@article{article_547018, title={Investigation on Diet of Long-Eared Owl (Asio Otus) Inhabiting Fatih Natural Park (Turkey)}, journal={Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi}, volume={8}, pages={859–865}, year={2019}, DOI={10.17798/bitlisfen.547018}, author={Yorulmaz, Tarkan and Arslan, Nurhan}, keywords={Asio otus,Diet,pellets,small mammals,Yozgat}, abstract={<span lang="en-us" style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:’Times New Roman’, serif;" xml:lang="en-us">Pellet analyses were used to identify small
mammal species in the diet of this owl species in order to reveal its
ecological role. In this study, 706 pellets of <i>Asio otus </i> were collected from 3 different localities in Fatih
Natural Park between February and March 2014. Pellets were dissolved by using
3% NaOH solution and then bones were dehydrated and identified. The aim of this
study was to determine mammal composition in the diet of <i>Asio otus </i> inhabiting Fatih Natural Park of Yozgat Province, Turkey.
Residues of bone from 1293 individuals/preys corresponding to 42377.41 g biomass in total were
detected as the result of analysis. These individuals were identified to
belonging to 12 mammal species ( <i>Crocidura
suaveolens </i>, <i>Suncus etruscus </i>, <i>Microtus hartingi/lydius </i>, <i>Microtus levis </i>, <i>Microtus </i>sp., <i>Cricetulus migratorius </i>, <i>Mesocricetus brandti </i>, <i>Apodemus </i> sp., <i>Apodemus sylvaticus </i>, <i>Apodemus
whitherbyi </i>, <i>Mus macedonicus </i>, and <i>Meriones tristrami </i>) from 3 families and
8 genera. <i>Microtus hartingi/lydius, </i>
which is known as agricultural pest, was dominant in the diet of <i>Asio otus </i>. When diversity of mammal
species within the food composition was examined, <i>Asio otus </i> nesting in forest was found to primarily prefer
agricultural and steppe areas, and was also found in woody and bushy areas. The
use of <i>Asio otus </i> can be taken into
consideration when dealing with rodent species known as agricultural pests. </span>}, number={3}, publisher={Bitlis Eren University}