OWLS OF THE BIOSPHERE RESERVE "ASKANIA NOVA" (SPECIES DIVERSITY, HABITAT CHARACTER AND CERTAIN ASPECTS OF ECOLOGY)

Abstract

Out of 7 species of Strigiformes that have been registered in the reserve over the course of a century, 5 are now found. These are birds of various faunogetic complexes that demonstrate adaptive reactions to changes in the steppe environment under the influence of humans. Asio otus (Linnaeus, 1758) is dominant in terms of numbers, and Asio flammeus (Pontoppidan, 1763) is subdominant. The ecological niches of these species partially overlap on the border of the steppe ecosystem with forest strips and a dendrological park. In recent years, there has been a progressive increase in the number of Otus scops (Linnaeus, 1758) and the Athene noctua (Scopoli, 1769). Tyto alba (Scopoli, 1769) is a nesting species, but the future situation cannot be predicted. Human activities and biological factors are among the most important factors affecting the owl population of the reserve. Human activity is associated with the creation of forest strips, plowing of fallows, poisoning of mouse-like rodents, the decline of the livestock industry, and the destruction of old agricultural premises. Biological factors are the number of victims of owls, the presence of nesting platforms created by such species as magpies Pica pica L., rooks Corvus frugilegus L., gray crows Corvus cornix L., and woodpeckers, voids for nesting in agricultural and other structures, natural movements of habitats associated with global processes.