A preliminary assessment of the relationship between trophic variability in southern African Barn Owls Tyto alba and climate

The proximate purpose of the study was to investigate the possibility that micromammalian remains from archaeological sites could provide quantified data concerning past climates. Proportions of micromammalian taxa represented in Barn Owl pellets recovered from 111 roost sites in Africa south of 22 degrees S were analysed with climate variables to determine whether there was any relationship between the two. Preliminary results indicate that some taxa, notably the gerbils Gerbillinae and Gerbillurus and mice Mastomys, will be capable of providing such data, it is clear, however, that careful attention must be paid to the compilation of the database and the nature of the evidence bring employed. The disturbed nature of much vegetation in the region must be taken into consideration but it is probable that the effects of disturbance can be characterised and therefore discounted.