Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
4-2014
Journal or Book Title
Condor
Volume
116
First Page
242
Last Page
250
DOI
10.1650/CONDOR-13-167.1
Abstract
Understanding patch dynamics can help scientists better understand metapopulations and the relationships of animals that share a habitat. The Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) is a well-known associate of prairie dog colonies, thereby linking conservation measures that benefit these species. We used occupancy modeling to determine how colony attributes (e.g., size and edge effects) and the loss of prairie dog colonies to sylvatic plague affected the occupancy of those colonies by Burrowing Owls in north-central Montana. We surveyed presence–absence of Burrowing Owls during a 13-yr period (1995–2007) and analyzed the data using a robust-design occupancy model in Program MARK. The proportion of colonies occupied by Burrowing Owls ranged from 0.41 to 0.54 across years while the probability of detecting the owls ranged from 0.22 to 0.92. Contrary to our predictions, colony edge effects and plague epizootics showed only weak or no effects on Burrowing Owl occupancy. Prairie dog colony size had the greatest effect on Burrowing Owl occupancy patterns. Colonization of prairie dog colonies by owls generally increased with colony area, whereas owl extinction initially dropped and then increased as a function of increasing colony area. We found no direct link between Burrowing Owl occupancy of prairie dog colonies and plague history, but our results reaffirmed the importance of colony size. Collectively, this information will help inform future conservation efforts for Burrowing Owls that occupy prairie dog colonies.
Copyright Owner
Cooper Ornithological Society
Copyright Date
2014
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Alverson, Kristen M. and Dinsmore, Stephen J., "Factors affecting Burrowing Owl occupancy of prairie dog colonies" (2014). Natural Resource Ecology and Management Publications. 40.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/nrem_pubs/40
Included in
Animal Diseases Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Systems Biology Commons
Comments
This article is from Condor 116: 242, doi:10.1650/CONDOR-13-167.1. Posted with permission.