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Bd. 50 Heft 1.Pdf ORNITHOLOGISCHER ANZEIGER Zeitschrift bayerischer und baden-württembergischer Ornithologen Band 50 – Heft 1 Juli 2011 Ornithol. Anz., 50: 1–25 Wühlmäuse (Arvicolinae) als bevorzugte Beute des Uhus Bubo bubo während der Jungenaufzucht in Bayern Andreas Schweiger und Ludwig Lipp Voles (Arvicolinae) as preferred prey of Bavarian Eagle Owls Bubo bubo (L.) during the nestling period. A sufficient choice of prey with adequate size is quoted in numerous surveys about feeding ecolo- gy of the Eurasian Eagle Owl as one of the most important factors allowing the survival of a suc- cessful population. On the other hand a high proportion of small animals in the diet is regarded as an indicator of malnutrition, and a threat to the successful maintenance of the greatest European Owl. Examination of prey items, mainly from the breeding season, over 33 years (1976-2008), in three Bavarian subpopulations of the Eagle Owl reveals a very different and conflicting pattern. Uni- and multivariate statistical evaluation were based on a quantification of food diversity, favoured size of prey and percentage proportion of particular prey items in the diet of fledging Eagle Owls. The results from this survey show a clear preference of Bavarian Eagle Owls for voles (Arvicolinae). The diversity of prey actually declines with increasing proportion of voles. An increasing amount of major prey like waterfowl leads to a greater prey diversity. Even so, comparison between Bavarian sub-populations of Eagle Owl shows both considerable regional differences and clear temporal dif- ferences and changes in prey spectrum, caused e.g. by changes in landuse. In general Bavarian Eagle Owls take small mammals in large quantities while rearing their young. Larger prey items are presumed to increase in importance when voles are scarce or when food requirements increase towards fledging. Key words: Wühlmäuse, voles, Arvicolinae, Uhu, Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo, Nahrungswahl, diversity of prey Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Andreas Schweiger (Schwerpunkt Statistische Auswertung), Adalbert-Stifter-Str. 22, D-82494 Krün E-Mail: [email protected] Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Ludwig Lipp (Initiation; Schwerpunkt Diskussion), Römerstr. 19, D-87648 Aitrang E-Mail: [email protected] 2 Ornithol. Anz., 50, 2011 Einleitung Bislang wird von vielen Autoren angenom- men, dass ein hoher Anteil großer Beutetiere in Neben feldornithologischen Untersuchungen der Nahrung ein erfolgreiches Brutrevier erken- ist bei den Eulen schon seit den 1930er Jahren nen lässt (Görner & Knobloch 1978, Knobloch die Bestimmung der Nahrung populär (Utten- 1979, Donázar 1987). Ein hoher Anteil kleiner dörfer 1939, März 1940). Dies ist sicherlich darin Beutetiere gilt dahingegen als Zeichen für einen begründet, dass die Determination von Wirbel- Mangel an „geeigneten“, größeren Beutetieren tieren anhand der in Gewöllen zurückbleiben- (Donázar 1987). Dalbeck (2005) vermutet im Ge- den, gut erhaltenen Knochenteile relativ einfach gensatz dazu einen positiven Zusammenhang ist. Nachdem einige Jahrzehnte vor allem die zwischen vermehrtem Feldmausvorkommen allgemeine Zusammensetzung der Uhubeute in und der Anzahl sowie der Fitness ausgeflogener verschiedenen geografischen Regionen im Jungvögel, kann diesen in seinen Untersuchun- Fokus der Wissenschaft stand (z. B. Schweizer gen aber nicht sicher statistisch nachweisen. Alpen: Wagner & Springer 1970, Niederöster- Auch andere Kenner der Art vermuten einen reich: Frey 1973, Spanien: Hiraldo et al. 1975 Zusammenhang zwischen erfolgreichen Brut- und Donázar 1987), ist seit mehreren Jahren der jahren des Prädators und dem vermehrten Vor- Schutz frei lebender Uhupopulationen in den kommen von Feldmäusen in seinem Jagdrevier Blickpunkt gerückt. Unter diesem Aspekt ge- (M. Römhild, mündl. Mitt.). winnen nahrungsökologische Untersuchungen In dieser Arbeit wird eine Methode zur Aus- an Bedeutung. Der Erhalt und die weitere Aus- wertung von Beutelisten vorgestellt, die über breitung des bis vor wenigen Jahrzehnten in die Nahrungsdiversität, das mittlere Gesamt- weiten Teilen Mitteleuropas ausgestorbenen Gewicht der Beuteaufsammlungen sowie die Uhus kann vor allem über die Kenntnis seiner Individuenanteile der einzelnen Arten bevor- Ernährung und daraus resultierender Schutz- zugte Beutetiere identifiziert. Mit den hier ange- maßnahmen unterstützt werden. wandten Methoden soll geklärt werden, inwie- In diesem Zusammenhang hat Dalbeck weit der Uhu in Bayern während der Jungen- (2005) Beutelisten von verschiedenen Uhurevie- aufzucht bevorzugt Kleinsäuger (v. a. Wühl- ren in der Eifel ausgewertet. Seine Ergebnisse mäuse) jagt. zeigen, dass klimatische Faktoren die Nah- rungszusammensetzung und den Reproduk- Material und Methoden