Abstract

A suite of studies conducted in the northern hemisphere has shown that owls possess useful characteristics as biodiversity surrogates in forested ecosystems (see Sergio et al. 2008). For example, owls represent the apex of food chains thus regulate populations of other species cascading down through the ecosystem, require large areas that cover populations of other less area-demanding species, provide resource facilitation, often select areas with high structural complexity and they provide early indications of habitat disturbance (Sergio, Marchesi & Pedrini 2004; Sergio, Newton & Marchesi 2008). However, little is known whether forest owls could be used as reliable biodiversity surrogates in the southern hemisphere. To meet their niche requirements, forest owls usually require different habitat patches for breeding and foraging, and thus they select habitat features from the stand- to the landscape-level (Flesch and Steidl, 2010). Therefore, multi-scale approaches can be useful to identify: (a) relevant scales concerning individual perception of the environment so as to generate habitat suitability models (Martínez et al., 2003; Sergio et al., 2003), and (b) the level of sensitivity of species in habitats subject to rapid degradation and fragmentation. The overall goal of our project for 2014-2015 is to further the research program on nocturnal raptor ecology and conservation in South American temperate forests. Specifically, we aim to: 1. Conduct analyses and write scientific papers and book chapters (with data collected over the last three years) on: a. efficiency of owls as biodiversity surrogates. b. habitat selection patterns of forest owls. 2. Present research outcomes at international academic conferences. 3. Collect habitat data to assess further habitat selection processes in forest owls and other cavity-nesting species. 4. Organize and lead a Scientific Symposium about “ethno-ornithology and human dimensions of raptors and other birds for their conservation” at the XI Chilean Ornithological Conference.