红角鸮的生态观察

本文报道山西庞泉沟自然保护区红角鸮(Otus scops)的季节迁徙、数量、繁殖习性及食性等。     

红角鸮夜间迁徙的环志研究

通过1987—1991年浮山夜间环志发现:红角鸮春季四月中旬始达青岛,五月底迁完,种群数量较少,迁徙高峰不明显。秋季九月上旬迁经本地,九月末、十月初是迁经青岛高峰期,种群数量大,历年间规律较一致。迁飞期间其主要食物是昆虫和小田鼠。     

赛罕乌拉国家级自然保护区红角鸮(Otus scops)的繁殖生态观察

为了解红角鸮(Otus scops)的繁殖状态,2009年5～8月,在内蒙古赛罕乌拉国家级自然保护区,以直接观察法对红角鸮的繁殖生态进行了研究。结果表明,所观察的4个巢址全部是以柳树为主干的树洞巢,巢内铺垫物较少或无铺垫,巢距地面的平均高度为91.3cm,巢内径平均为13.5cm,巢外径平均为15.0cm,巢深平均32.0cm(n=4)。平均窝卵数为3.75,对其中一窝进行测量,4枚卵平均量度是28.9mm×24.6mm,重量9.5g。雏鸟孵出后,雌性亲鸟承担主要育雏任务,雄性亲鸟日间停歇于离巢不远的树上负责警戒工作,夜间与雌鸟共同哺育雏鸟。小型鼬科动物的捕食可能是干扰红角鸮繁殖成功率的主要因素。     

乌鲁木齐市区越冬期长耳鸮的食性分析

2009～2011年间,利用食团分析法对乌鲁木齐市越冬长耳鸮(Asiootus)的食性进行分析.3年累计收集长耳鸮食团683份,辨认出1132只猎物.分析结果表明,长耳鸮在冬季共捕食小型哺乳类6种,鸟类2种.小家鼠(Musmusculus)是最常见的食物,占总捕食量的53.45％.小型哺乳类是长耳鸮的主要食物,它在食物组成中出现的总频率为88.16％,以生物量计,小型哺乳类占食物构成的95.13％.长耳鸮的食物组成年度间差异显著,与当地猎物资源多样性和可获得性密切相关,表明长耳鸮可能采用机会主义者的捕食策略.     

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% 。     

波兰西南卢布林中部地区纵纹腹小鸮的繁殖期食性

2000、2001年4 -7月,我们对波兰东南部纵纹腹小( Athene noctua)繁殖期的食性进行了研究。通过对498个食丸的分析,检出了1 953类动物,其中昆虫占猎物总数量的60·5 % (生物量仅占2·7 %) ,且以鞘翅目(Coleoptera)昆虫居多。该地区纵纹腹小的主要食物是小哺乳动物(占总生物量的93·4 %和总数量的38·3 %) ,在4月出现了一个取食小哺乳动物的高峰。在所捕食的猎物中,个体最大的是欧鼹鼠(Talpa eu-ropaea) ( n=2)。研究还发现,纵纹腹小的猎物种类有季节性变化,以满足繁殖各阶段(如孵卵、育雏和饲喂离巢幼鸟)不同的能量需求。     

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。     

北京市区越冬长耳的食性分析

2004年11月至2005年4月,采用食团分析法对北京市区内天坛生物制药厂和国子监公园内栖息越冬的长耳鸮(Asiootus)的食物组成进行了分析。发现天坛生物制药厂长耳鸮的食物中啮齿类占41.0%,翼手类占29.5%,鸟类占29.3%,食虫类占0.2%;国子监长耳鸮的食物组成中翼手类占53.8%,啮齿类占21.5%,鸟类占24.7%。翼手目主要种类有山蝠(Nyctalus noctula)和普通伏翼(Pipistrellus abramus)等。长耳鸮三类主要食物所占比例的逐月变化显示,翼手类所占百分比不断上升,啮齿类所占比例先上升而到翌年1、2月开始下降,鸟类所占百分比一直在下降。蝙蝠大量出现于温带冬季鸮类的食物中属首次发现。     

