Nestbox cameras reveal geographic, temporal and sex-specific variations in the composition of provisioned prey for a declining farmland raptor

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F68081766%3A_____%2F24%3A00599720" target="_blank" >RIV/68081766:_____/24:00599720 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/60460709:41330/24:98723 RIV/60076658:12310/24:43908707

Result on the web

<a href="https://bioone.org/journalArticle/Download?urlId=10.25225%2Fjvb.24071" target="_blank" >https://bioone.org/journalArticle/Download?urlId=10.25225%2Fjvb.24071</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.25225/jvb.24071" target="_blank" >10.25225/jvb.24071</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Nestbox cameras reveal geographic, temporal and sex-specific variations in the composition of provisioned prey for a declining farmland raptor

Original language description

Understanding the foraging ecology of the rapidly declining little owl ( Athene noctua), ), which faces food limitations during the breeding season, is crucial for its effective conservation and management. We assessed the composition of prey provisioned to nestlings using nestbox cameras from 2002-2022 in three countries with different landscape structures (the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the Netherlands). We particularly explored the effect of region (country), nesting stage and parental sex on prey composition. From 41,342 identified prey items, insects predominated the little owl's diet (75.6%), followed by earthworms (19%) and a smaller proportion of vertebrates (mammals and birds). The highest proportion of insects was found in the Netherlands (80.9%), whereas earthworms dominated in Slovakia (79.8%). Vertebrates (particularly small mammals) were important prey delivered during the incubation and early nesting stages, and the representation of insects increased with the progression of the breeding season. Representation of earthworms was highest in the late nesting stage. Females provisioned a higher percentage of earthworms, whereas males provisioned more vertebrates. In conclusion, the little owl's diet during the breeding season comprises a surprisingly high proportion of invertebrates. Further, differences in prey provided are most likely driven by climatic factors, habitat structure and land-use histories (causing differences between countries), different energy requirements and seasonal changes in prey availability (causing differences during individual nesting stages) and sex-specific foraging strategies and parental roles (causing differences between sexes). Conservation activities should focus on restoration and suitable management of different high-quality habitats to enhance the availability and representation of different prey taxa within little owls' territories.

Czech name

—

Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10615 - Ornithology

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2024

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Journal of Vertebrate Biology

ISSN

2694-7684

e-ISSN

2694-7684

Volume of the periodical

73

Issue of the periodical within the volume

24071

Country of publishing house

CZ - CZECH REPUBLIC

Number of pages

14

Pages from-to

24071

UT code for WoS article

001333206100001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85206927274