The Effects of Land-use and Landscape Structure on Barn Owl (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tyto alba</Emphasis>) Breeding Success in Southern England,U.K. |
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Authors: | Georgina?Bond Niall?G?Burnside Daniel?J?Metcalfe Email author" target="_blank">Dawn?M?ScottEmail author John?Blamire |
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Institution: | (1) School of the Environment, BERG, University of Brighton, Cockcroft Building, Moulsecoomb, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 4GJ, UK;(2) Biology Division, BERG, University of Brighton, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 4GJ, UK;(3) Rother Valley Project, C/o Sussex Downs Conservation Board, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9QX, UK |
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Abstract: | To aid effective conservation and management there is a need to understand the effect of landscape on species ecology. The
aim of this research was to assess the effect of landscape parameters on breeding success of barn owls throughout the Rother
and Arun River catchments, Sussex, UK. We used a Geographic Information System to describe the habitat mosaic and landscape
structure within an estimated home range area of 3 km2 around 85 artificial nest box sites. Results showed that land cover was less heterogeneous at successful sites, with home
ranges dominated by a few habitat types of regular patch shapes. Unsuccessful nesting sites had significantly more improved
grassland, suburban land and wetlands than successful sites. Cluster analysis and Principle Components Analysis was used to
assess the similarity of the habitat mosaic within these areas and pellet analysis was undertaken to assess barn owl diet
and prey availability. Ten prey species were recovered from pellets, field vole (Microtus agrestis), common shrews (Sorex araneus) and house mice (Mus musculus) making up nearly 90% of recoveries. However box sites varied in relative proportions of small mammal, and hence prey availability.
Results indicated that land use and landscape structure can affect breeding success in barn owls. Higher levels of poor quality
small mammal habitat were associated with unsuccessful sites. However, at a landscape scale, the habitat mosaic across the
study area lacked variation, limiting analysis and clear correlations between habitat type and positive breeding success,
suggesting that a finer scale was needed in future studies utilising this approach. |
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Keywords: | Barn owl Cluster analysis GIS Habitat mosaic Landscape structure Nest box Pellet analysis |
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