New distribution record of the Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti Hume, 1873, (Aves: Strigiformes: Strigidae) in Purna Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat, India

Patel, Jenis R.; Patel, Shashank B.; Rathor, Saurabh C.; Patel, Jaymal A.; Patel, Pratik B.; Vasava, Anirudh G.

doi:10.11609/jott.o4237.7940-4

Cited by 5 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…We obtained Forest Owlet locations from published literature ( n = 30) (Chavan & Rithe, ; Ishtiaq & Rahmani, ,; Jathar & Rahmani, ; Kasambe, Pande, Wadatkar, & Pawashe, ; King & Rasmussen, ; Laad & Dagale, ; Patel et al, ) and primary field observations ( n = 25). We filtered the initial dataset of 55 points to 50 points, avoiding spatially overlapping points.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quaternary climatic fluctuations and resulting climatically suitable areas for Eurasian owlets

Koparde

Mehta

Mukherjee

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Aim The nested pattern in the geographical distribution of three Indian owlets, resulting in a gradient of endemicity, is hypothesized to be an impact of historical climate change. In current time, the Forest Owlet Athene blewitti is endemic to central India, and its range is encompassed within the ranges of the Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum (distributed through South Asia) and Spotted Owlet Athene brama (distributed through Iran, South and Southeast Asia). Another phylogenetically close species, Little Owl Athene noctua, which is largely Palearctic in distribution, is hypothesized to have undergone severe range reduction during the Last Glacial Maximum, showing a postglacial expansion. The present study tests hypotheses on the possible role of Quaternary climatic fluctuations in shaping geographical ranges of owlets. Methods We used primary field observations, open access data, and climatic niche modeling to construct climatic niches of four owlets for four periods, the Last Interglacial (~120–140 Ka), Last Glacial Maximum (~22 Ka), Mid‐Holocene (~6 Ka), and Current (1960–1990). We performed climatic niche extent, breadth, and overlap analyses and tested if climatically suitable areas for owlets are nested in a relatively stable climate. Results Climatically suitable areas for all owlets examined underwent cycles of expansion and reduction or a gradual expansion or reduction since the Last Interglacial. The Indian owlets show significant climatic niche overlap in the current period. Climatically suitable areas for Little Owl shifted southwards during the Last Glacial Maximum and expanded northwards in the postglaciation period. For each owlet, the modeled climatic niches were nested in climatically stable areas. Main Conclusions The study highlights the impact of Quaternary climate change in shaping the present distribution of owlets. This is relevant to the current scenario of climate change and global warming and can help inform conservation strategies, especially for the extremely range‐restricted Forest Owlet.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quaternary climatic fluctuations and resulting climatically suitable areas for Eurasian owlets

Koparde

Mehta

Mukherjee

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Other studies have also emphasized the importance of small agricultural holdings interspersed with forests for the species (Patel et al 2015, Patel 2018). However, it is important to note that the current habitat, a mosaic of forested land and agriculture, is likely a remnant of its original habitat, as reported in historical records (BirdLife International 2018).…”

Section: Role Of Large Trees and Open Cultivated Land For Forest Owletmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Elevation had a weak positive influence on the occurrence of the Forest Owlet, even though it was a covariate in one of the top- ranking models. Although the species has been recorded from 50-920 m, the higher elevation records are limited (Ishtiaq and Rahmani 2000, Jathar and Rahmani 2004, Patel et al 2015, Kulkarni and Mehta 2020. Our random sampling design with relatively fewer spatial replicates may have also limited our elevational sampling, and it does not permit us to specifically test the elevation hypothesis for the Forest Owlet.…”

Section: Role Of Closed Forest and Elevation For Forest Owletmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Forest Owlet was rediscovered after 113 years (King and Rasmussen 1998) in the same region of Maharashtra. Subsequently, the species has been reported in new locations (Laad and Dagale 2014, Patel et al 2017, Raha et al 2017 and has been the focus of several distribution surveys and ecological studies because of its endangered and endemic status (Jathar and Rahmani 2004, Ishtiaq and Rahmani 2005, Mehta et al 2007, Patel et al 2015. These studies provide a broad understanding of the habitat requirements of the species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Habitat determinants of species occupancy and niche partitioning among sympatric owlets: the paradoxical role of agricultural lands for the endangered Forest Owlet, Athene blewitti

