Mammalian Remains in the Pellets of Long-eared Owls (Asio otus) in Diyarbakır Province

Authors: SEVEN SEÇKİN, YÜKSEL COŞKUN

Abstract: This study was conducted with the pellets of Long-eared Owls from 2 sites in the area of Dicle University Campus, located in the north-eastern part of Diyarbakır Province, Turkey (lat 37°55'N, long 40°12'E). Pellets were collected at monthly intervals from July 2000 to June 2001 and the remains of 310 prey items were recovered from 211 pellets. The assemblages were composed mostly of small mammals. Eight species of mammals belonging to 2 orders (Insectivora: Crocidura suaveolens, and Rodentia: Microtus guentheri, Microtus sp., Mus musculus, Meriones tristrami, Cricetus cricetus, Rattus rattus, and Nannospalax ehrenbergi) were identified from the Long-eared Owl pellets. Rodentia were found to be dominant, which accounted for 95.48% of the identified remains. The most important part of the Owl's food consisted of mammals, especially Microtines. Microtus guentheri was of particular importance, representing 71.29% of the remains found in the pellets. Living samples of the Crocidura species could not been trapped or observed in this area, but this study shows that the analysis of regurgitated pellets of Long-eared Owls is a valuable tool for inventorying small mammals.

Keywords: Asio otus, Rodentia, Insectivora, pellet, Microtus, mammals, Turkey

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