scholarly journals Long‐term monitoring of common spadefoot toad activity in a European steppe using barn owl pellets

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas Landler ◽  
Katharina Stefke
Keyword(s):  
Selection Procedure ◽  
Barn Owl ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Population Decrease ◽  
Spadefoot Toads ◽  
Spadefoot Toad ◽  
Eastern Austria ◽  
The Common ◽  
Owl Pellets

AbstractBackgroundOne third of the worldwide amphibian species are threatened, therefore, efficient monitoring efforts are needed. Amphibians which adopt a hidden lifestyle, such as the common spadefoot toad, are often missed with standard surveying efforts. Spadefoot toads can be identified in regurgitated pellets of the barn owl, which provides an effective way to estimate toad activity. In our study we analyzed frequency of spadefoot toad remains from 2004 to 2016 in a steppe landscape in eastern Austria.MethodsWe used an automated model selection procedure together with a GLM analysis using a zero inflated error Poisson distribution, to analyze the presence ofPelobates fuscusin barn owl pellets. All analyses were done in the statistical software R, and the scripts to reproduce our results are available within this publication. Our approach may provide a template for other researchers to use for their own pellet data.ConclusionsOur analysis suggested that activity of the common spadefoot toad is mainly influenced by rainfalls, while time of the year and temperature had small but significant effects. Interestingly, our data confirmed the possibility of a second breeding period in summer, triggered by heavy rainfalls. There were no indications for a population decrease in the observed years and locations. Our study shows that barn owl pellets can be used effectivley to assess pelobatid activity in an area. This might constitute a useful monitoring tool for conservation management for amphibians.

scholarly journals Little Owl’s (Athene noctua) vertebrate food composition during breeding season with high frog dominance in grasslands

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-61
Author(s):  
Dániel Hámori ◽  
Dániel Winkler ◽  
Tamás Cserkész
Keyword(s):  
Average Rate ◽  
Common Vole ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Food Composition ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
The Common ◽  
Athene Noctua ◽  
Little Owl ◽  
Owl Pellets

Abstract The aim of our study was to investigate the feeding of the Little Owl (Athene noctua) during the breeding period in three protected sites (Upper Kiskunság Puszta, Upper Kiskunság Lakes, Peszéradacs Meadows) in an extensively managed lowland plain area (Upper Kiskunság) of the Carpathian Basin. A further objective was to provide a detailed assessment of the vertebrate prey spectrum and dominance structure based on the analyses of pellets. Little Owl pellets were collected in September 2015 and 2016 from 20 artificial nest boxes in which successful breeding occurred in both years. Mean pellet number was calculated per individuals. Distribution of individual number and biomass of vertebrate prey taxa were also examined. The number of collected and dissected owl pellets was 2,094 in 2015 and 2,024 in 2016, respectively. The average rate of pellet regurgitation was 25.57 pellets/ind. in 2015, and 27.74 pellets/ind. in 2016. From the 40 samples (4,118 owl pellets) a total of 2,017 vertebrate preys were determined. Cumulative species richness was 21, including 12 mammalian, 1 amphibian, 4 reptile and 4 bird species. Mammals were dominant in the food (average 50.83%), and the consumption of amphibians was similar (48.06%). The consumption of birds and reptiles was not significant. Amphibians were represented by a single species, the Common Spadefoot (Pelobates fuscus) in remarkably high proportions among the prey items, followed by the Common Vole (Microtus arvalis) by approx. 37% proportion. The high proportion of the latter two species was also clearly reflected in the biomass amounts. Among the birds, the Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) proved to be the most commonly predated species apart from other species closely related to farmland habitats (Motacilla alba, M. flava, Passer montanus).

Shrews from Michoacan, Mexico, Found in Barn Owl Pellets

1953 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. Baker ◽  
A. A. Alcorn
Keyword(s):  
Barn Owl ◽  
Owl Pellets

An attempt to determine the size of the Common Barn-owl’s (Tyto alba) hunting area based on its prey composition

2021 ◽  
pp. 175815592110660
Author(s):  
Jenő J Purger ◽  
Dávid Szép
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Barn Owl ◽  
Tyto Alba ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Open Forest ◽  
Prey Composition ◽  
Small Mammal Species ◽  
Owl Pellets

The relative abundance of small mammal species detected from Common Barn-owl pellets reflects the landscape structure and habitat pattern of the owl’s hunting area, but it is also affected by the size of the collected pellet sample and the size of the supposed hunting area. The questions arise: how many pellets should be collected and analyzed as well as how large hunting area should be taken into consideration in order to reach the best correspondence between the owl’s prey composition and the distribution of habitats preferred by small mammals preyed in supposed hunting areas? For this study, we collected 1045 Common Barn-owl pellets in a village in southern Hungary. All detected small mammal species were classified into functional groups (guilds) preferring urban, open, forest and wetland habitats. The proportion of functional groups was compared to the proportion of these habitats around the pellet collection site within circles of one, two, and three km radius. Saturation curves showed that at least 300 pellets or ca. 600 mammalian remains are required for the detection of the 19 small mammal species. The share of small mammals detected in the prey and their functional groups according to their habitat preference showed an increasing consistency with the distribution of real habitats in the potential hunting area of a radius of 3 km around the owl’s breeding or resting place.

