Biological Diversity Analysis of Chrysomeloidea, Curculionoidea, and Buprestoidea Fauna in Forest Nurseries of the Western Black Sea Region, Türkiye

The Western Black Sea Region, which meets approximately 22% of Türkiye’s industrial wood needs, is one of the country’s most important forest production areas. Forest nurseries in this region play a vital role in the regeneration and sustainability of forest resources. The aim of this study was to determine the Chrysomeloidea, Curculionoidea, and Buprestoidea species in forest nurseries. The study areas were selected from forest nurseries located in the Western Black Sea Region in Türkiye. Insect specimens were collected between May and September in the years 2021 and 2022 using sweep net, light traps, pheromone traps, and visual inspection. The aedeagi of some species were photographed using a stereo microscope and scanning electron microscopy. In the present study, a diversity analysis was conducted for insects in forest nurseries. Also, the diversity ordering methods were compared for the nurseries. Finally, principal component analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of all parameters. In total, five families, 19 subfamilies, 41 genera, and 51 species were identified in this study. Diversity and richness indices were higher in Taşköprü Forest Nursery, whereas SHE (S=Species Richness, H=Shannon-Wiener index, E=equity, balance) analysis indicated that Bolu Forest Nursery exhibited greater diversity. Evenness indices were higher in Bolu and Sinop Forest Nurseries, whereas dominance was higher in Gölköy Forest Nursery. The Sørensen dissimilarity index was highest between Daday and Bolu Forest Nurseries. Across all ordering methods, Taşköprü Forest Nursery exhibited the highest species diversity, whereas Gölköy Forest Nursery exhibited the lowest.