Hunting habitat use and selection patterns of barn owl (Tyto alba) in the urban-agricultural setting of a prominent wine grape growing region of California

Author

Xeronimo A. CastanedaFollow

Graduation Date

Summer 2018

Document Type

Thesis

Program

Master of Science degree with a major in Natural Resources, option Wildlife

Committee Chair Name

Dr. Matthew Johnson

Committee Chair Affiliation

HSU Faculty or Staff

Second Committee Member Name

Dr. Jeff Black

Second Committee Member Affiliation

HSU Faculty or Staff

Third Committee Member Name

Dr. William " Tim" Bean

Third Committee Member Affiliation

HSU Faculty or Staff

Keywords

Habitat selection, Ecosystem service, Vineyards, California, Tyto alba

Subject Categories

Wildlife

Abstract

Large scale conversion of uncultivated land to agriculture threatens wildlife and can diminish ecosystem services provided by nature. Understanding how wildlife provision ecosystem services may incentivize wildlife conservation in agricultural landscapes. Attracting barn owls (Tyto alba) to nest on farms for pest management has been documented worldwide, but has not been thoroughly evaluated in vineyard agroecosystems. Napa Valley, California is a renowned winegrape growing region, and viticulturists encourage barn owl occupancy to help minimize plant damage from pocket gophers (Thomomys bottae) and voles (Microtus spp.). This study aimed to establish a basis for revealing the abilities of a predator to provide an ecosystem service to farmers by modelling space and time use of selected habitats. I constructed intensity of use and home range-movement maps using a Time Local Convex Hull (T-LoCoH) analysis from location data obtained from nesting owls. I found that barn owls selected uncultivated habitats when hunting, some of which were relatively rare on the landscape. Though owls did not use them in proportion to their availability, approximately one third of barn owl hunting locations occurred in vineyards. A final analysis showed that the owls’ use of vineyards increased with decreasing amount of preferred uncultivated habitat in the landscape. However, as reported by a previous study, occupancy of nest boxes in vineyards increases with uncultivated habitats nearby. Future research should model landscape composition to determine the amount of preferred habitat necessary to support occupancy as well as hunting in vineyards.

Citation Style

APA

Recommended Citation

Castaneda, Xeronimo A., "Hunting habitat use and selection patterns of barn owl (Tyto alba) in the urban-agricultural setting of a prominent wine grape growing region of California" (2018). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 177.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/177