scholarly journals Determining population trends and conservation status of the common quail (Coturnix coturnix) in Western Europe

2012 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-352
Author(s):  
M. Puigcerver ◽  
◽  
F. Sardà–Palomera ◽  
J. D. Rodriguez-Teijeiro ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Europe ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Population Trends ◽  
Distribution Model ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Winter Cereal ◽  
Coturnix Coturnix ◽  
The Common ◽  
Common Quail

In this paper we review the conservation status and population trends of the common quail (Coturnix coturnix) from 1900 to the present. Data are sometimes contradictory with regard to the status of this species as it has some features that make it difficult to produce reliable population estimates. Recent data clearly suggest, either at a local scale or at a trans–national scale, that the Atlantic common quail populations have remained stable in the last two decades, and that restocking practices with farm–reared quails (hybrids with the Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica) do not affect our estimates. The complex movement patterns showed by this species require special attention. Analysis of ring recoveries can give important information, especially about the nomadic movement of quails in search of suitable habitats after the destruction of winter cereal crops due to harvesting. Thus, when developing a breeding distribution model for this species, continuously updated information on seasonal habitat and weather must be included for optimal prediction. Including fortnightly data of vegetation indices in distribution models, for example, has shown good results. Obtaining reliable predictions about changes in species distribution and movements during the breeding period could provide useful knowledge about the conservation status and population trends and would help in the design of future management measures.

scholarly journals On the Common Crane duets during the breeding period

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (20) ◽  
pp. 69-88
Author(s):  
S. V. Winter ◽  
◽  
P. I. Gorlov ◽  
A. A. Shevtsov ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Period ◽  
Common Crane ◽  
The Common

Effects of environmental temperature on thyroid hormones in the barn owl (Tyto alba)

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Á. Klein ◽  
Margit Kulcsár ◽  
Virág Krízsik ◽  
R. Mátics ◽  
P. Rudas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Level ◽  
Thyroid Hormones ◽  
Environmental Temperature ◽  
Barn Owl ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Tyto Alba ◽  
Lower Plasma ◽  
Cell Level ◽  
Trh Stimulation ◽  
Barn Owls

The basic patterns of thyroid hormones [thyroxine (T4) and 3,3',5-triiodothyronine (T3)] and the T4 and T3 responses induced by thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) are reported in captive female barn owls (Tyto alba) during the non-breeding period. The main findings of the study, conducted on a total of 10 owls, are as follow: (1) The thyroid gland of barn owl can be stimulated by the classical TRH stimulation test. (2) T3 response was much more pronounced both under cold (around 10°C) and warm (around 20°C) conditions, whereas T4 response ranged so widely that we could not point out any significant change in it. (3) Basal T3 plasma level was significantly (p = 0.036) higher in birds exposed to cold temperature, and they responded to TRH treatment with a lower plasma T3 elevation than the birds kept in a warm chamber. This pattern, however, cannot be explained by increased food intake, but is in agreement with the fact that enhanced T3 level may account for higher avUCP mRNA expression, which results in higher heat production on the cell level. From the results it is concluded that altering T3 plasma level plays a significant role in cold-induced thermoregulation.

scholarly journals Barn owl pellets collected in coastal savannas yield two additional species of small mammals for French Guiana

Mammalia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoine Baglan ◽  
François Catzeflis
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
French Guiana ◽  
Barn Owl ◽  
Small Rodents ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Forested Landscapes ◽  
Rare Opportunity ◽  
Owl Pellets

AbstractA sample of 251 pellets regurgitated by the barn owl in an old building located in Sinnamary (French Guiana) provided a rare opportunity to get a preliminary inventory of small rodents and opossums living in grassy savannas along the coastal non-forested landscapes of this Guianan region. From a total of 329 specimens of vertebrate remains, we focused on 259 small rodents and opossums that could be positively identified. Two species previously unknown in French Guiana were evidenced: a very small opossum of the genus

Timing of breeding, habitat preference and reproductive success of marsh harriers (Circus aeruginosus)

Biologia ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iva Němečková ◽  
Vojtěch Mrlík ◽  
Pavel Drozd
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Common Reed ◽  
Breeding Birds ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Phragmites Communis ◽  
Circus Aeruginosus ◽  
Heterogeneous Habitat ◽  
The Common

AbstractDuring 2002–2005 we analyzed Lack’s Hypothesis about the timing of the breeding of marsh harriers (Circus aeruginosus) in the Poodří to the breeding period and preference of heterogeneous habitat. An analysis of 43 nests revealed quantitative differences. Birds which started breeding earlier, reached significantly higher reproductive success than later breeding birds regardless of nesting habitat (P = 0.003, n nests = 43). Even when the birds invested into their offspring the same way, their breeding success was not always the same. When the females nested in the common reed (Phragmites communis), they reached higher reproductive output than females nesting in cattail (Typha sp.) (P = 0.01, n cattail = 18, n common reed = 25). The habitat of the common reed is characterized by higher and denser vegetation cover than cattail vegetation (P < 0.001, n measurements = 174 for both variables).

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