We established a cytochrome b (cyt b) phylogeny for six species of social voles. A Bayesian approach to phylogenetic reconstruction (BI) and a maximum likelihood (ML) tree revealed a dichotomy into two major clusters, namely a Microtus guentheri cluster and a M. socialis cluster. The three main lineages that emerged within each of these two clusters were separated by the K2P divergences which are above the intraspecific variation in Microtus. All six species were also retrieved in the minimum spanning network. Within its present taxonomic scope, M. guentheri is paraphyletic and consists of two allopatric sibling species: M. guentheri (Syria, Israel) and M. hartingi (Anatolia and the Balkans). The closest relative to these two species is M. dogramacii, which is possibly a sister species to M. hartingi. The two geographic samples were identified as M. irani, one from Shiraz (Iran) and the other from Balkusan (Turkey). The cyt b sequence confirmed the specific status of M. anatolicus within the M. socialis cluster. Although five species of social voles occur within a radius of < 500 km in the north-eastern corner of the Mediterranean, small-scale sympatry is exceptional. Species richness in this region possibly originates from past fragmentation with subsequent allopatric speciation in refugial areas.

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The aim of this study was to protect the bat community and roosting sites in the Dupnisa Cave System in the Yıldız (Istranca) Mountains in Thrace, the European part of Turkey, following the opening of the caves to tourism. We investigated the seasonal population dynamics and use of the cave system by bats, carrying out 15 surveys before (2002)(2003) and 38 surveys after (2004-2008) the cave system was opened to tourism. We recorded 15 species of bats; the highest numbers recorded in a single survey were 54,600 hibernating and 11,000 breeding/nursing. Different parts of the cave system are used by bats to various degrees according to season. To protect the bats and the cave system the visitor schedule took into consideration the differences in seasonal use of the caves by bats. There was a significant increase in the total number of bats recorded in the cave system after opening for tourism, possibly because the gating of two entrances helped to control visitation. The results of our surveys of this cave system show that gating of entrances and visits by tourists are not necessarily incompatible with the use of caves by bats for both hibernating and nursing. Understanding how the three caves are used seasonally by the bat community, and for what purposes (hibernation vs nursing), was critical for the establishment of an appropriate management plan for tourism.

In the Dupnisa Cave System (Sulu, Kuru and Kýz Caves in Turkey), between April 2002 and December 2005 34 surveys were conducted. The total number of species found there was 11. Five species of the Dupnisa Cave bat population constitute 99% of the fauna: M. schreibersii (78.0%), M. myotis/blythii (7.9%), R. euryale (6.9%), R. ferrumequinum (4.5%) and M. capaccinii (1.8%). During the winter months (November-March) the maximum number of bats recorded there amount to over 54 000, although in summer (April-October) the total was over 10 000 individuals. The different parts of the cave system are used differently according to the season (winter or summer): Sulu Cave is used almost solely by hibernating bats (70.6% vs 0.1%), Kuru Cave is used as a nursery (0.2% vs 10.6%), while Kýz Cave is used both for hibernation and as a nursery (13.5% vs 5.0%). We found correlations between the species composition and the temperature recorded during the investigated season in particular parts of the system, although no influence of humidity was observed on M.myotis/blythii, M. capaccinii, R. ferrumequinum and M. schreibersii. Sulu Cave (the coldest in summer and in winter) is a hibernaculum, but Kuru Cave is used for breeding purposes as well as for hibernation by R. mehelyi and R. euryale. The Dupnisa Cave System is the most important shelter in theThrace region of Turkey.

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