Habitat utilization and prey selection of the kestrel Falco tinnunculus in relation to small mammal abundance
The study examined habitat utilization and prey selection by the kestrel Falco tinnunculus in an area of cultivated farmland in Italy, along with field estimates of small mammal abundance. Kestrel males were radiotagged and ranging behaviour and diet were recorded. Kestrels actively selected grassla...
Published in: | Italian Journal of Zoology |
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2008
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Online Access: | https://kar.kent.ac.uk/14873/ https://doi.org/10.1080/11250000802085526 |
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ftkentuniv:oai:kar.kent.ac.uk:14873 2023-05-15T15:56:33+02:00 Habitat utilization and prey selection of the kestrel Falco tinnunculus in relation to small mammal abundance Casagrande, Stefania Nieder, Luis Di Minin, Enrico La Fata, Isabella Csermely, Davide 2008 https://kar.kent.ac.uk/14873/ https://doi.org/10.1080/11250000802085526 unknown Casagrande, Stefania, Nieder, Luis, Di Minin, Enrico, La Fata, Isabella, Csermely, Davide (2008) Habitat utilization and prey selection of the kestrel Falco tinnunculus in relation to small mammal abundance. Italian Journal of Zoology, 75 (4). pp. 401-409. ISSN 1125-0003. (doi:10.1080/11250000802085526 <https://doi.org/10.1080/11250000802085526>) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:14873 </14873>) QL Zoology Article PeerReviewed 2008 ftkentuniv https://doi.org/10.1080/11250000802085526 2023-03-12T18:53:19Z The study examined habitat utilization and prey selection by the kestrel Falco tinnunculus in an area of cultivated farmland in Italy, along with field estimates of small mammal abundance. Kestrel males were radiotagged and ranging behaviour and diet were recorded. Kestrels actively selected grasslands both during flight and perching hunting, and most predations were registered in this habitat. The occurrence of small mammals in the diet was significantly different from what was estimated from trapping, indicating that kestrels behaved as selective predators, since microtines were eaten in a greater proportion than their abundance. Microtus savii was preferred more than the common vole Microtus arvalis, whereas soricids were negatively selected. Nevertheless, common voles represented the main component of the kestrels' food niche. Reproductive success was correlated with small mammal availability. This study revealed that the high density of kestrels within the study area is supported by steady grassland management. Article in Journal/Newspaper Common vole Microtus arvalis University of Kent: KAR - Kent Academic Repository Italian Journal of Zoology 75 4 401 409 |
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Open Polar |
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University of Kent: KAR - Kent Academic Repository |
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ftkentuniv |
language |
unknown |
topic |
QL Zoology |
spellingShingle |
QL Zoology Casagrande, Stefania Nieder, Luis Di Minin, Enrico La Fata, Isabella Csermely, Davide Habitat utilization and prey selection of the kestrel Falco tinnunculus in relation to small mammal abundance |
topic_facet |
QL Zoology |
description |
The study examined habitat utilization and prey selection by the kestrel Falco tinnunculus in an area of cultivated farmland in Italy, along with field estimates of small mammal abundance. Kestrel males were radiotagged and ranging behaviour and diet were recorded. Kestrels actively selected grasslands both during flight and perching hunting, and most predations were registered in this habitat. The occurrence of small mammals in the diet was significantly different from what was estimated from trapping, indicating that kestrels behaved as selective predators, since microtines were eaten in a greater proportion than their abundance. Microtus savii was preferred more than the common vole Microtus arvalis, whereas soricids were negatively selected. Nevertheless, common voles represented the main component of the kestrels' food niche. Reproductive success was correlated with small mammal availability. This study revealed that the high density of kestrels within the study area is supported by steady grassland management. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Casagrande, Stefania Nieder, Luis Di Minin, Enrico La Fata, Isabella Csermely, Davide |
author_facet |
Casagrande, Stefania Nieder, Luis Di Minin, Enrico La Fata, Isabella Csermely, Davide |
author_sort |
Casagrande, Stefania |
title |
Habitat utilization and prey selection of the kestrel Falco tinnunculus in relation to small mammal abundance |
title_short |
Habitat utilization and prey selection of the kestrel Falco tinnunculus in relation to small mammal abundance |
title_full |
Habitat utilization and prey selection of the kestrel Falco tinnunculus in relation to small mammal abundance |
title_fullStr |
Habitat utilization and prey selection of the kestrel Falco tinnunculus in relation to small mammal abundance |
title_full_unstemmed |
Habitat utilization and prey selection of the kestrel Falco tinnunculus in relation to small mammal abundance |
title_sort |
habitat utilization and prey selection of the kestrel falco tinnunculus in relation to small mammal abundance |
publishDate |
2008 |
url |
https://kar.kent.ac.uk/14873/ https://doi.org/10.1080/11250000802085526 |
genre |
Common vole Microtus arvalis |
genre_facet |
Common vole Microtus arvalis |
op_relation |
Casagrande, Stefania, Nieder, Luis, Di Minin, Enrico, La Fata, Isabella, Csermely, Davide (2008) Habitat utilization and prey selection of the kestrel Falco tinnunculus in relation to small mammal abundance. Italian Journal of Zoology, 75 (4). pp. 401-409. ISSN 1125-0003. (doi:10.1080/11250000802085526 <https://doi.org/10.1080/11250000802085526>) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:14873 </14873>) |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1080/11250000802085526 |
container_title |
Italian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
75 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
401 |
op_container_end_page |
409 |
_version_ |
1766391957254307840 |