Researchers monitor wildlife impact in Eber Lake and Sarıcaova

Researchers are conducting a TÜBİTAK-funded project to analyze the impact of fires on biodiversity and habitats in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. Led by Professor Uğur Cengiz Erişmiş from Afyon Kocatepe University, the study utilizes digital ecology approaches, including camera traps, satellite imagery, and aerial views, to track wildlife movements in the reed beds of Eber Lake and the burned forests of Sarıcaova.

By comparing data from 2025 and 2026 with historical records dating back to 2017, the team aims to assess how recent fires have altered species diversity. Preliminary findings indicate that certain species previously documented in the area, such as the jungle cat and jackals, have not been captured on recent camera traps in the fire-affected reed beds.