Key habitat for male Strix nebulosa (Great Gray Owls) varies across the diurnal cycle and reflects sex-specific role, data archive

• Main Author: Gura, Katherine B.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Zenodo 2024
• Subjects: Behavioral ecology; Diurnal variations; Foraging; habitat selection; Great Gray Owl; sex-specific behavior; Strix nebulosa; temporal scale
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.1g1jwsv50

We used GPS tracking and remotely-sensed environmental data to evaluate whether breeding-season habitat selection by adult male Strix nebulosa (Great Gray Owls) (n = 19) varied across diurnal periods (dawn, day, dusk, and night). To address knowledge gaps related to nocturnal habitat, we also evaluated finer-scale, microhabitat selection by male owls at night. Here, we include both the remotely-sensed habitat data and on-the-ground microhabitat data associated with owl locations. Generally, S. nebulosa are associated with mature forests for nesting and meadows for foraging. Yet, in our study, owls avoided herbaceous wetlands during the day but strongly selected them at dawn, dusk, and at night, indicating context-dependent habitat selection. Moreover, owls avoided dry meadows at all times of the day, suggesting that wet rather than xeric meadows are important for foraging. Owls also preferred nighttime microhabitats that facilitated foraging, such as those with presence of primary prey and open understories dominated by graminoids and forbs. During the daytime, owls preferred higher canopy cover and areas with increased soil moisture, which likely provided suitable roosting habitat. Understanding of habitat preferences across sexes, activity periods, and other contexts can improve the identification and conservation of critical habitat for wildlife. Funding provided by: Wyoming Game and Fish Department ROR ID: https://ror.org/046em8f15 Award Number: Associated habitat data for used and available locations for GPS-tagged, adult male Strix nebulosa (Great Gray Owls) (n = 19) during the breeding season in northwestern Wyoming between 2018-2021. Habitat attributes were derived from remotely-sensed environmental data and exracted to owl locations. Available locations were generated within 95% Kernel Density Estimate (KDE) areas. A subset of these data include microhabitat attributes measured via on-the-ground surveys. These sites were selected via a stratified random sampling design, in which we selected ...