Diet of the critically endangered Seychelles Scops Owl,Otus insularis

The only data previously recorded on the diet of the critically endangered, endemic Seychelles Scops Owl, Otus insularis, is from the stomach contents of a few museum specimens and analysis of one pellet. Data are presented on more than 400 prey items identified from pellets and video recordings of provisioning at two nests. Pellets comprised exclusively of invertebrate remains: Orthoptera (64%), Coleoptera (14%), arachnids (11%) and other invertebrates (11%). Similarly, 111 (76%) of all items identified during 145 provisioning visits at two nests were invertebrates. Seventy-three (66%) were identified to morphospecies and comprised Orthoptera (93%), arachnids (4%) and Lepidoptera (3%). The diet of scops owls inhabiting areas of different altitudes (180-700m asl) was similar. Identification of prey taxa and species suggests that a significant amount of foraging takes place from foliage and on tree trunks, not just on the ground.     

Unusual song of an individual Cyprus Scops Owl Otus cyprius (Aves: Strigidae)

Cyprus Scops Owl, Otus cyprius, has recently been split from Eurasian Scops Owl, Otus scops, partly because of song differences. Spectrographic analysis of a more recent O. cyprius song recording shows that it differs from that of O. scops in phrase length and frequency more than previously analysed recordings. The recorded song is also most unusual in possessing two phrases each containing 11 consecutive quiet notes; these two phrases are also remarkably similar in pattern, timing and amplitude. Previously only three consecutive quiet notes were known from O. cyprius though so far its multiple quiet note phrases have been little studied.     

Territoriality and the significance of calling in the Lanyu Scops Owl Otus elegans botelensis

Territories of Lanyu Scops Owls Otus elegans botelensis overlap in both breeding and non-breeding seasons. Results of radiotelemetry showed that neighbouring owls do not use the shared areas of their territories at the same time. Frequent countersinging apparently permitted individuals to avoid potentially costly encounters with neighbours. Non-territorial owls can forage and rest in occupied territories. Experiments using decoys and playbacks showed that intruding owls were tolerated within either core or peripheral territories in all seasons if they remained silent, while calling intruders almost always incited threats or attacks even in autumn. Tolerating silent owls that are not competitors for mates or for nest sites appears to be an energy-saving territorial strategy.     

The demography of an increasing insular Eurasian Scops Owl (Otus scops) population in western France

Rapid population declines of many long-distance Afro-Palaearctic migratory bird species are ongoing across Europe but the demographic drivers are often poorly understood, thereby limiting the development of appropriate conservation actions. Using long-term population monitoring (39 years), capture–mark–recapture data and a matrix model, we estimated demographic parameters and the effect of climate variables on adult survival, and modelled the dynamics of an increasing population of Eurasian Scops Owls Otus scops in a landscape with agricultural abandonment in western France. The observed mean annual population growth rate was 1.055 (from 68 to 523 territorial males between 1981 and 2019). Over the study period, clutch size and hatching success were stable, but fledging success and breeding success showed slight negative trends, probably due to density-dependence. Survival varied with age, with an increase during early life and evidence for rapid senescence from 4 years old. Adult survival remained stable and was positively linked to the amount of autumn rainfall in the Sahel and to the winter North Atlantic Oscillation. Survival of younger age-classes made the largest contribution to the variance of the population growth rate, followed by clutch size, fledging success and survival of older birds. Such a long-term population increase in a landscape where intensive agriculture has decreased by 64.6% sheds some new light on the causes of the decline of European Scops Owl and other Afro-Palaearctic bird populations. We infer some of the possible causes of this large-scale decline, in particular food shortage, and discuss conservation measures that could be applicable to reverse this trend.     

Vicariance and dispersal in the differentiation of vocalization in the Ryukyu Scops Owl Otus elegans

The distribution of species and species diversity can be affected by vicariance or dispersal. To understand their role in shaping species distribution and population structure these two processes must be estimated within and among populations. I analysed large‐scale variation in the call structure of the Ryukyu Scops Owl Otus elegans. This owl is distributed over a 1200‐km range, and only inhabits islands. Within this range, I studied this species across 22 continental islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago and two oceanic islands. The study aimed to assess whether there is variation in the acoustic structure of Owl hoot calls within islands, among major groups of islands and across a large area comprising a major biogeographical barrier (the Kerama Gap). The acoustic structure of calls was homogeneous within islands and among major island‐groups. Acoustic differentiation, however, increased over longer geographical distances of up to about 1200 km. The acoustic structure of hoots of the Ryukyu Scops Owl populations was clearly divided into two groups, north and south of the Kerama Gap. It is suggested that the Kerama Gap acted as a biogeographical barrier and contributed to the differentiation between the two major island‐groups. It is likely that this difference developed during the fragmentation of a widespread ancestral population by vicariant isolating events. There was also evidence of an effect of dispersal on vocal differentiation in subspecies inhabiting the two oceanic islands.     

