Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana Paula Machado, Tristan Cumer, Christian Iseli, Emmanuel Beaudoing, Anne-Lyse Ducrest, Melanie Dupasquier, Nicolas Guex, Klaus Dichmann, Rui Lourenco, John Lusby, Hans-Dieter Martens, Laure Prevost, David Ramsden, Alexandre Roulin, Jerome Goudet
Summary: Research suggests that barn owls colonized the British Isles directly from a white-colored refugium in the Iberian Peninsula after the last glaciation, rather than crossing over Doggerland as previously believed. They maintained their white color in the British Isles through low gene flow with the mainland, suggesting neutral processes rather than selection for the contrasting color. This unexpected colonization route may have implications for other species from the paleo community as well.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Segolene Humann-Guilleminot, Shirley Laurent, Pierre Bize, Alexandre Roulin, Gaetan Glauser, Fabrice Helfenstein
Summary: Monitoring the exposure of wildlife to neonicotinoid insecticides, especially in birds, is crucial for assessing potential negative impacts on biodiversity. This study found measurable concentrations of NNIs in feathers of both carnivorous Barn owl and insectivorous Alpine swift, indicating the need for further research on non-granivorous birds and their potential effects.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gabriel Rozman, Ido Izhaki, Alexandre Roulin, Motti Charter
Summary: The study found that barn owls hunt across the Israeli-Jordanian and Israeli-Palestinian borders, highlighting the impact of transboundary frontiers on wildlife. Female owls' nest rest time and hunting distance significantly affect their reproductive success.
REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
(2021)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Mariane G. Delaunay, Motti Charter, Robyn A. Grant
Summary: Many nocturnal avian species have sensitive vibrotactile bristles on their upper bill, with variations in morphology and follicle anatomy. The western barn owl, Tyto alba, also has vibrotactile bristles on both its nares and rictal region, with differences in length and sensitivity. Understanding how T. alba uses its bristles can provide insights into the function of avian bristles in general.
JOURNAL OF ANATOMY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alessandro Nessi, Anna Winkler, Paolo Tremolada, Francesco Saliu, Marina Lasagni, Luca Luigi Mario Ghezzi, Alessandro Balestrieri
Summary: Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging environmental problem that needs careful monitoring. Although MPs have been widely recorded in marine and freshwater ecosystems, there have been few studies on MP occurrence in terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, barn owl pellets were analyzed to assess both barn owl diet and MP content as a non-invasive method for assessing MP contamination in terrestrial ecosystems. The results showed that 33% of the pellets contained MPs, predominantly microfibers. The analysis of barn owl pellets could be a cost-effective method for monitoring MP contamination in terrestrial ecosystems.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Motti Charter, Gabe Rozman
Summary: In agricultural areas, nest boxes placed on trees are used by barn owls the most, followed by those placed on poles in the shade, and those placed on poles in the sun the least. Seasonal variation affects the occupation of nest boxes and breeding success, as more nestlings leave the nest boxes placed in the sun in the early breeding season, and more nestlings leave the nest boxes placed on trees in the later breeding season.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Hermann Wagner, Ina Pappe, Hans-Ortwin Nalbach
Summary: Research shows that adult barn owls' optocollic response is less asymmetric than that of chickens at all tested velocities. Additionally, the response is symmetric at low speeds, resembling that of primates. The response becomes moderately asymmetric at middle-range velocities.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY A-NEUROETHOLOGY SENSORY NEURAL AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kobi Meyrom, Reuven Yosef, Motti Charter
Summary: This study examines the relationship between barn owl roadkills and breeding numbers and success. It finds that roadkill numbers are related to breeding pairs and nestling numbers. It also demonstrates for the first time that barn owl roadkills are density-dependent, emphasizing the importance of monitoring breeding and population numbers in roadkill studies.
Article
Ecology
Allison E. Huysman, Matthew D. Johnson
Summary: The study in the renowned Napa Valley wine-producing region of California shows that installing nest boxes to attract American barn owls can reduce rodent crop damage. After devastating wildfires in 2017, nest box occupancy increased, especially on the edges of the burned areas. This suggests that barn owls play a role in controlling pests in vineyard ecosystems, particularly following wildfire disturbances.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Sema Ozkadif, Ayse Haligur, Mehmet Haligur, Aydin Alan
Summary: The beak structure of birds varies according to their feeding patterns, and the morphology and histology of their tongues also differ. This study examined the macroanatomy, histology, and scanning electron microscopy of the barn owl's tongue. The findings contribute to our understanding of avian anatomical structure and have practical applications in barn owl management and research activities.
MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Dane A. St George, Matthew D. Johnson
Summary: This study provides an estimate of rodent removal and prey composition by using remote nest box cameras, while also testing hypotheses on how habitat influences prey delivery rates and composition. The results indicated that grassland habitat near the nest box and the type of prey delivered were positive predictors of prey delivery rate, with voles, gophers, and mice being the dominant prey species.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
I Roque, R. Lourenco, A. Marques, E. Martinez-Lopez, S. Espin, P. Gomez-Ramirez, A. J. Garcia-Fernandez, A. Roulin, J. E. Rabaca
Summary: This study evaluated feathers as a non-destructive biomonitoring tool and found the concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCP) in the liver. Based on these concentrations, the study checked the trends in pesticide use in two areas. The results showed that the differences in land-use and pesticide use histories between the two locations resulted in varying OCP concentrations.
BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Jialei Song
Summary: The paper investigates the ground effect on the flight performance of a barn owl through high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics modeling. It is found that the ground effect increases the lift/drag ratio and span efficiency, with the span efficiency exceeding one when the ground clearance is 0.8. A vortex induction model is used to estimate aerodynamics under different ground clearances, revealing changes in drag production and streamwise flow induction due to the ground effect.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PART C-JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Hermann Wagner, Ina Pappe, Sandra Brill, Hans-Ortwin Nalbach
Summary: The study found that barn owls have initially asymmetric reflexes after birth, but gradually become symmetric with time, similar to adult barn owls. The binocular horizontal optocollic responses show symmetry in juvenile barn owls, while monocular responses develop at different rates with varying stimulus velocities and directions.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY A-NEUROETHOLOGY SENSORY NEURAL AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Tristan Cumer, Ana Paula Machado, Felipe Siverio, Sidi Imad Cherkaoui, Ines Roque, Rui Lourenco, Motti Charter, Alexandre Roulin, Jerome Goudet
Summary: Islands and the organisms that inhabit them have long been of interest to biologists. The Canary Islands, with its endemic species, is a unique location to study the effect of neutral and adaptive mechanisms on genomic and phenotypical divergence. By analyzing the genomes of barn owls in the Canaries, researchers have identified genetic markers associated with adaptation to insular environments, such as body proportions and blood pressure in the eastern islands, and hypoxia in the western islands. These findings highlight the interplay between neutral and adaptive forces in shaping divergence and early speciation.