Journal article
Stable isotopes reveal unexpected relationships between fire history and the diet of Spotted Owls
Ibis (London, England), Vol.163(1), pp.253-259
01/01/2021
DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12832
Abstract
Although the effects of shifting fire regimes on bird populations have been recognized as important to ecology and conservation, the consequences of fire for trophic interactions of avian species - and raptors in particular - remain relatively unknown. Here, we found that within national parks with long-standing (40+ years) fire management programmes, California Spotted Owls Strix occidentalis occidentalis consumed predominantly Woodrats Neotoma spp. and Pocket Gophers Thomomys spp.; however, in contrast to our predictions, when their territories experienced more extensive and frequent fire, Spotted Owls consumed proportionally more Flying Squirrels Glaucomys oregonensis. We hypothesize this finding could have been driven by either changes to prey abundance following fires (e.g. increases in flying squirrels) or changes to prey availability (e.g. shifts in forest structure or flying squirrel spatial distribution that increased predation upon them by owls). Our work thus demonstrates that fire may have unexpected consequences for the trophic interactions of raptor species and provides valuable information for the conservation of Spotted Owls in fire-prone forest landscapes.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Stable isotopes reveal unexpected relationships between fire history and the diet of Spotted Owls
- Creators
- Brendan K. Hobart - University of Wisconsin–MadisonH. Anu Kramer - University of Wisconsin–MadisonGavin M. Jones - University of Wisconsin–MadisonBrian P. Dotters - Sierra Engineering (United States)Sheila A. Whitmore - University of Wisconsin–MadisonJohn J. Keane - Pacific Southwest Research StationM. Zachariah Peery - University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Ibis (London, England), Vol.163(1), pp.253-259
- DOI
- 10.1111/ibi.12832
- ISSN
- 0019-1019
- eISSN
- 1474-919X
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- Sierra Pacific Industries Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station; United States Department of Agriculture (USDA); United States Forest Service USDA Forest Service Region 5
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/2021
- Academic Unit
- School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability
- Record Identifier
- 9985219301702771
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