We studied the food habits and prey spectrum of the Spotted Owlet(Athene brama) in Madurai District,Tamil Nadu,southern India,between 2007 and 2009 by analyzing their regurgitated pellets.A total of 4181 pellets were ...We studied the food habits and prey spectrum of the Spotted Owlet(Athene brama) in Madurai District,Tamil Nadu,southern India,between 2007 and 2009 by analyzing their regurgitated pellets.A total of 4181 pellets were analyzed and 40278 individual prey remains of 16 prey species recorded.The number of prey items per pellet varied from 1 to 31 with an overall mean prey of 9.6 ± 3.03.Our analysis revealed that invertebrates were the predominant prey(insecta 83.0%;arachnida 1.1%;myriapoda 0.2%) followed by vertebrates(reptiles 3.3%;mammals 2.9%).Mammalian prey species in the diet included Mus spp.,Rattus rattus,Suncus murinus,Tatera in?ica,Ban?icota bengalensis and micro chiropteran bats.展开更多
Changes in the areas and quality of wetland habitat makes it imperative to monitor trends in the number of wintering waterbirds and their distribution in the Yangtze River floodplain, the most important waterbird regi...Changes in the areas and quality of wetland habitat makes it imperative to monitor trends in the number of wintering waterbirds and their distribution in the Yangtze River floodplain, the most important waterbird region in eastern China, so that effective science-based action can be taken to ensure the survival and future recovery of the waterbirds of the region. However, obtaining accurate data on the number of waterbirds and distribution, which can be confidently compared across years and sites, is complicated by a number of factors which can affect count quality. It is essential to employ a survey methodology which maximizes count accuracy and precision and minimizes the bias inherent in counting waterbirds;failure to achieve these goals will lead to incorrect results and analytical problems. Recently we developed a systematic waterbird survey methodology which was tested, with promising results, in the winters of 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 at Shengjin Lake, an important wetland in the Yangtze River floodplain. The methodology involves dividing the lake into discrete survey areas, each containing a number of subareas, with clear boundaries, which were surveyed separately. Data, which included information on counts, distributions, the environment and disturbance, were collected in a standardized manner to maximize precision and minimize bias. We use the results from the surveys of the first two winters to provide examples of how the data can be employed to provide detailed information on the number of waterbirds, their distributions and habitat usage. Finally, we discuss the importance of wider application of the methodology throughout the Yangtze River floodplain to underpin a much needed floodplain-wide waterbird monitoring program.展开更多
基金the Ministry of Environment and Forests,Government of India,for providing financial support for this study
文摘We studied the food habits and prey spectrum of the Spotted Owlet(Athene brama) in Madurai District,Tamil Nadu,southern India,between 2007 and 2009 by analyzing their regurgitated pellets.A total of 4181 pellets were analyzed and 40278 individual prey remains of 16 prey species recorded.The number of prey items per pellet varied from 1 to 31 with an overall mean prey of 9.6 ± 3.03.Our analysis revealed that invertebrates were the predominant prey(insecta 83.0%;arachnida 1.1%;myriapoda 0.2%) followed by vertebrates(reptiles 3.3%;mammals 2.9%).Mammalian prey species in the diet included Mus spp.,Rattus rattus,Suncus murinus,Tatera in?ica,Ban?icota bengalensis and micro chiropteran bats.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.31071941 and 30940010)the Chinese Academy of Sciences Innovation Project (Grant No.KZCX2-YW-QN503)the University of Science and Technology of China Graduate School Educational Innovation Base
文摘Changes in the areas and quality of wetland habitat makes it imperative to monitor trends in the number of wintering waterbirds and their distribution in the Yangtze River floodplain, the most important waterbird region in eastern China, so that effective science-based action can be taken to ensure the survival and future recovery of the waterbirds of the region. However, obtaining accurate data on the number of waterbirds and distribution, which can be confidently compared across years and sites, is complicated by a number of factors which can affect count quality. It is essential to employ a survey methodology which maximizes count accuracy and precision and minimizes the bias inherent in counting waterbirds;failure to achieve these goals will lead to incorrect results and analytical problems. Recently we developed a systematic waterbird survey methodology which was tested, with promising results, in the winters of 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 at Shengjin Lake, an important wetland in the Yangtze River floodplain. The methodology involves dividing the lake into discrete survey areas, each containing a number of subareas, with clear boundaries, which were surveyed separately. Data, which included information on counts, distributions, the environment and disturbance, were collected in a standardized manner to maximize precision and minimize bias. We use the results from the surveys of the first two winters to provide examples of how the data can be employed to provide detailed information on the number of waterbirds, their distributions and habitat usage. Finally, we discuss the importance of wider application of the methodology throughout the Yangtze River floodplain to underpin a much needed floodplain-wide waterbird monitoring program.
