This study investigated the diet of introduced barn owls (Tyto alba javanica, Gmelin) in the urban area of the Main Campus of Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia, based on collected regurgitated pellets. We also compared the diet of the introduced barn owls with the diet of barn owls from two agricultural areas, i.e. oil palm plantations and rice fields. Pellet analysis of introduced barn owls showed that commensal Norway rats, Rattus norvegicus, made up the highest proportion of the diet (65.37% prey biomass) while common shrews, Suncus murinus were the second highest consumed prey (30.12% prey biomass). Common plantain squirrel, Callosciurus notatus, made up 4.45% of the diet while insects were taken in a relatively small amount (0.046% prey biomass). Introduced barn owls showed a preference for medium-sized prey, i.e. 40–120 g (52.96% biomass and 38.71% total). In agricultural areas, rice field rats, Rattus argentiventer predominated the diet of barn owls (98.24% prey biomass) in rice fields while Malayan wood rats, Rattus tiomanicus, were the most consumed prey in oil palm plantations (99.5% prey biomass). Food niche breadth value was highest for barn owls introduced in an urban area with a value of 2.90, and 1.06 in rice fields and 1.22 in oil palm plantations. Our analysis reiterates the prey preference of barn owls in various landscapes for small mammals. Our results also indicate the suitability of utilizing barn owls as a biological control not only in agricultural areas, but also as a biological control agent for commensal rodent pests in urban areas.

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2This study investigated the diet of introduced barn owls (Tyto alba javanica, Gmelin) in the 3 urban area of the Main Campus of Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia, based on 4 collected regurgitated pellets. We also compared the diet of introduced urban barn owls with 5 the diet of barn owls from two agricultural areas, i.e. oil palm plantations and rice fields. Pellet 6 analysis of barn owls introduced in the urban area showed that commensal Norway rats, Rattus 7 norvegicus, made up the highest proportion of the diet (65.37% prey biomass) while common 8 shrews, Suncus murinus were the second highest consumed prey (30.12% prey biomass). 9Common plantain squirrel, Callosciurus notatus, made up 4.45% of the diet while insects were 10 taken in a relatively small amount (0.046% prey biomass). Introduced barn owls showed a 11 preference for medium-sized prey, i.e. 40 to 120g (52.96% biomass and 38.71% total). In 12 agricultural areas, Rattus argentiventer predominated the diet of barn owls (98.24% prey 13 biomass) in rice fields while Malayan wood rats, Rattus tiomanicus, were the most consumed 14 prey in oil palm plantations (99.5% prey biomass). Food niche breadth value was highest for 15 barn owls introduced in an urban area with a value of 2.90, and 1.06 in rice fields and 1.22 in 16 oil palm plantations. Our analysis reiterates the prey preference of barn owls in various 17 landscapes for small mammals. Our results also indicate the suitability of utilizing barn owls 18 as a biological control not only in agricultural areas, but also as a biological control agent for 19 commensal rodent pests in urban areas. 20

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Physical trapping is an important first step in controlling pest populations and species identification; and bait preferences are crucial information for effective management. This study was conducted to explore species diversity and bait preferences of commensal species in urban areas on Penang Island. Live trapping was carried out in eight sampling sites on Penang Island in commercial and residential areas. Eight different type of baits were used; apple and peanut butter (APB), white bread and peanut butter (BPB), salted fish (SF), salted fish and peanut butter (SFPB), white bread and fish extract (BFE), fried chicken leftover (FCL), vegetables and peanut butter (VPB) and sausages (S). The most successful bait was the high protein bait, fried chicken leftover (FCL), with a capture success rate of 35.56%. We also analysed the bait preferences for the different species of small mammals captured in our study. Five species of small mammals were captured in our study sites: Rattus norvegicus, Rattus rattus, Mus musculus, Bandicota bengalensis and Suncus murinus. Norway rats, R. norvegicus was the most trapped species in commercial areas whereas lesser bandicoot rats, B. bengalensis was the most captured species in residential areas.

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Sexing of birds is important for ecology and evolutionary biology studies, as well as breeding and conservation programs especially for sexually monomorphic birds. As for barn owls, Tyto alba, confirmation of sex is important for conservation as well as introduction programs to control rodent pest populations. Molecular sexing of Southeast Asian subspecies, Tyto alba javanica was carried out using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification followed by 3% agarose gel electrophoresis. Primers P2/P8 and 2550F/2718R for the amplification of CHD gene (Chromo Helicase DNA-binding gene) were tested and both gave successful results. 2550F/2718R primer set gave better results as the gap between double bands was larger. DNA extracted from blood, whole diluted blood, and DNA extracted from feathers was used to molecularly sex owls. DNA extracted from feather gave the least effective results owing to contamination and low DNA concentration, while sexing owls using direct whole diluted blood provided a cost and time effective method. Sequencing of CHD gene from Tyto alba javanica showed 98% to 99% similarity in identity when compared to CHD gene of Tyto alba alba.   Penentuan jantina burung adalah penting untuk tujuan kajian ekologi dan biologi evolusi, serta program pembiakan dan konservasi terutamanya bagi burung yang mempunyai ciri monomorfik. Bagi burung pungguk jelapang Tyto alba, pengesahan jantina adalah penting untuk konservasi serta program pengenalan bagi kawalan tikus perosak. Penentuan jantina secara molekular untuk subspesies Asia Tenggara, Tyto alba javanica, telah dijalankan menggunakan Reaksi Rantai Polimerase (PCR) diikuti 3% gel agaros elektroforesis. Primer P2/P8 and 2550F/2718R untuk amplifikasi gen CHD (Chromo Helicase DNA-binding gene) diuji dan kedua-dua set primer memberi keputusan yang berjaya. Set primer 2550F/2718R memberi hasil yang lebih baik kerana jurang di antara jalur berganda lebih terang. DNA yang diekstrak dari darah, darah yang dicairkan, serta DNA yang diekstrak dari bulu burung digunakan untuk menentukan jantina burung. DNA yang diekstrak dari bulu memberi keputusan yang kurang memuaskan akibat pencemaran serta kuantiti DNA yang rendah. Penentuan jantina menggunakan darah yang dicairkan merupakan kaedah yang menjimatkan kos serta masa. Penjujukan gen CHD dari Tyto alba javanica menunjukkan 98% hingga 99% kesamaan identiti bila dibandingkan gen CHD Tyto alba alba.