INVESTIGADORES
ANDRADE Analia
artículos
Título:
Diet of the Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) and its seasonal variation in Patagonian steppes: implications for biodiversity assessments in the Somuncur¨¢ Plateau Protected Area, Argentina
Autor/es:
ANDRADE ANALIA; NABTE MARCELA J.,; KUN MARCELO
Revista:
STUDIES ON NEOTROPICAL FAUNA AND ENVIRONMENT
Editorial:
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
Referencias:
Lugar: LONDON; Año: 2010 vol. 45 p. 101 - 110
ISSN:
0165-0521
Resumen:
A wide literature exists on the food habits of the Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) in South America. However,
this information is scarce for the arid lands of Argentina. Owl¡¯s diet composition in the Somuncur¨¢ Plateau and
its seasonal variations were estimated. The Somuncur¨¢ landscape is a volcanic plateau conformed by superimposed
layers of basalt flows. The climate is arid and cold and the vegetation is characterized by a grassy steppe of
the Patagonian Phytogeographical Province. Pellets were collected during late spring and late summer around
two lagoons from upper elevations (41¡ã25¡ä35¡åS, 66¡ã57¡ä27¡åW, 1412 m a.s.l.). These were measured, dissected and
prey were identified and quantified. Sample richness, biomass and food-niche breadth were calculated as dietary
parameters. Small mammals availability was estimated by trapping. The Burrowing Owl showed a generalist diet,
including a wide variety of prey from invertebrates to vertebrates. Coleopterans were dominant in the spring diet,
while rodents and arachnids became important in the late summer diet. The high species richness detected in this
study through the analysis of raptor pellets is valuable for biodiversity assessments of unexplored areas such as
Somuncur¨¢.Athene cunicularia) in South America. However,
this information is scarce for the arid lands of Argentina. Owl¡¯s diet composition in the Somuncur¨¢ Plateau and
its seasonal variations were estimated. The Somuncur¨¢ landscape is a volcanic plateau conformed by superimposed
layers of basalt flows. The climate is arid and cold and the vegetation is characterized by a grassy steppe of
the Patagonian Phytogeographical Province. Pellets were collected during late spring and late summer around
two lagoons from upper elevations (41¡ã25¡ä35¡åS, 66¡ã57¡ä27¡åW, 1412 m a.s.l.). These were measured, dissected and
prey were identified and quantified. Sample richness, biomass and food-niche breadth were calculated as dietary
parameters. Small mammals availability was estimated by trapping. The Burrowing Owl showed a generalist diet,
including a wide variety of prey from invertebrates to vertebrates. Coleopterans were dominant in the spring diet,
while rodents and arachnids became important in the late summer diet. The high species richness detected in this
study through the analysis of raptor pellets is valuable for biodiversity assessments of unexplored areas such as
Somuncur¨¢.¡ã25¡ä35¡åS, 66¡ã57¡ä27¡åW, 1412 m a.s.l.). These were measured, dissected and
prey were identified and quantified. Sample richness, biomass and food-niche breadth were calculated as dietary
parameters. Small mammals availability was estimated by trapping. The Burrowing Owl showed a generalist diet,
including a wide variety of prey from invertebrates to vertebrates. Coleopterans were dominant in the spring diet,
while rodents and arachnids became important in the late summer diet. The high species richness detected in this
study through the analysis of raptor pellets is valuable for biodiversity assessments of unexplored areas such as
Somuncur¨¢.