ABSTRACT STUDIES ON CARNIVORES OF DÜZLERÇAMI GAME RESERVE, ANTALYA BİRAND, Ayşegül M.Sc, Department of Biological Sciences Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. C. Can Bilgin Co-Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Orhan Adah December 1999, 50 pages Although carnivores have been a major research topic in the world, they have not received much attention in Turkey. This study aimed to provide information on distribution and abundance of carnivores in Düzlerçamı Game Reserve. Information was gathered through direct and indirect evidences like signs, tracks, and scats. Questionnaires carried out with officials, game wardens and local residents were the second source of information. During field surveys scats were collected whenever encountered. The defecator species was identified both visually and by bile acid patterns obtained through thin-layer chromatography. IllRed fox (Vulpes vulpes), feral dog (Canis familiaris) and unknown canids (Canidae) were identified as defecator species of 39 scats out of a total of 55 scats. The scats were then subjected to dietary analysis. All three taxa showed opportunistic feeding behavior, with insects and fruits/seeds being important for foxes, and scavenging important for canids. Garbage and vegetation occurred in different proportions in all taxa. Foxes showed no particular preference for different habitat types in the study site. Population estimates for caracal (Caracal caracal), golden jackal (Canis aureus) and red fox were 2-4, 2-4, and 4-12 individuals respectively, in the study area. These estimates are very different from those suggested by the park authorities. Keywords: Caracal, Red Fox, Golden Jackal, Feral Dog, Scat Analysis, Thin-layer chromatography, Fecal bile acids, Turkey. IV