Khan¹,

Sushma²,

B³

et al. 2023

JFO

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Species with highly restricted distributions are intriguing especially when they co-occur with similar and related species that are more widely distributed. They are also of conservation concern because of their restricted distributions and low population size. The Forest Owlet (Athene blewitti) is an endangered species endemic to the central Indian landscape that occurs in apparently unconnected pockets. Two other species of owlets, with wide distributions in India, Jungle Owlet (Glaucidium radiatum) and Spotted Owlet (Athene brama) co-occur with Forest Owlet. Understanding how species use the habitat matrix is central to prioritizing conservation action. We studied the three species across an extensive part of the predicted range of Forest Owlets through 350 surveys.Our results indicate that Jungle Owlet occupancy (ψ = 0.5896, SE = 0.08) was highest, followed by Forest Owlet (ψ = 0.2517, SE = 0.10), and Spotted Owlet (ψ = 0.1781, SE = 0.07). The Forest Owlet showed a preference for stands of forests with large trees but not necessarily with closed canopies, as well as open habitats (agricultural land cover). The Spotted Owlet showed a preference for agricultural land cover with lower litter and bare ground cover. In contrast, the Jungle Owlet showed a preference for dense forest and canopy cover. The preference for agricultural cover by the Forest Owlet provides important insights into our understanding of the ecology of this owlet. Most significantly, it brings up several conservation challenges for managing this endangered species across a human-use landscape.RESUMEN. Las especies con una distribución altamente restringida son intrigantes especialmente cuando co-occurren con especies cercanamente emparentadas y similares que están más ampliamente distribuidas. Estas especies son también de interés para la conservación por su distribución restringida y bajo tamaño poblacional. Athene blewitti es una especie amenazada y endémica al paisaje del centro de India donde se encuentra en bolsillos de hábitat aparentemente desconectados. Otras dos especies de búhos, con una amplia distribución en India, Glaucidium radiatum y Athene brama co-occurren con Athene blewitti. Comprender como la especie utiliza la matriz del hábitat es central para priorizar acciones de conservación. Estudiamos las tres especies a lo largo de una porción extensiva del rango predicho de Athene blewitti usando 350 muestreos. Nuestros resultados indican que la ocupación de Glaucidium radiatum (ψ = 0.5896, SE = 0.08) fue la más alta, seguida por Athene blewitti (ψ = 0.2517, SE = 0.10) y Athene brama (ψ = 0.1781, SE = 0.07). Athene blewitti mostro una preferencia por fragmentos de bosque con árboles grandes, pero no necesariamente con dosel cerrado, así como hábitats abiertos (cobertura de agricultura). En contraste, Athene brama mostró una preferencia por bosque denso y con alta cobertura de dosel. La preferencia por coberturas de agricultura por parte de Athene blewitti provee información importante para nuestro entendimiento de la ecología de e...

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“…The first unconfirmed record was noted during the biodiversity survey of VNP on 30.12.1998 from Kevdi locality (Singh et al 2000). The first confirmed record with photographic evidence was reported from PWS in 2015 (Patel et al 2015). The survey by KP (2015KP ( -2016 has revealed that the species is not restricted to PAs, but widely distributed throughout the Dangs District (Figure 4) and is fairly common in the agricultural fields, along with the teak dominated forest patches.…”

Section: Endemic Bird Species Forest Owlet Athene Blewitti Hume 1873mentioning

confidence: 87%

Birds of Surat-Dangs: a consolidated checklist of 75 years (1944–2020) with special emphasis on noteworthy bird records and bird hotspots from northern Western Ghats of Gujarat, India

Jambu¹,

Patel²

2021

J. Threat. Taxa

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Surat-Dangs, historically known as a Bhil State, is the northernmost tip of Western Ghats in the state of Gujarat. Despite being a part of an endemic bird area and global biodiversity hotspot, avifaunal diversity has been less documented in the landscape. Two protected areas, Purna Wildlife Sanctuary and Vansda National Park, are designated in the landscape. A handful of studies on birds have been conducted after Dr. Salim Ali’s collection in 1944–48. We surveyed the landscape (both protected and non-protected areas) in 2012–13 and 2015–2018 for documentation of the avifaunal diversity. We present a consolidated checklist of birds from our surveys as primary data and all published literature and eBird checklists as secondary data. We have reported a total of 297 bird species belonging to 70 families and 21 orders including the first record of Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon Columba elphinstonii for the State as well as Purna Wildlife Sanctuary. Here, we have re-reported various species, which was suspected to be locally extinct from the protected area or landscape among other noteworthy bird records. We have identified bird-rich localities outside the protected areas based on the survey done by Salim Ali (1944–48) that can be used for future surveys. We also propose the landscape to be declared as an Important Bird Area (IBA) as per Global IBA criteria (A1, A2, & A3), which will pave the milestone for future conservation endeavors in the landscape.

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New distribution record of the Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti Hume, 1873, (Aves: Strigiformes: Strigidae) in Purna Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat, India

Cited by 5 publications

References 1 publication

Quaternary climatic fluctuations and resulting climatically suitable areas for Eurasian owlets

Quaternary climatic fluctuations and resulting climatically suitable areas for Eurasian owlets

Habitat determinants of species occupancy and niche partitioning among sympatric owlets: the paradoxical role of agricultural lands for the endangered Forest Owlet, Athene blewitti

Birds of Surat-Dangs: a consolidated checklist of 75 years (1944–2020) with special emphasis on noteworthy bird records and bird hotspots from northern Western Ghats of Gujarat, India

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