Diet composition and reproductive success of Mexican Spotted Owls

Citation
Me. Seamans et Rj. Gutierrez, Diet composition and reproductive success of Mexican Spotted Owls, J RAPT RES, 33(2), 1999, pp. 143-148
Citations number
24
Categorie Soggetti
Animal Sciences
Journal title
JOURNAL OF RAPTOR RESEARCH
ISSN journal
08921016 → ACNP
Volume
33
Issue
2
Year of publication
1999
Pages
143 - 148
Database
ISI
SICI code
0892-1016(199906)33:2<143:DCARSO>2.0.ZU;2-W
Abstract
We identified 3793 prey remains from 44 and 41 Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix o ccidentalis lucida) territories in Arizona and New Mexico, respectively, fr om 1991-95. We found no relationship between Mexican Spotted Owl reproducti ve success and the proportion of dietary biomass comprised of white-footed mice (Peromyscus spp.) or woodrats (Neotoma spp.). This was contrary to pre viously observed diet patterns in Northern (S. o. caurina) and California S potted Owls (S. o. occidentalis) showing that mammals can comprise 88.2% of the dietary biomass in Arizona and 94.0% in New Mexico. We found that the most important prey based on relative biomass for Mexican Spotted Owls were woodrats (47.8%) and white-footed mice (17.0%). Gophers (Thomomys bottae) and birds occurred more frequently in owl diets in Arizona, while rabbits ( Sylvilagus spp.), insects, and woodrats occurred more frequently in diets o f New Mexico owls.