阿尔金山国家级自然保护区纵纹腹小鸮食性的季节变化

2012—2013年间,利用食团分析法对阿尔金山国家级自然保护区纵纹腹小鸮Athene noctua的食性进行分析。共分析343个纵纹腹小鸮食团,鉴定出353个猎物。以个体计,当地纵纹腹小鸮主要取食小型哺乳动物,占95.18%,其次为鸟类,占3.97%,也取食少量昆虫(0.85%)。生物量贡献则以小型哺乳动物为主,占99.35%。纵纹腹小鸮在夏季和冬季就可鉴定的取食动物种类比例组成而言,差异具有高度统计学意义(χ2=52.27,df=4,P0.01)。冬、夏两季纵纹腹小鸮取食哺乳动物的平均胫骨长度差异具有高度统计学意义(P0.01)。全年来看,纵纹腹小鸮取食哺乳动物的胫骨长度平均为19.45 mm±5.84 mm(n=194),主要取食Ⅱ级(10.01 mm~20.00 mm)和Ⅲ级(20.01 mm~30.00 mm)的猎物(分别为46.39%和48.45%)。保护区纵纹腹小鸮的食物生态位宽度以夏季最高(2.583),冬季最低(0.949)。研究结果表明纵纹腹小鸮是机会主义捕食者,根据生境中食物的可获得性改变食性。     

甘肃民勤治沙站纵纹腹小鸮食性的季节变化

分析民勤治沙站纵纹腹小鸮(Athene noctua)食团405块,共鉴定猎物562只。以个体计,民勤小鸮主要取食昆虫,占64.23%;其次为小型哺乳类,占32.38%;也取食少量爬行类(1.96%)和雀形目鸟类(1.42%)。生物量贡献则以小型哺乳类为主,占93.34%。猎物种类组成存在显著的季节变异:取食小型哺乳类的频率存在显著季节差异,冬季最高94.59%,夏季最低17.75%,食物生物量贡献四季均在90%以上,季节变异不显著;昆虫成分出现在除冬季外的其他季节,且取食频率均在65%以上,季节差异显著;爬行类仅出现于夏季食谱中,仅秋季没有发现鸟类成分。分析秋、冬、春三季哺乳类猎物胫骨的量度发现,小鸮取食哺乳类的胫骨长度平均为16.22mm±4.72mm(n=112),主要取食Ⅰ(10.01mm-15.00mm)和Ⅱ(15.01mm-20.00mm)等级的猎物(分别58.04%和25.00%)。取食猎物的胫骨长度组成存在季节差异,平均长度以春季最大。民勤地区小鸮一年的食物生态位宽度为2.32,季节间存在变异,以冬季最高为2.99,夏季最低为1.64。一年的食物多样性为1.96,季节间存在变异,冬季最高为2.00。食物种类以夏季最多,秋季最少。     

巴基斯坦旁遮普中部横斑腹小鸮的食性

横斑腹小鸮(Athene brama)是巴基斯坦旁遮普中部农业生态系统中最常见但研究匮乏的猛禽。我们通过分析吐弃块(n=498)以了解其季节性和地域性食性变化。结果显示:小型哺乳类占所有食物生物量的98.4%,而昆虫类在数量上占据绝对优势(56.4%)。在小型哺乳类食物中,鼠类(38.8%)是稳定的食物成分。而在昆虫食物中,甲虫最多(42.8%)。横斑腹小亦捕食鼩鼱类(2.3%)和鸟类(1.7%)。昆虫类食物还有蟑螂(6.4%)、臭虫(3.3%)、蝗虫(6.7%)和蚂蚁(3.2%)。小家鼠(Mus musculus)和柔毛鼠(Rattus meltada)在鼠类食物中出现频次最多。不同地区中,Hafizabad的食物多样性最高(2.07),而秋季的食物多样性最高(1.99)。     

