Feeding ecology of the Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia punensis (Strigiformes: Strigidae) in the Jambelí archipelago, El Oro province, southwestern Ecuador

The diet of Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia punensis) was studied in four territories in the Jambelí archipelago, El Oro, southwestern Ecuador, from November 2015 to April 2016, collecting 182 pellets. Arthropods were the main prey group in frequency of occurrence (86.5%), followed by mammals (12%...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista Peruana de Biología
Main Authors: Orihuela Torres, Adrian, Ordóñez-Delgado, Leonardo, Brito, Jorge, López, Fausto, Mazón, Marina, Freile, Juan F.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:Spanish
Published: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas 2018
Subjects:
Athene cunicularia punensis
archipelago of Jambelí
diet
pellets
prey
Archipiélago de Jambelí
dieta
egagrópilas
presas
Rattus rattus
Online Access:https://revistasinvestigacion.unmsm.edu.pe/index.php/rpb/article/view/13376
https://doi.org/10.15381/rpb.v25i2.13376
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Summary:The diet of Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia punensis) was studied in four territories in the Jambelí archipelago, El Oro, southwestern Ecuador, from November 2015 to April 2016, collecting 182 pellets. Arthropods were the main prey group in frequency of occurrence (86.5%), followed by mammals (12%) and birds (1.5%), but mammals (Mus musculus and Rattus rattus) contributed 58.5% of the biomass, arthropods 33.2% and birds 8.2%. No significant differences were found in the diet among the four pairs studied. Our study confirmed the important role of Athene cunicularia as predator of pests like introduced rodents and potentially harmful arthropods. Estudiamos la dieta del búho terrestre Athene cunicularia punensis en cuatro territorios dentro del archipiélago de Jambelí, provincia de El Oro, suroeste de Ecuador, entre noviembre de 2015 y abril de 2016, mediante la recolección y análisis de 182 egagrópilas. Los artrópodos constituyeron el principal grupo-presa en frecuencia de aparición (86.5%), seguido por los mamíferos (12%) y las aves (1.5%). En cuanto a biomasa consumida, los mamíferos (Mus musculus y Rattus rattus) aportaron 58.5%, los artrópodos 33.2% y las aves 8.2%. No encontramos diferencias significativas de la dieta entre las cuatro parejas estudiadas. En este trabajo se confirmó el rol de Athene cunicularia como un importante depredador de plagas como roedores introducidos y artrópodos potencialmente dañinos.

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