The diet of the Long-eared Owls, Asio otus, in the desert of northwest China |
| |
| Authors: | M Shao N Liu |
| |
| Institution: | School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Tianshui road 222, Lanzhou 730000, China |
| |
| Abstract: | The contents of regurgitated Long-eared Owls (Asio otus) pellets collected in Minqin Desert Experimental Research Station of northwestern China were analysed. A total of 303 individuals representing five species of rodents and one of bird were identified in the pellets. By frequency, the most common species taken by Long-eared Owls was Meriones meridianus, followed by Cricetulus barabensis and Phodopus roborovskii. By biomass, Meriones meridianus was the most important species taken, followed by C. barabensis and Rhombomys opimus. Our results suggest that the Long-eared Owls were nocturnal hunters and fed on a wide range of animals with respect to their habitats. |
| |
| Keywords: | Asio otus Meriones meridianus Pellets Strigiformes Rodents |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ |
|
