Abundancia relativa y dieta del Búho Terrestre Athene cunicularia punensis (Chapman, 1914) en las zonas circundantes de la Comuna Atahualpa, Provincia de Santa Elena, Ecuador.
Fecha
2015
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Athene cunicularia es una especie con amplia distribución en el continente americano, sin embargo en Ecuador poco se sabe acerca de su biología, ecología y estatus de conservación. En este estudio se analizó la dieta consumida utilizando las egagrópilas, y se estimó su abundancia relativa en la Comuna Atahualpa. Se presenta un análisis de 300 egagrópilas recolectadas en 11 nidos de Athene cunicularia punensis durante los meses de septiembre del 2013 hasta febrero del 2014 en los alrededores de la comuna Atahualpa, provincia de Santa Elena. Se identificaron un total de 2.274 restos correspondientes a 31 especies pertenecientes a 22 familias identificadas. De los cuales el 54.42% corresponden a ortópteros, escorpiones con el 19.47%, coleópteros con el 13.05%, roedores con el 11.73%, los squamata con 0.44%, arañas e himenópteros con 0.31% cada uno, estrigiformes y lepidópteros con 0.09% en cada orden, paseriformes y marsupiales con 0.04% para cada caso. Demostrando que la especie se comporta como un depredador generalista. La especie más consumida durante todos los meses de estudio fue Gryllus sp., el vertebrado que más biomasa aportó fue Mus musculus y las variaciones climáticas en la zona de estudio no influyeron significativamente en la dieta. Para la estima de abundancia relativa se utilizaron dos metodologías de censo: (1) método libre de búsqueda intensiva y (2) método de puntos de conteo con modificaciones del protocolo de monitoreo nocturno de Takats. Para la primera metodología se cubrió un total de 300 ha encontrando 28 individuos repartidos en 12 nidos, obteniendo una abundancia relativa de 0.09 individuos por hectárea, y para el método de conteo por puntos se recorrió un total de 23.56
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ha encontrando un promedio de 3.66 individuos, obteniendo una abundancia relativa de 0.15 individuos por hectárea. La especie es abundante en el área de estudio debido a su comportamiento gregario y porque la geomorfología del área de estudio presenta un entorno ideal para la especie. Hasta la fecha no se ha encontrado datos de otros estudios de abundancia relativa para esta subespecie en todo el país con la cual se pueda comparar los datos aquí presentados.
Athene cunicularia is a species with a wide distribution in the Americas; however, in Ecuador its biology, ecology and conservation status are not very known. In this study the diet consumed was analyzed using pellets, and their relative abundance was estimated at the Atahualpa Commune. This study shows an analysis of 300 pellets collected from 11 Athene cunicularia punensis, burrows between the months of September 2013 to February 2014, around Atahualpa village, in Santa Elena province (Ecuador). I identified 2274 remains of preys belonging to 33 species from 22 families identified, which 54.42% were orthoptera, scorpions with 19.47%, coleoptera 13.05%, micromammals 11.73%, lizards 0.44%, spiders and hymenoptera with 0.31 each ones, Strigiformes and Lepidoptera with 0.09% for each order and Passeriformes and marsupials 0.04% each case, showing that species behaves as a generalist predator. The main species consumed during all the months of study was Gryllus sp., and the ix vertebrate with more biomass was Mus musculus, and climatic variations in the study area did not significantly influence the diet. For estimates of relative abundance were used two census methodologies: (1) free method of intensive search, and (2) method of counting points with Takats protocol modifications. For the first one, was covered an area of 300 ha, founding 28 owls in 12 burrows, giving a relative abundance of 0.09 owls for hectare, and for the second ones was cover a total area of 23.56 ha, founding an average of 3.66 owls, giving a relative abundance of 0.15 owls for hectare. In the study area the species is abundant, due to herd behavior and because the geomorphology of the study area presents an ideal environment for the species. Until now, it doesn´t been found other study of relative abundance for this sub-specie in the country, with which these data can be compared.
Athene cunicularia is a species with a wide distribution in the Americas; however, in Ecuador its biology, ecology and conservation status are not very known. In this study the diet consumed was analyzed using pellets, and their relative abundance was estimated at the Atahualpa Commune. This study shows an analysis of 300 pellets collected from 11 Athene cunicularia punensis, burrows between the months of September 2013 to February 2014, around Atahualpa village, in Santa Elena province (Ecuador). I identified 2274 remains of preys belonging to 33 species from 22 families identified, which 54.42% were orthoptera, scorpions with 19.47%, coleoptera 13.05%, micromammals 11.73%, lizards 0.44%, spiders and hymenoptera with 0.31 each ones, Strigiformes and Lepidoptera with 0.09% for each order and Passeriformes and marsupials 0.04% each case, showing that species behaves as a generalist predator. The main species consumed during all the months of study was Gryllus sp., and the ix vertebrate with more biomass was Mus musculus, and climatic variations in the study area did not significantly influence the diet. For estimates of relative abundance were used two census methodologies: (1) free method of intensive search, and (2) method of counting points with Takats protocol modifications. For the first one, was covered an area of 300 ha, founding 28 owls in 12 burrows, giving a relative abundance of 0.09 owls for hectare, and for the second ones was cover a total area of 23.56 ha, founding an average of 3.66 owls, giving a relative abundance of 0.15 owls for hectare. In the study area the species is abundant, due to herd behavior and because the geomorphology of the study area presents an ideal environment for the species. Until now, it doesn´t been found other study of relative abundance for this sub-specie in the country, with which these data can be compared.
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DIETA, ATHENE CUNICULARIA PUNENSIS