The distribution and population of the Seychelles (Bare-legged) Scops Owl Otus insularis on Mahé: consequences for conservation

This study details the first baseline survey of the Critically Endangered Seychelles Scops Owl Otus insularis , currently only recorded from the 152-km² island of Mahé, the largest and highest island in the granitic Seychelles, western Indian Ocean. A survey was conducted in October 2000–March 2001 using playback of conspecific calls in random squares (500 m × 500 m) with midpoints being at least equal to 100 m asl. Playback was conducted in 159 of a possible 375 squares (42%). Territorial responses were detected in 60 of 159 (38%) squares, which represented an estimated 70 distinct territorial responses. Pairs responded in 51% and single birds responded in 49% of squares where a response was elicited. Scops Owls were more likely to be detected at higher altitudes, in mixed forest, and sympatrically with endemic frogs ( Tachycnemis seychellensis and Sooglossus spp.). Two models were used to predict population: one based exclusively on altitude resulted in a population estimate of 134–159 territories (268–318 individuals) within a 34-km² range, whereas a second incorporating altitude and vegetation, which excluded unsuitable habitat, resulted in an estimate of 125–142 territories (250–284 individuals) in a 31-km² range. We discuss the implications of our findings to the Owl's conservation status and management.     

Food and habitats requirements of the Eurasian Scops Owl (Otus scops) in Switzerland revealed by very high-resolution multi-scale models

In Europe, agricultural practices have progressively evolved towards high productivity leading either to the intensification of productive and accessible areas or to the abandonment of less profitable sites. Both processes have led to the degradation of semi-natural habitats like extensive grasslands, threatening species such as the Eurasian Scops Owl Otus scops that rely on extensively managed agricultural landscapes. In this work, we aimed to assess the habitat preferences of the Scops Owl using habitat suitability models combined with a multi-scale approach. We generated a set of multi-scale predictors, considering both biotic and abiotic variables, built on two newly developed vegetation management and orthopteran abundance models. To select the variables to incorporate in a ‘best multi-scale model’, we chose the best spatial scale for each variable using univariate models and by calculating their relative importance through multi-model inference. Next, we built ensembles of small models (ESMs) at 10 different scales from 50 to 1000 m, and an additional model with each variable at its best scale (‘best multi-scale model’). The latter performed better than most of the other ESMs and allowed the creation of a high-resolution habitat suitability map for the species. Scops Owls showed a preference for dry sites with extensive and well-structured habitats with 30–40% bush cover, and relied strongly on semi-extensive grasslands covering at least 30% of the surface within 300 m of the territory centre and with high orthopteran availability near the centre (50-m radius), revealing a need for good foraging grounds near the nest. At a larger spatial scale within a radius of 1000 m, the habitat suitability of Scops Owls was negatively related to forest cover. The resulting ESM predictions provide valuable tools for conservation planning, highlighting sites in need of particular conservation efforts together with offering estimates of the percentage of habitat types and necessary prey abundance that could be used as targets in future management plans to ensure the persistence of the population.     

Microsatellite Loci from Lanyu Scops Owl (Otus elegans botelensis) and their Cross-Species Application in Four Species of Strigidae

We developed six new microsatellite markers containing tetranucleotide repeat motifs (GATA/CTAT) for Lanyu scops owl (Otus elegans botelensis) from an enriched partial library. All these loci are polymorphic and conform to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. We cross-species tested these and 12 other microsatellite primer pairs previously developed from O. elegans on four other species of owls (O. lettia, O. spilocephalus, O. scops, and Ninox scutulata). Results showed that the degree of polymorphism decreased with increasing phylogenetic distance to O. elegans. Most loci (66.7, 83.3, and 100%) were polymorphic in the three Otus owls but only five (27.8%) were polymorphic in N. scutulata. These microsatellites should be very useful genetic markers in studying the mating system, population genetics, and conservation of other little studied Old World Otus owls.