Northern Spotted Owls: Influence of Prey Base‐‐A Comment

摘要: Conflicts between the needs of Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) and maintenance a timber-based economy in Pacific Northwest have motivated research on habitat area requirements owl. The has been studied extensively throughout its range consistently found to select older forest stands for foraging, roosting, nesting (reviewed Thomas et al. [1990]). At least six hypotheses proposed account selection forests by Owls (Forsman 1977, 1982, 1984, Carey 1990, 1992, Rosenberg Anthony 1992). Two these relate their prey. prey suggest that are more available either or both two mechanisms: (1) simply abundant (prey abundance hypothesis), (2) efficiently hunted because an increase ability owls forage through open understory structure availability hypothesis). (1992) recently reported associations Oregon Washington. They concluded across landscape determined carrying capacity within-landscape features such as stand age fragmentation affected demographic characteristics flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus) dusky-footed bushy-tailed woodrats (Neotoma fuscipes N. cinerea, respectively) most common range, constituting majority biomass consumed 1984). northern were forests, populations