Diet Composition of the Austral Pygmy Owl in a Peri-Urban Protected Area in South-Central Chile

Zúñiga, Alfredo H.; Rau, Jaime R.; Fuenzalida, Víctor; Sandoval, Roberto Romero

doi:10.15407/zoo2022.05.413

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 20 publications

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“…An example of this, is the number of prey units (PU) and biomass quantified in spring (308 PU; 4,293 g) and summer (367 PU; 5,174 g), which would respond to a greater supply of male representatives of G. rosea during their period of reproduction ( Aguilera, Montenegro & Casanueva, 2019 ) or juveniles during terrestrial dispersal events that occur between December and March ( Montenegro-Vargas, Montenegro-Heidke & Aguilera, 2022 ). The high richness of this taxon in the diet of B. magellanicus was due to the exhaustive taxonomic identification of invertebrates, which revealed a high participation in its composition and biomass in comparison to other studies of diet of this owl in Chile ( Yáñez, Rau & Jaksic, 1978 ; Jaksic & Yáñez, 1980 ; Jaksic, Yáñez & Rau, 1986 ; Tala, González & Bonacic, 1995 ; Mella et al, 2016 ; Muñoz Pedreros et al., 2017 ; Martínez, 2018 ; Vega, Jara & Mella, 2018 ; Zuñiga et al, 2022 ). Nevertheless, a low diversity diet was determined due to an almost exclusive consumption of invertebrates (97.75%), specifically G. rosea (87.86%), thus obtaining the lowest value of trophic niche breadth described in B. magellanicus in a Mediterranean habitat ( B = 0.37; B STA = 0.01) ( Yáñez, Rau & Jaksic, 1978 ; Jaksic & Yáñez, 1980 ; Muñoz Pedreros et al., 2017 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Could an event of extreme drought (2019-2020) affect the feeding ecology of Bubo magellanicus (Gmelin 1788) (Strigiformes: Strigidae) in a Mediterranean region of Chile?

Ahumada¹,

Suárez²,

Rivera

2023

PeerJ

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Global warming generates changes in environmental conditions, affecting the spatial-temporal dynamics of precipitation and temperature. Droughts, events of low rainfall, are becoming more frequent and severe. In central Chile, from 2010 to date, an unprecedented drought event has developed, affecting the ecosystem and creating pressure on the dynamics of food webs. The present study analysed the trophic ecology of Bubo magellanicus, a top predator in the Mediterranean region of Chile, between 2019 and 2020 a period with a rainfall deficit of 72.6%. Our results established a diet mainly described by invertebrates (97.75%), in particular by the Gramnostola rosea spider (87.86%), and a low contribution of small vertebrates (2.24%). The trophic niche breadth (B = 0.37) and the standardised Levin’s index (BSTA = 0.01) are the lowest recorded in the species B. magellanicus. A comparative analysis of trophic ecology with other studies developed in the same region established significant differences in the composition of the diet (frequency of occurrence of prey unit). This work provides evidence that droughts and other extreme environmental scenarios restructure the food webs of an ecosystem, with direct consequences on the trophic niche of the species, specifically top predators.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Could an event of extreme drought (2019-2020) affect the feeding ecology of Bubo magellanicus (Gmelin 1788) (Strigiformes: Strigidae) in a Mediterranean region of Chile?

Ahumada¹,

Suárez²,

Rivera

2023

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Are southern temperate urban natural forests a suitable habitat for beetle diversity? A case study in Chile

Tello,

Tello-Arriagada,

Olivares

et al. 2024

Urban Ecosyst

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Are southern temperate urban natural forests a suitable habitat for beetle diversity? A case study in Chile

Tello,

Tello-Arriagada,

Olivares

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Urban expansion is an important cause of biodiversity loss due to habitat destruction involving the replacement of the natural environment with anthropic infrastructure. However, recent studies suggest that the harmonious growth of cities could allow the persistence of biological diversity within them. Thus, some cities, especially those that contain remnant forests that preceded their expansion, could harbor high levels of biodiversity. These remnant forests, i.e., urban natural forests (UNFs), are refuges for native species, providing suitable habitat conditions for population stability. However, traditional ecological studies have focused on natural and planted forests, so our knowledge of ecological dynamics in UNFs is still limited. Here, we explore the suitability of a temperate UNF for saproxylic beetles. These beetles are deadwood-dependent, highly diverse trophic groups that commonly inhabit natural forest ecosystems. However, saproxylic beetle diversity has been understudied in urban forest ecosystems. We analyzed the species richness, abundance, and seasonal variation of saproxylic beetles, including their most important trophic guilds, associated with urban forests. For this purpose, we monitored standing dead trees monthly between December 2019 and December 2022, using trunk window (flight interception) traps. Additionally, we measured qualitative and quantitative habitat attributes to evaluate the preferences of these insects in the UNF. We used generalized linear models as statistical methods to estimate saproxylic beetle habitat preferences. We collected 1273 individuals, belonging to 43 families and 195 saproxylic species/morphospecies. We found that diversity and abundance were strongly influenced by seasonality and the degree of decomposition of deadwood, with increased diversity and abundance in warmer months and highly decomposed trees. Our data show that UNFs harbor a high diversity of saproxylic species and are therefore suitable habitats and that the factors that regulate these assemblages are homologous to those of natural forests. Finally, our research provides evidence useful for the establishment of conservation and management practices to promote high diversity in UNFs, for example increasing the amount and quality of deadwood.

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Diet Composition of the Austral Pygmy Owl in a Peri-Urban Protected Area in South-Central Chile

Cited by 3 publications

References 20 publications

Could an event of extreme drought (2019-2020) affect the feeding ecology of Bubo magellanicus (Gmelin 1788) (Strigiformes: Strigidae) in a Mediterranean region of Chile?

Could an event of extreme drought (2019-2020) affect the feeding ecology of Bubo magellanicus (Gmelin 1788) (Strigiformes: Strigidae) in a Mediterranean region of Chile?

Are southern temperate urban natural forests a suitable habitat for beetle diversity? A case study in Chile

Are southern temperate urban natural forests a suitable habitat for beetle diversity? A case study in Chile

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