深圳湾红树木榄根系生物量及空间分布格局

采用分层挖掘法,对深圳湾乡土种红树植物木榄不同活力和径级根系生物量及相关底泥性质的空间分布格局进行了研究。结果表明:木榄人工林平均总根系生物量为61.23 t·hm~(-2),其中活根生物量占86.42%,死根占13.58%。在活根中,粗根(直径10 mm)所占比例最高(84.57%),其次为细根(2~5 mm,5.84%)、极细根(2 mm,4.94%)和中根(5~10 mm,4.66%)。木榄总根系生物量从基部到树冠落水线处递减,生物量分别为77.54 t·hm~(-2)(基部)、22.88 t·hm~(-2)(中部)和16.15 t·hm~(-2)(边缘);基部直径10 mm的活根生物量为中部和边缘活根生物量的5倍以上;随着水平距离的增加,2 mm根系生物量占相应距离处活根生物量的比例增加。垂直分布以中下层(20~60 cm)居多,分别占相应水平距离处总根系生物量的80.89%(基部)、73.41%(中部)和71.76%(边缘);总根系生物量分布主要受水平距离的影响(P0.05)。底泥含水量、容重、p H和电导率的变化范围分别为30.66%~35.86%、1.23~1.40 g·cm-3、5.75~7.01 S·m~(-1)和0.22~0.37 S·m~(-1),其中底泥容重与不同活力根系生物量呈显著负相关(P0.05),是影响木榄根系生物量及其空间分布的主要环境因子。该研究结果为福田红树林地下碳分配、储量及周转速率等进一步研究提供了科学依据。     

巴基斯坦旁遮普中部仓鸮食性的季节性变化

在巴基斯坦对仓鸮食性的季节变化进行了研究。通过分析连续3年在6个地区搜集的2 360个仓鸮回吐食物团,发现其食物主要是小型哺乳动物(95.6 %)。其中,家(Suncus murinus)有最高的比例,达65.6%(冬季最多78%,夏季最少27%)。就生物量而言,小型哺乳动物占仓鸮食物总生物量的99% 。     

黄浦江上游主要树种水源涵养林生态系统碳储量

研究林分碳储量对了解一个地区森林生态系统服务功能和碳汇林分经营具有重要意义。本研究以上海黄浦江上游水源涵养林杜英、香樟、马褂木和黄山栾树等4个主要树种为对象,构建了4个树种林木生物量方程,并对4个树种林分生物量(乔木层、凋落物层)碳储量和土壤碳储量进行了估测。结果表明,4个树种的胸径-生物量方程拟合效果较好(R2>0.9)。9年生人工林生态系统总碳储量分别为杜英117.32t·hm-2、香樟127.38t·hm-2、黄山栾树80.93t·hm-2、马褂木105.87t·hm-2。在杜英、香樟、黄山栾树和马褂木林总碳储量中,乔木层碳储量所占比例分别为35.1%、44.6%、35.2%和19.0%,凋落物层碳储量所占比例分别为1.2%、1.9%、1.2%和0.6%,土壤碳储量(0～40cm)所占比例分别为63.7%、53.5%、63.6%和80.4%。这些人工幼龄林现在处于快速生长阶段,具有较高的固碳潜力。     

上海外环林带女贞人工林生态系统碳储量

提高林分碳储量估测精度,对于研究区域尺度上森林固碳功能具有重要的意义。本文以上海外环林带女贞(Ligustrum lucidum)人工林为研究对象,构建了女贞立木及各器官(根、干、皮、枝、叶)生物量方程,并对9年生女贞人工林乔木层、地表枯落物层和土壤层(0~100 cm)碳储量进行了估测。结果表明,女贞立木及各器官生物量方程拟合效果较好(R20.9,P0.01)。女贞人工林生态系统总碳储量为169.89 t·hm-2,其中林分乔木层碳储量为10.48 t·hm-2,地表枯落物层碳储量为1.54 t·hm-2,林分土壤(0~100 cm)碳储量所占比例最大,为157.7 t·hm-2。在女贞人工林乔木层生物量中,树干占林木生物量的比例最大(40%),其次分别为枝(20%)、根(15%)、叶(11%)和皮(4%)。     

