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Apodemus mice as the main prey that determines reproductive output of tawny owl (Strix aluco) in Central Europe

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Population Ecology

Abstract

During the years 2008–2014, we studied diet composition, the number of breeding pairs, and reproductive output of tawny owls in Central Europe (Czech Republic) in relation to availability of main prey in the field. We also performed a meta-analysis on diet composition of tawny owl in Europe that confirmed the important role of Apodemus mice in tawny owl diet in Central Europe. In concordance, Apodemus mice were the main prey of tawny owl in our study area (38.7%), and Microtus/Myodes voles (15.4%), birds (12.1%) and others (33.8%) were alternative prey. We found a positive relationship between the proportion of Apodemus mice in the diet and their abundance in the field (beta = 0.23, P = 0.001). Availability of main prey (Apodemus mice, Microtus/Myodes voles or Sorex shrews) in the field was not correlated with the number of breeding pairs. Proportion of birds in diet (expressed by scores from multivariate analysis), which was inversely related to proportion of Apodemus mice, was positively correlated with laying date (beta = 0.66, P = 0.012) and negatively correlated with clutch size (beta = − 0.45, P = 0.004) and brood size (beta = − 0.16, P = 0.076). We also found negative relationships between laying date and clutch size (beta = − 0.13, P = 0.014) and brood size (beta = − 0.07, P = 0.057). Our results support the idea that diet and breeding ecology of owls in Central Europe is mainly driven by the availability of Apodemus mice that are suitable prey due to their similar habitat requirements and nocturnal activity.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been supported by the Student Grant Agency at the Faculty of Science of the University of South Bohemia (SGA 2011/004) and Grant Agency of University of South Bohemia (GAJU 144/2010/P, 159/2013/P and 151/2016/P). We would like to thank Kateřina Luková (Mašková), Josef Luka and Dr. Jan Procházka for assistance in the field, and CHKO Kokořínsko for cooperation during installation of nest-boxes. We also thank two anonymous referees and Dr. David Serrano for valuable comments that improved the previous draft. The study was approved according to the law 246/1992 by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports under permission No. 1515-28569/2012-30.

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  1. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

    Václav Luka & Jan Riegert

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  1. Václav Luka
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Correspondence to Jan Riegert.

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Luka, V., Riegert, J. Apodemus mice as the main prey that determines reproductive output of tawny owl (Strix aluco) in Central Europe. Popul Ecol 60, 237–249 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10144-018-0611-z

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