tionserfolg beeinflussen. Dagegen war zwi- schen der Nahrungswahl und der Kondition Untersuchungsgebiete. Die zur Auswertung der Jungtiere sowie dem Reproduktionserfolg verwendeten Daten zur Nahrungswahl des kein deutlicher Zusammenhang nachzuweisen. Uhus in Bayern stammen hierbei zum größten Nur die Anzahl an Wildkaninchen und Feld- Teil aus drei Gebieten. mäusen in den untersuchten Gewöllen korre- Die Daten zu den Flächenanteilen stammen lierte bei der Auswertung schwach positiv mit aus www.regionalstatistik.de; Bodenfläche nach der Anzahl an Jungtieren. Art der tatsächlichen Nutzung – Stichtag Auch in Bayern ist der Uhu seit längerer Zeit 31.12.2008 – und landwirtschaftliche Betriebe Objekt intensiver Untersuchungen. Bezzel (1976) und landwirtschaftlich genutzte Fläche nach gewährt Einblicke in die Ernährung bayerischer Kulturarten – Erhebungsjahr 2007 –, regionale Uhupopulationen. In Bezzel & Schöpf (1986) Tiefe: Landkreise und kreisfreie Städte. wird die Situation der bayerischen Uhus im ver- Mittlerer Lech (Lkr. WM, LL, 550-800 m ü. gangenen Jahrhundert diskutiert und methodi- NN, Ackerland 14 %, Dauergrünland 35 %, sche Hilfestellung zu deren Erfassung gegeben. Waldfläche 29 %, Gewässerfläche 5 % (inkl. Im Rahmen des Artenhilfsprogramms Uhu Ammersee)): Ein Großteil der Fläche besteht aus des Bayerischen Landesamtes für Umwelt (LfU) den Lebensräumen Wald, Offenland und Ge- werden gezielt Daten zur Fortpflanzungsbiolo- wässer (v. a. Staustufen des Lechs). Die steilen gie und Nahrungswahl des Uhus während der Hänge entlang des Lechs sind meist mit Brut und Jungenaufzucht gesammelt. Das LfU Mischwald bewachsen; sonstige Waldbestände hat den Autoren Auszüge der Daten im Rahmen werden meist von Fichten geprägt. In den um- dieser Arbeit dankenswerterweise zur Auswer- gebenden Moränengebieten herrscht Grünland- tung überlassen. nutzung mit eingestreutem Ackerbau vor; im Schweiger & Lipp: Wühlmäuse (Arvicolinae) als bevorzugte Beute des Uhus Bubo bubo 3 nördlichen Teilbereich nimmt der Ackerbau fach anhand der Form der Extremitätenknochen deutlich zu. Die Brutplätze in diesem Untersu- determinieren. Säugetiere können sehr gut an- chungsgebiet liegen zumeist entlang der steilen hand ihrer Kiefer, Zähne und Schädelknochen Talhänge des dort tief eingeschnittenen Lechs. bestimmt werden. Bei größeren Säugern ist Eine detaillierte Beschreibung dieser Population auch eine Bestimmung mittels der Extremitä- bietet von Lossow (2010). tenknochen möglich. Um Doppelzählungen bei Werdenfelser Land (Lkr. GAP, WM, 650 – ca. den determinierten Beutetieren, vor allem bei 1200 m ü. NN, Ackerland 2 %, Dauergrün- den Kleinnagern zu vermeiden, wurden die land 46 %, Waldfläche 40 %, Gewässerfläche jeweiligen Extremitätenknochen nach Körper- 3 %): Die hier betrachtete Uhupopulation seite sortiert und aus der maximalen Anzahl an kommt im Bereich der auslaufenden Nördli- gleichen Knochen die Individuenanzahl ermit- chen Kalkalpen vor. Die Berghänge sind weitge- telt. Nur im Einzelfall, zum Beispiel bei deutli- hend mit (Berg-) Mischwald bewachsen, wobei chen Größenunterschieden der Extremitäten- im Übergang zwischen Talböden und den steile- knochen (meist bei Beutetieren mit größerem ren Hängen auch Fichtenmonokulturen ange- Habitus), oder bei altersbedingten Unterschie- pflanzt wurden. Die Talböden werden fast aus- den wurde von dieser Methode abgewichen. schließlich grünlandwirtschaftlich genutzt. Es Für die Auswertung im Bezug auf die erbeu- sind natürliche Seen und kleinere Stauseen vor- teten Vögel wurden die erhaltenen Individuen- handen, die größten Gewässer in der Nähe von zahlen aus der Bestimmung der Federn mit de- Brutplätzen sind die Flüsse Isar, Loisach und nen der Knochen verglichen und als Beutetier- Ammer. Die Brutplätze befinden sich v. a. in anzahl für das betrachtete Taxon der jeweils Felswänden und -nischen der Nördlichen Kalk- größere Wert herangezogen. Somit wird das alpen. Problem von Doppelzählungen bei den deter- Südlicher Frankenjura (Lkr. EI, ND, WUG, 400- minierten Vögeln weitestgehend umgangen. Bei 550 m ü. NN, Ackerland 40 %, Dauergrün- den Säugetieren erfolgte die Bestimmung so- land 15 %, Waldfläche 33 %, Gewässerfläche weit möglich bis auf Artniveau. War dies nicht 2 %): Im nördlichsten Untersuchungsgebiet bil- möglich, wurden die nicht näher determinierba- den Buchen und Fichten die Hauptbaumarten ren Individuen dem nächst höherem Taxon in den anthropogen stark beeinflussten Wald- (z. B. Gattung) zugeordnet. Eine detaillierte Be- beständen. Im Offenland wird vor allem Acker- schreibung der angewandten Methode findet bau und Grünlandwirtschaft betrieben. Gewäs- sich in Wagner & Springer (1970) und Frey ser liegen in Form von Bächen und kleineren (1973). Flüssen vor. Die Brutbereiche des Uhus finden Mit den Rohdaten anderer Jahre und Re- sich in Steinbrüchen und in
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