黑龙江省完达山东部林区东北虎猎物生物量

研究一个地区猎物种群生物量能否满足捕食动物种群数量的需求,这对于了解濒危大型食肉动物是否受到来自于食物缺乏的威胁和制定相应的保护措施极其重要。为了掌握黑龙江省完达山东部林区东北虎食物需求与猎物生物量之间的关系,于2008年冬季至2009早春积雪覆盖期采用随机布设样线,通过收集有蹄类动物在雪地上留下的足迹等活动的方法,在东方红林业局和迎春林业局管辖境内3 692.06 km²的区域布设大样方48个,并在大样方里共布设样线240条开展有蹄类动物种群数量调查,确定东北虎猎物生物量。调查结果表明:研究地区野猪(成体502 606只,亚成体209 210只)、马鹿(成体331 357只,亚成体67 72只)和狍子(成体810 815只,亚成体202 203只)的生物量分别为74 767.50 87 825.00 kg、79 744.50 85 984.50 kg 和 31 337.00 31 525.50 kg,3种有蹄类动物生物量共计1 85 849.00 205 335.00 kg。研究地区猎物总生物量为209 619.89 231 598.24 kg。如果按8%的生物提供给东北虎,3种主要猎物生物量可满足5.22 6.92只东北虎个体的食物需求,研究地区猎物总生物量则可满足5.89 7.81只东北虎个体的食物需求。此外,对足迹遇见率与抽样强度、抽样强度与足迹遇见率的均值标准误差之间关系的分析表明,在完达山东部林区布设120条样线(抽样距离600 km)、150条样线(抽样距离750 km)和115条样线(抽样距离675 km)能满足野猪、马鹿、狍子种群数量调查准确性的最低需求。     

外源供氮水平对大豆生物固氮效率的影响

采用稳定性同位素15N自然丰度(15N natural abundance)技术,以小麦为参照植物,研究了盆栽条件下,在外源供氮0、0.8、2.0、4.0 mmol·L-1水平下大豆的生物固氮百分率以及生物固氮数量对植物氮的贡献.结果显示:(1)0～2.0 mmol·L-1外源供氮可显著提高大豆的生物量和固氮百分率,且于2.0 mmol·L-1处理下地上生物量最高,达104 g·m-2,比CK增加了48%;(2)在0.8 mmol·L-1的供氮水平下大豆生物固氮量最高,为1.318 g·m-2,占大豆植株总吸氮量的70.4%,而在4.0 mmol·L-1供氮水平下生物固氮量仅占植株总吸氮量的44%;随供氮水平的升高,大豆生物固氮量占总吸氮量的比重下降,说明在高水平外源氮下,大豆生物固氮能力受到抑制;(3)大豆生物固氮百分率、固氮数量及吸氮数量与地上生物量间均呈显著正相关关系.结果表明,应用稳定性15N同位素技术可以定量大豆的生物固氮效率,根瘤菌接种配合低浓度外源氮有利于大豆生物固氮潜能的释放,对提高大豆产量、减少化肥投入有积极的指导意义.     

不同林龄杨树细根生物量分配及其对氮沉降的响应

氮沉降已经成为全球变化背景下的热点问题,并呈现逐渐加重趋势,了解森林生态系统对这种持续氮增长和快速氮循环的响应模式及反馈机制,对于维护森林生态系统健康具有重要的理论意义。本研究选择不同林龄杨树人工林作为试验样地,设置N0(0 g N·m-2·a-1)、N1(5 g N·m-2·a-1)、N2(10 g N·m-2·a-1)、N3(15 g N·m-2·a-1)、N4(30 g N·m-2·a-1)5个不同浓度,进行氮沉降野外模拟实验,探讨不同林龄杨树人工林细根生物量的垂直分布及对模拟氮沉降的响应。结果表明:(1)70%~80%细根生物量分配在0~20 cm土层,呈现表层富集特征;外源氮增加后,幼龄林(4年生)中,0~10 cm土层细根生物量所占比例有所增加,而中龄林(8年生)和成熟林(15年生)则不同程度的减少;(2)细根生物量主要分布在0~0.5和0.5~1.0 mm径级,其中0~0.5 mm径级细根约占总细根(2.0 mm)生物量的50%,外源氮输入增加极小径级(0~0.5 mm)的根系生物量,特别是幼龄林;(3)30~40 cm土层中,成熟林0~0.5 mm细根生物量分配量远大于幼龄林和中龄林,表明随着林龄的增加,小直径细根有向下分配趋势;(4)林龄、土层、径级以及施氮浓度4个因素的综合效应能够解释细根生物量66.3%的变异,其中林龄、土层、径级3个因素各自对细根生物量的影响极显著(P0.01),分别能解释细根生物量17.6%、16.1%、10.4%的变异,而增氮处理仅能解释细根生物量0.24%的变异,影响效应不显著(P0.05)。     

