Predictive mapping of powerful owl (Ninox strenua) breeding sites using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in urban Melbourne, Australia
- Authors: Isaac, Bronwyn , Cooke, Raylene , Simmons, Dianne , Hogan, Fiona
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Landscape and Urban Planning Vol. 84, no. (2008), p. 212-218
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Urban expansion is a principal process threatening biodiversity globally. It is predicted that over half of the world's population will reside in urban centres by 2010. If we are to conserve biodiversity, a shift in perspective from traditional ecological studies based in natural environments, to studies based in less natural environments is paramount. To effectively conserve species which occur in urban environments, comprehensive analysis is necessary to determine the processes that are driving this urban usage. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technology provides a valuable tool for efficient spatial analysis and predictive mapping of species distributions. This study used GIS to analyze current breeding sites for the powerful owl, a vulnerable top order predator in urban Melbourne, Australia. GIS analysis suggests that a number of ecological attributes were influencing powerful owl usage of urban environments. Using these ecological attributes, predictive mapping was undertaken, which identified a number of potential breeding sites for powerful owls within urbanized Melbourne. Urban environments are traditionally perceived as “the wastelands” of natural environments, however, this study demonstrates that they have the potential to support apex predators, an important finding for the management of rare and threatened species.
Powerful owls : possum assassins move into town
- Authors: Cooke, Raylene , Hogan, Fiona , Isaac, Bronwyn , Weaving, Marian , White, John
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Urban Raptors: Ecology and Conservation of Birds of Prey in Cities Chapter 11 p. 152-165
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Once thought to live only in large forested areas, the powerful owl (Ninox strenua), Australia’s largest and most iconic of owls (figure 11.1), surprisingly is now turning up frequently in the cities of eastern Australia. Powerful owls require ample prey and large tree cavities for nest sites how this top-order predator is able to survive in human-dominated landscapes is an important question for conservation and the focus of ongoing research. The powerful owl is endemic to Australia, resident in the three eastern mainland states and the Australian Capital Territory, and classified nationally as “rare.”2,3 First described by Gould in 1838, powerful owls are an unusual raptor in that they do not exhibit reversed sexual size dimorphism, the prevalent trait among raptors in which females are larger than males. For reasons still not understood, male powerful owls grow to a height of 65 cm and weigh up to 1,700 g, compared to females, which grow to a height of 54 cm and weigh up to 1,308 g.1
Urbanization and raptors : trends and research approaches
- Authors: Cooke, Raylene , Hogan, Fiona , Isaac, Bronwyn , Weaving, Marian , White, John
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Urban raptors: ecology and conservation of birds of prey in cities p. 64-75
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Urbanization presents a major global issue for the conservation and survival of many different species. With the increasing footprint of cities and intensification of our use of urban areas, wildlife faces extremely difficult challenges to live there. Understanding how species respond to urban processes and how to design urban landscapes that facilitate species’ presences are major emerging research and management priorities. Despite general negative responses to increasing urbanization, some animal taxa, both native and introduced, appear to benefit from urban environments by capitalizing on novel environments and abundant resources.1 Those that are common in urban systems display particular physical characteristics and ecological traits.2,3,4 They also frequently display a level of behavioral plasticity or tolerance, adjusting their behavior to interact with, and survive in, urban environments.5,6 Termed urban-adaptors,7 these species may exhibit altered spatial,8,9,10 foraging,11,12 and breeding behaviors,13 as detailed in chapter 2.