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<p>This study investigated the relationship between landscape structure at different distances from the Drava River in South Hungary and the food composition of the Common Barn-owl. Pellets were collected from 15 villages between 2006 and 2008. Based on the CORINE land cover elements, five land use types were determined, and five landscape metrics were calculated to compare land use and landscape structure in the three distance zones. There were significant differences in the Shannon and Simpson diversity of small mammal assemblages between the three areas. A positive relationship was detected between the distance categories and the abundance distribution of the Striped Field Mouse and Field Vole. The relative abundance of the Striped Field Mouse in the diet of Common Barn-owl was influenced by the increase in the mean perimeter/area ratio and the mean of the contiguity index. The value of the trophic level index was negatively influenced by the decrease in crop patches and the increase in pasture and grassland areas, which land use types facilitate the distribution of insectivores. Our results suggest that landscape characteristics influence prey occurrence in hunting areas and the frequency-dependent availability of small mammal prey, which determines the resource utilization of Common Barn-owl.</p>
</abstract>

This study investigated the relationship between landscape structure at different distances from the Drava River in South Hungary and the food composition of the Common Barn-owl. Pellets were collected from 15 villages between 2006 and 2008. Based on the CORINE land cover elements, five land use types were determined, and five landscape metrics were calculated to compare land use and landscape structure in the three distance zones. There were significant differences in the Shannon and Simpson diversity of small mammal assemblages between the three areas. A positive relationship was detected between the distance categories and the abundance distribution of the Striped Field Mouse and Field Vole. The relative abundance of the Striped Field Mouse in the diet of Common Barn-owl was influenced by the increase in the mean perimeter/area ratio and the mean of the contiguity index. The value of the trophic level index was negatively influenced by the decrease in crop patches and the increase in pasture and grassland areas, which land use types facilitate the distribution of insectivores. Our results suggest that landscape characteristics influence prey occurrence in hunting areas and the frequency-dependent availability of small mammal prey, which determines the resource utilization of Common Barn-owl.

Relationship between landscape structure and the diet of Common Barn-owl <italic>(Tyto alba)</italic> at different distances from the Drava River ecological corridor

University of Pécs, Faculty of Science, Institute of Biology

Ornis Hungarica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Relationship between landscape structure and the diet of Common Barn-owl  at different distances from the Drava River ecological corridor

This study investigated the relationship between landscape structure at different distances from the Drava River in South Hungary and the food composition of...

Relationship between landscape structure and the diet of Common Barn-owl (Tyto alba) at different distances from the Drava River ecological corridor

Published Online: Jun 09, 2023

Page range: 88 - 110

Received: May 02, 2023

Accepted: May 17, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2023-0006

Keywords
diet composition, pellet analysis, CORINE land cover, landscape structure

© 2023 Győző F. Horváth et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Relationship between landscape structure and the diet of Common Barn-owl (Tyto alba) at different distances from the Drava River ecological corridor

Published Online: Jun 09, 2023

Page range: 88 - 110

Received: May 02, 2023

Accepted: May 17, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2023-0006

Keywordsdiet composition, pellet analysis, CORINE land cover, landscape structure

© 2023 Győző F. Horváth et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
diet composition, pellet analysis, CORINE land cover, landscape structure