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Using the diet of the barn owl (Tyto alba) as an indicator of small vertebrate abundance in the Channel Country, south-western Queensland
Citation
McDowell, MC and Medlin, GC, Using the diet of the barn owl (Tyto alba) as an indicator of small vertebrate abundance in the Channel Country, south-western Queensland, Australian Mammalogy, 31, (2) pp. 75-80. ISSN 0310-0049 (2009) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2009 Australian Mammal Society
DOI: doi:10.1071/AM08116
Abstract
The diet of the barn owl (Tyto alba) was determined by analysing pellets and bulk pellet debris found in the ruins of Baryulah Homestead, south-western Queensland. Nine species of mammal, at least eight bird, five reptile and three frog species were identified. The majority of prey consisted of small mammals and was dominated by Mus musculus, which accounted for almost 40 Prey Unit percent (PU%) of all prey. Rattus villosissimus was an important secondary prey species, which, due to its comparatively large mass, contributed 21.79 PU%. Other native mammals were present in low frequency only. Reptiles (primarily geckos) were more abundant than expected, collectively contributing >15 PU%, suggesting that they were an important component of the barn owl’s diet.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Research Division: | Environmental Sciences |
| Research Group: | Environmental Science and Management |
| Research Field: | Conservation and Biodiversity |
| Objective Division: | Environment |
| Objective Group: | Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity |
| Objective Field: | Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity at Regional or Larger Scales |
| UTAS Author: | McDowell, MC (Dr Matthew McDowell) |
| ID Code: | 132409 |
| Year Published: | 2009 |
| Deposited By: | Plant Science |
| Deposited On: | 2019-05-07 |
| Last Modified: | 2019-08-20 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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