The relationship between intra–guild diet overlap and breeding in owls in Israel

Even though intra-guild predators frequently prey on the same species, it is unclear whether diet overlap between two predators is a source of interspecific competition or whether predators simply use the same abundant prey resource. We measured the extent to which the diets of barn owls (Tyto alba) and long-eared owls (Asio otus) in Israel overlap and examined whether yearly differences in diet overlap correlate with barn owl breeding success. Pianka’s index of niche overlap was positively related to barn owl population size but not to its breeding success. The number of breeding barn owls was higher when long-eared owls consumed more rodents, suggesting that diet overlap most likely increased when rodents became more abundant. Therefore, in Israel, when these two owl species prey more often on rodents, their diets are more similar and interspecific competition is reduced. Unlike sympatric populations in Europe, in years when rodents are less abundant in Israel long-eared owls switch to hunting alternative prey (e.g., birds), perhaps to avoid competition with barn owls.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Apodemus</Emphasis> mice as the main prey that determines reproductive output of tawny owl (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Strix aluco</Emphasis>) in Central Europe

During the years 2008–2014, we studied diet composition, the number of breeding pairs, and reproductive output of tawny owls in Central Europe (Czech Republic) in relation to availability of main prey in the field. We also performed a meta-analysis on diet composition of tawny owl in Europe that confirmed the important role of Apodemus mice in tawny owl diet in Central Europe. In concordance, Apodemus mice were the main prey of tawny owl in our study area (38.7%), and Microtus/Myodes voles (15.4%), birds (12.1%) and others (33.8%) were alternative prey. We found a positive relationship between the proportion of Apodemus mice in the diet and their abundance in the field (beta = 0.23, P = 0.001). Availability of main prey (Apodemus mice, Microtus/Myodes voles or Sorex shrews) in the field was not correlated with the number of breeding pairs. Proportion of birds in diet (expressed by scores from multivariate analysis), which was inversely related to proportion of Apodemus mice, was positively correlated with laying date (beta = 0.66, P = 0.012) and negatively correlated with clutch size (beta = − 0.45, P = 0.004) and brood size (beta = − 0.16, P = 0.076). We also found negative relationships between laying date and clutch size (beta = − 0.13, P = 0.014) and brood size (beta = − 0.07, P = 0.057). Our results support the idea that diet and breeding ecology of owls in Central Europe is mainly driven by the availability of Apodemus mice that are suitable prey due to their similar habitat requirements and nocturnal activity.     

Bird predation by tawny owls (Strix aluco L.) and its effect on the reproductive performance of tits

The density of great tit Parus major L. and blue tit Parus caeruleus L. was artificially increased by placing nest-box colonies for these species in the vicinity of the nests of breeding tawny owls during 1993–1997. Bird prey composition in the owl nests, the proportion of parents disappearing from the breeding tit populations and the reproductive performance of the widowed parents were analysed. The frequency of predation on tits by tawny owls was greater in areas where tit density had been artificially increased. Owls preyed more on tits during the feeding period of owlets than during the incubation period and more in years when snow covered the ground during the incubation period than when it did not. Mortality due to predation was male biased and more females lost their mates in populations breeding near tawny owl nests. Reproductive performance of the widowed parents was lower and their body weights were lighter at the end of the nestling period than those found in birds rearing youngs with their mates. Predation by owls increased the between-year turnover in the breeding tit population: widowed parents did not return to the nesting site for the next breeding season.     

Review of the effects of barred owls on spotted owls

Barred owls (Strix varia) are forest-dwelling owls, native to eastern North America, with populations that expanded westward into the range of the spotted owl (Strix occidentalis). Barred owls exert an overwhelmingly negative influence on spotted owls, thereby threatening spotted owl population viability where the species co-occur. In this review, we provide an overview of the barred owl's range expansion and detail and synthesize previously published literature on spotted and barred owls within the range of the spotted owl as related to potential future outcomes for the northern spotted owl (S. o. caurina). We include research on diet, habitat use and selection, effects of barred owls on spotted owl demography and behavior, hybridization with spotted owls, parasites, contemporary management, and future research needs for spotted owl populations given continued barred owl expansion throughout western North America. Our literature review and synthesis should provide managers with the information necessary to develop strategies that mitigate deleterious effects of barred owls at local and landscape scales. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.     

