PREY OF SMALL MAMMAL-EATING OWLS (STRIX NEBULOSA, BUBO BUBO) AS A SOURCE OF THE SELECTIVE ACCUMULATION OF PALAEOTHERIOLOGICAL MATERIAL

摘要

The accumulation of prey remains in the pellets of the Great Grey Owl in the winter and nesting periods was studied over a number of years at the contact of the taiga and northern forested steppe belts in the trans-Urals. Characteristics of the hunting territory and small mammal populations were shown to render varying impacts on the composition and ratio of the types of prey. A comparison with the results of the feeding activity of the Eagle Owl was also made. Published information concerning four places of long-term nesting on rocks in the river valleys of the western slope of the Middle Urals in similar natural conditions was used as well. Selective accumulation of prey remains of these two owl species was revealed to lie in a small number of the main prey species, those mostly populating open habitats. In both owls, mammal species of closed forest (transitional) habitats served as accompanying prey. The Eagle Owl was characterized by a large size range of prey. Special attention was paid to the indicator roles the accompanying prey play in palaeoreconstructions.