Nesting site selection by the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) in rolling pampa agroecosystems

The Burrowing owl is a common raptor species in Pampean agrosystems of Argentina, that builds nests in burrows under the ground. Given the negative effect of expanding soybean crops on avian diversity, it is key to study that effect on habitat selection at multiples scales. We investigated the use o...

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Publicado: 2017
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Acceso en línea:https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_03275477_v27_n3_p375_Pairo
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_03275477_v27_n3_p375_Pairo
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spelling paper:paper_03275477_v27_n3_p375_Pairo2023-06-08T15:33:24Z Nesting site selection by the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) in rolling pampa agroecosystems Agrosystem Habitat selection Nesting site Soybean agricultural ecosystem habitat selection habitat type habitat use home range nest site raptor site selection soybean Argentina Pampas Athene Athene cunicularia Aves Glycine max Raptores Speotyto cunicularia The Burrowing owl is a common raptor species in Pampean agrosystems of Argentina, that builds nests in burrows under the ground. Given the negative effect of expanding soybean crops on avian diversity, it is key to study that effect on habitat selection at multiples scales. We investigated the use of nesting habitat before and after the growing of soybean shoots and nesting site selection after the growing of soybean shoots, at three spatial scales: nest scale (habitat type where the nest was located), nesting site scale (a circle of 50 m radius centered on the nest) and home range (a circle of 600 m radius). Surveys were conducted on secondary roads, searching for nests, and 23 random points were established on the same roads to evaluate nest site selection. Habitat use changed with the spatial scale and stage of crop development. Before the soybean shooting, 63% of nests were located into livestock fields, whereas after the soybean shooting, 55% of nests were located in field edges. At the nesting site scale, the cover of habitat types and distance to fences were similar before and after soybean shooting. At the home range scale, Burrowing Owl nested in stubble area and in cropfields before and after soybean shooting, respectively. The Burrowing Owl selected field edges to locate the nest, avoided the proximity of roads and woodlots at the nesting site scale, and selected home ranges close to fences and avoiding trees. We recommend maintaining edges of cropfields with unmanaged vegetation to provide nesting habitat for burrowing owls. © 2017, Asociacion Argentina de Ecologia. All rights reserved. 2017 https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_03275477_v27_n3_p375_Pairo http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_03275477_v27_n3_p375_Pairo
institution Universidad de Buenos Aires
institution_str I-28
repository_str R-134
collection Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA)
topic Agrosystem
Habitat selection
Nesting site
Soybean
agricultural ecosystem
habitat selection
habitat type
habitat use
home range
nest site
raptor
site selection
soybean
Argentina
Pampas
Athene
Athene cunicularia
Aves
Glycine max
Raptores
Speotyto cunicularia
spellingShingle Agrosystem
Habitat selection
Nesting site
Soybean
agricultural ecosystem
habitat selection
habitat type
habitat use
home range
nest site
raptor
site selection
soybean
Argentina
Pampas
Athene
Athene cunicularia
Aves
Glycine max
Raptores
Speotyto cunicularia
Nesting site selection by the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) in rolling pampa agroecosystems
topic_facet Agrosystem
Habitat selection
Nesting site
Soybean
agricultural ecosystem
habitat selection
habitat type
habitat use
home range
nest site
raptor
site selection
soybean
Argentina
Pampas
Athene
Athene cunicularia
Aves
Glycine max
Raptores
Speotyto cunicularia
description The Burrowing owl is a common raptor species in Pampean agrosystems of Argentina, that builds nests in burrows under the ground. Given the negative effect of expanding soybean crops on avian diversity, it is key to study that effect on habitat selection at multiples scales. We investigated the use of nesting habitat before and after the growing of soybean shoots and nesting site selection after the growing of soybean shoots, at three spatial scales: nest scale (habitat type where the nest was located), nesting site scale (a circle of 50 m radius centered on the nest) and home range (a circle of 600 m radius). Surveys were conducted on secondary roads, searching for nests, and 23 random points were established on the same roads to evaluate nest site selection. Habitat use changed with the spatial scale and stage of crop development. Before the soybean shooting, 63% of nests were located into livestock fields, whereas after the soybean shooting, 55% of nests were located in field edges. At the nesting site scale, the cover of habitat types and distance to fences were similar before and after soybean shooting. At the home range scale, Burrowing Owl nested in stubble area and in cropfields before and after soybean shooting, respectively. The Burrowing Owl selected field edges to locate the nest, avoided the proximity of roads and woodlots at the nesting site scale, and selected home ranges close to fences and avoiding trees. We recommend maintaining edges of cropfields with unmanaged vegetation to provide nesting habitat for burrowing owls. © 2017, Asociacion Argentina de Ecologia. All rights reserved.
title Nesting site selection by the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) in rolling pampa agroecosystems
title_short Nesting site selection by the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) in rolling pampa agroecosystems
title_full Nesting site selection by the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) in rolling pampa agroecosystems
title_fullStr Nesting site selection by the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) in rolling pampa agroecosystems
title_full_unstemmed Nesting site selection by the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) in rolling pampa agroecosystems
title_sort nesting site selection by the burrowing owl (athene cunicularia) in rolling pampa agroecosystems
publishDate 2017
url https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_03275477_v27_n3_p375_Pairo
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_03275477_v27_n3_p375_Pairo
_version_ 1768546350398439424