Estudo das populações de pequenos mamíferos através da análise de egagrópilas de coruja-das-torres (Tyto alba)
Resumo
O estudo das populações de pequenos mamíferos pode ser efetuado através de métodos diretos que envolvem a sua captura através de armadilhas, e métodos indiretos não invasivos como a armadilhagem fotográfica, a prospeção e recolha de índicos de presença e análise de egagrópilas de coruja-das-torres. A coruja-das-torres (Tyto alba) é uma ave de rapina noturna com distribuição global, com exceção das regiões árticas. Esta espécie alimenta-se preferencialmente de pequenos mamíferos que são ingeridos inteiros, as estruturas ósseas e o pelo não são digeridos durante o processo digestivo e são posteriormente regurgitados sob a forma de uma massa ovoide, designada de egagrópila. O conteúdo das egagrópilas contem todas as estruturas não digeridas da presa e a identificação das espécies de pequenos mamíferos é efetuada através da sua dentição. A análise da dieta alimentar da coruja-das-torres reflete a diversidade e abundância de pequenos mamíferos capturados no seu território de caça, sendo um método valiosos e amplamente utilizado para estimar a abundância relativa das presas numa determinada região. Existem numerosas espécies de pequenos mamíferos que podem ser estudados no norte de Portugal, nomeadamente da ordem Soricomorpha o musaranho-de-dentes-brancos (Crocidura russula), o musaranho-de-dentes-vermelhos (Sorex granarius), e da ordem Rodentia o rato-cego (Microtus lusitanicus), o rato-do-campo-lusitano (Microtus rozianus) e o rato-de-Cabrera (Microtus cabrerae).
As populações de pequenos mamíferos entre as diferentes regiões bioclimática de Portugal são importantes para estudar as populações de roedores e avaliar estratégias de conservação que considerem as particularidades climáticas e ambientais de cada região. Proteger os habitats naturais das regiões é crucial para manter a biodiversidade e assegurar a sobrevivência das espécies, numa lógica de desenvolvimento sustentável.
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Direitos de Autor (c) 2025 João Soares Carrola, Sofia Bettencourt, Hélia Vale-Gonçalves, Rafael Ferreira

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