Little Owl Aggression and Territory in Urban and Rural Landscapes
1
Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, PL 20-950 Lublin, Poland
2
Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, Prof. Szafrana St. 1, PL 65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland
3
Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic
4
Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL 31-120 Kraków, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2024, 14(2), 267; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14020267
Submission received: 31 October 2023
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Revised: 8 January 2024
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Accepted: 9 January 2024
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Published: 15 January 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Owls' Responses to Environmental Challenges)
Simple Summary
In this study, we explored the territorial displays of Little Owls in urban and rural areas. Specifically, we compared the size of territories between urban and rural landscapes, investigating the main characteristics (e.g., land use composition, altitude) that characterize territories of the species in both types of landscapes. Overall, territories were smaller in urban than in rural areas, with a relatively different land use composition. Finally, even though the rate of territorial displays was similar between urban and rural territories, individuals used various types of structures differentially. Our findings provide new insight concerning the conservation of Little Owls in anthropized areas.
Abstract
Urbanization is a major land use change across the globe with vast effects on wildlife. In this paper, we studied (1) the territorial displays of Little Owls in urban and rural landscapes, analyzing also (2) the size and habitat composition of the territories, and (3) the factors affecting territory size in both landscapes. To do that, we used t-tests, Principal Components Analysis, and General Linear mixed model procedures. The territory size was smaller in urban than in rural landscapes. Urban territories of Little Owls are characterized by a lower cover of grassland, tall crops, short crops, gardens, and orchards, as well as a higher cover of built-up areas than territories in rural landscapes. Territory size in rural landscapes was negatively correlated with seasonal progress and positively correlated with altitude. The rate of territorial displays was similar between urban and rural territories; however, birds differentially utilized various structures. In urban territories, birds mostly used buildings, whereas in rural territories, birds used electric pylons and trees. The compositional differences between territories in the two landscapes may have important consequences for other behavior types and possibly reproductive output in this species.
