Abstract
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.
Highlights
Many bird species depend on the presence of cavities for nesting, sheltering or roosting (Martin et al 2004; Collias & Collias, 2014)
The abundance of these birds might be affected if the numbers of available cavities decrease (LaManna and Martin, 2017; Van der Hoek et al 2017)
Unsustainable logging can decrease the abundance of available cavities (Politi et al 2012), it is important to assess the impact of this economic activity on biodiversity, especially in tropical and subtropical forests of the Neotropics, where the area under logging has increased (Hansen et al 2013; Van der Hoek et al 2017)
Summary
Many bird species depend on the presence of cavities for nesting, sheltering or roosting (Martin et al 2004; Collias & Collias, 2014). The Tropical Screech-Owl (Megascops choliba; Strigidae) is a nocturnal raptor which uses cavities as nesting sites and has a large distribution range from Costa Rica to central Argentina (Holt et al 1999; Trejo et al 2012).
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