Interspecific offspring killing in owls

In Baranya County (Southern Hungary), tawny owls (Strix aluco) and barn owls (Tyto alba) sequentially use the same nest boxes in a significant number of cases. A total of 460 broods were observed between 1996 and 2003 and, in 12 cases, whole broods of dead tawny owl chicks were registered that had apparently been killed. On investigating the reproductive life characteristics, population sizes, and frequency of killing in these two species, it was concluded that: (1) with growing barn owl population, the number of sequential broods increases but changes in tawny owl population size have no effect on the frequency of sequential broods; (2) the number of killings depends on the number of sequential broods; and (3) with growing barn owl population, the number of killings also grows and this change is unaffected by the size of the tawny owl population. However, no killing occurs as long as 50–60% of the nest boxes are unoccupied. There is no killing either until the percentage of nest boxes occupied by barn owls reaches 40%, although a threshold value like this cannot be shown for the tawny owl. In the cases when a barn owl breeding follows the tawny owl's, the percentage of killing is significantly higher compared to that when barn owls do not breed in the same box. These results indicate that barn owls kill the offspring of tawny owls. By these means, they obtain a breeding place earlier than without killing the chicks of the other species, and this results in higher reproductive success. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 95 , 488–494.     

Seasonal and habitat variation in the diet of the tawny owl ( Strix aluco ) in central Poland during unusually warm years

In the temperate climate zone in Europe the composition of the diet of predatory vertebrates shows evident variability between the warm and cold season. However, the recently observed climate warming can mitigate the effect of snow cover and low temperatures on the winter foraging ecology of raptors, thus affecting trophic webs in ecosystems. We analysed diet variability in the tawny owl Strix aluco, between the warm and cold seasons of four unusually warm years (as compared to reference years of 1950–2000) in two habitats (forest vs. farmland) in Central Poland. The most important prey group in the tawny owl’s diet were mammals, constituting over 80% of prey items. There were distinct diet differences between the two seasons: insectivorous mammals, birds and amphibians were caught more often during the warm season, and Muridae and Arvicolidae during the cold season. The proportion of insectivorous mammals, voles and amphibians was significantly higher in forest than in farmland. Diet diversity, analysed with rarefaction methods and expressed as the expected cumulative mammal species number for a given number of randomly sampled preyed mammals, was independent of season and higher in forest than in the agricultural habitat. We conclude that even during unusually warm years tawny owls change significantly their feeding habits between the warm and cold season. The effect of season, habitat and weather factors on diet variability in raptors are discussed.     

Impacts of Agriculture on the Diet and Productivity of Mackinder's Eagle Owls (Bubo capensis mackinderi ) in Kenya

Land conversion for agriculture is an increasing threat to biodiversity conservation, but its ecological effects on African birds is practically unknown. We investigated the impacts of agriculture on the diet and productivity of a small, disjunct population of Mackinder's eagle owls ( Bubo capensis mackinderi  ) in central Kenya. Owl diet was determined by analysis of pellets and other remains and compared to small mammal populations estimated by live trapping in two habitats. Small mammal abundance was low and averaged 7.4 small mammals/ha in farms and 0.5 small mammals/ha in grassland. Owls consumed a wide diversity of prey. The majority were mammals (87%) followed by birds (7%) and insects (5%). The percentage of small mammals in owl diet correlated positively with the relative abundance of small mammals during monthly trapping sessions. Diet composition did not influence owl breeding success. Farming activities affected owl diet composition through crop production. The amount of maize, peas, and carrots growing in farms was correlated with the abundance of Mastomys sp. and Procavia sp. in the owl's diet. Agricultural activities had a large effect on Mackinder's eagle owl diet by increasing the abundance of certain small-mammal prey and attracting owl prey to farms, though farming practices harmful to owls were observed.     

