Cavity-tree use and frequency of response to playback by the Tropical Screech-Owl in northwestern Argentina

The Tropical Screech-Owl ( Megascops choliba ) is a nocturnal raptor with a wide distribution across the Neotropics, which uses cavity trees as nesting and roosting sites. Our objectives were to address cavity use by the Tropical Screech-Owl in the piedmont forest of Argentina and to evaluate if log...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNeotropical biology and conservation Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 99 - 107
Main Authors Schaaf, Alejandro A., Tallei, Ever, Politi, Natalia, Rivera, Luis
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Sophia Pensoft Publishers 01.04.2019
Subjects
Cavities
Cavity-nesting birds
Forest conservation
Forest management
Forests
Logging
Megascops choliba
Neotropic
Nesting
Plant species
Playback
Sustainability management
Sustainable forestry
Trees
Tropical forests
Argentina
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Summary:The Tropical Screech-Owl ( Megascops choliba ) is a nocturnal raptor with a wide distribution across the Neotropics, which uses cavity trees as nesting and roosting sites. Our objectives were to address cavity use by the Tropical Screech-Owl in the piedmont forest of Argentina and to evaluate if logging affects the availability of suitable cavities for nesting and roosting and the frequency of response of the species to playback. The Tropical Screech-Owl used trees with DBH values > 46 cm of three tree species (69% Calycophyllum multiflorum , 15% Phyllostylon rhamnoides , and 8% Cedrela angustifolia ), besides standing dead trees (8%). The density of suitable cavities was significantly lower in logged forests than in the control site. The frequency of response of the species to playback was significantly lower at one logged site. Our results can contribute to delineate sustainable forest management to ensure the conservation of this owl in logged forest.
ISSN:2236-3777
1809-9939
2236-3777
DOI:10.3897/neotropical.14.e34839