About
Hello, I'm Alperen Yayla.
I have been observing, photographing and telling the stories of butterflies since 2009.
To me, butterflies are not only beautiful animals; they are also among the earliest indicators of environmental change.
How the Journey Began
My interest in nature began in childhood, watching documentaries. But the moment that changed everything was a photograph of a Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) my father, Cemal Yayla, took in 2009.
This leaf-mimicking butterfly captivated me so much that soon I was photographing my first caterpillar and my first butterfly with a camera of my own.
I uploaded my first photograph to Fotokritik, a platform no longer online. The encouraging feedback I received turned butterfly observation from a passing hobby into the center of my life.
From Photography to Conservation
Over the years I have carried out fieldwork across many regions of Turkey, taken part in butterfly observation communities, and documented hundreds of species in their natural habitats.
In 2014, I contributed photography, texts and editorial work to the book Butterflies of Antalya, published as part of Antalya's Expo 2016 preparations. Taking part in such a project at just 19 years old was an unforgettable turning point for me.
I still believe photography is one of the most powerful tools for conservation and science communication. People often struggle to protect species they don't recognize. Making a species visible and telling its story can be the first step toward protecting it.
Academic Research
Since 2024 I have been pursuing a PhD in Sustainability Sciences at the University of Lisbon.
The core question of my research is simple: can we make cities as livable for butterflies as they are for people?
In my doctoral project, Urban Metamorphosis: Integrating Lepidopteristic Approaches in Sustainable Urban Planning for Biodiversity Enhancement and Economic Development, I use butterflies as a biological indicator to study sustainable urban planning, biodiversity, green infrastructure and nature-based solutions.
My work is supervised by Rui Figueira, Manuel Francisco Pacheco Coelho and Mário Rui Canelas Boieiro.
Since 2025 I have also been contributing to biological collections, biodiversity data and conservation-related research as part of the SE – Subterranean Ecology research group at CE3C and the ARCADE Project.
Milestones
A Timeline
2009
First butterfly photograph
Inspired by a photograph of a Brimstone taken by my father, I began butterfly observation and macro photography.
2014
Butterflies of Antalya
Contributed photography, species texts, image selection and editorial work to the Butterflies of Antalya book.
2017–2018
Field observations in the Carpathians
Conducted butterfly observations in Romania's Carpathian Mountains during my Erasmus period.
2022
Taxonomy and monitoring
Worked on Lepidoptera taxonomy at the University of Murcia and contributed to butterfly monitoring initiatives.
2024
PhD research
Began doctoral research at the University of Lisbon on sustainable cities and butterfly ecology.
2025
CE3C and ARCADE
Joined the SE – Subterranean Ecology research group at CE3C and began contributing to the ARCADE Project.
Current Work
Projects
Butterflies of Türkiye and Europe
A long-term digital atlas making the butterflies of Türkiye and Europe accessible through photographs, species information and observation resources.
Urban Metamorphosis
Doctoral research using butterflies as a biological indicator to study sustainable urban planning and biodiversity.
ARCADE Project
A research project within CE3C's SE – Subterranean Ecology group, contributing to biological collections and biodiversity data work.
Butterflies of Antalya
A species guide book published as part of Antalya's Expo 2016 preparations, to which I contributed photography and text.
Why This Website Exists
Over the years I have taken thousands of butterfly photographs. But I realized a photo archive alone is not enough.
People often struggle to protect species they don't recognize.
So I built this project not just as a photo gallery, but as a free resource where anyone can learn to recognize species, learn how to observe them, and start looking at nature with a different eye.
My goal is to build a trustworthy reference for the butterflies of Turkey and Europe that keeps growing and improving for many years to come.
Let Us Discover the Beauty of Wings Together
I have been following butterflies for more than fifteen years.
I still feel the same excitement I felt as a child whenever I encounter a new species.
I hope this website inspires you to look at nature with the same curiosity.
Let us discover the beauty of wings together.