Dark-bellied brent geese Branta b. bernicla breeding near snowy owl Nyctea scandiaca nests lay more and larger eggs

Several studies have demonstrated that snowy owls Nyctea scandiaca defend an area around their nests against predators, hereby inadvertently creating safe havens for breeding dark-bellied brent geese Branta b. bernicla . However, studies investigating brent goose breeding ecology within the predator-exclusion zones of the snowy owls are absent. In 1999 and 2005, years of high lemming abundance Lemmus sibiricus and Dicrostonyx torquatus , brent geese were primarily breeding in association with snowy owls in the Medusa river catchment on western Taimyr, Russia. Goose nest failure, either as a result of nest abandonment by the adult birds or of nest depredation, increased with increasing distance from the owl nests. Within the brent goose colonies, clutch size as well as egg size increased with decreasing distance from the snowy owl nest, indicating an increasing adult quality closer to owl nests. However, as a result of the abandonment of eggs and goslings, the increasing clutch size did not result in a higher nest success during this study. Apparently brent geese compete for breeding sites close to owl nests, but details of this process remain unknown.     

Variability in stable isotopes of snowy owl feathers and contribution of marine resources to their winter diet

The snowy owl is an elusive arctic predator known for its nomadic behaviour. Satellite tracking has revealed that some adult snowy owls could make an extensive use of the marine environment during the non‐breeding season. However, the relative contribution of marine resources to their diet is unknown. Stable isotope analyses can be useful to document the diet of mobile animals during periods of the year when individuals are less accessible. This study aimed to assess variation in isotopic values (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) of various feather types, and the usefulness of feathers to determine the contribution of the marine environment to the winter diet of snowy owls captured in summer. We sampled feathers coming from 6 body regions of 18 breeding females at two sites in the eastern Canadian Arctic in 2013 and 2014. Prior to analyses, diet‐tissue discrimination factors of snowy owl feathers were established in captivity. Variability in isotopic values among feather types was relatively low and pairwise correlations in isotopic values between feathers on the same individual were variable and often low, which suggests differences in the diet at the time when various feathers were synthesized. Diet reconstruction models detected a contribution of marine sources to snowy owl feathers ranging from 4 to 19% among feather types. However, the marine contribution was highly variable when single feathers were examined within individuals, ranging from 3 to 71%. This indicated that no single feather type could be used alone to reliably infer the contribution of marine resources to the winter diet of owls, possibly due to a high variability in the timing and sequence of molt. For asynchronous molters like snowy owls, we recommend sampling multiple feathers from various body regions, excluding wing feathers, to investigate winter diet or habitat use.     

Helminth Communities of Owls (Strigiformes) Indicate Strong Biological and Ecological Differences from Birds of Prey (Accipitriformes and Falconiformes) in Southern Italy

We compared the helminth communities of 5 owl species from Calabria (Italy) and evaluated the effect of phylogenetic and ecological factors on community structure. Two host taxonomic scales were considered, i.e., owl species, and owls vs. birds of prey. The latter scale was dealt with by comparing the data here obtained with that of birds of prey from the same locality and with those published previously on owls and birds of prey from Galicia (Spain). A total of 19 helminth taxa were found in owls from Calabria. Statistical comparison showed only marginal differences between scops owls (Otus scops) and little owls (Athene noctua) and tawny owls (Strix aluco). It would indicate that all owl species are exposed to a common pool of ‘owl generalist’ helminth taxa, with quantitative differences being determined by differences in diet within a range of prey relatively narrow. In contrast, birds of prey from the same region exhibited strong differences because they feed on different and wider spectra of prey. In Calabria, owls can be separated as a whole from birds of prey with regard to the structure of their helminth communities while in Galicia helminths of owls represent a subset of those of birds of prey. This difference is related to the occurrence in Calabria, but not Galicia, of a pool of ‘owl specialist’ species. The wide geographical occurrence of these taxa suggest that local conditions may determine fundamental differences in the composition of local communities. Finally, in both Calabria and Galicia, helminth communities from owls were species-poor compared to those from sympatric birds of prey. However, birds of prey appear to share a greater pool of specific helmith taxa derived from cospeciation processes, and a greater potential exchange of parasites between them than with owls because of phylogenetic closeness.