Preliminary Assessment of Staphylinidae Diversity in Aydos Forest

Turkey’s unique geographical position as a bridge between three continents has significantly contributed to its rich insect fauna. Among insects, the Staphylinidae family stands out as the largest in terms of species diversity and is distributed across a wide range of habitats. This study is considered a preliminary assessment for Aydos Forest, located on the Anatolian side of Istanbul. It aimed to identify Staphylinidae species and assess their diversity in two distinct habitats—lake and fortress areas—representing both wetland and forest ecosystems. The study employed pitfall traps filled with an ethylene glycol solution. The traps were checked monthly, and collected specimens were identified in the laboratory. After each sampling event, the traps were replaced with new ones. By the end of the study, a total of six Staphylinidae species belonging to five genera were identified. Biodiversity was evaluated using the Shannon-Wiener (H') and Simpson (D) indices. The results indicated that Staphylinidae diversity was higher on the lake side of Aydos Forest according to both the Shannon-Wiener (H') and Simpson (D) indices.