development Goals, the Green Deal, Aichi Targets, the United Nations Rio Convention, and the Paris Agreement. The project is managed by our group. The project team is composed of four researchers (Prof.Dr. Oktay Yıldız and Dr. Abdullah Hüseyin Dönmez Düzce University, Dr. Evrim Karaçetin from Erciyes University, Didem Ambarlı and İbrahim Kaan Özgencil, from METU), four scholars (Selen Akçakoca, Belce Uykusuz, Ilgın Ertan Gürol and Gencer Yaprak, Buse Kara from METU) and Prof.Dr. Mecit Vural as consultant.