Realized ecological niche of the Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) in Mexico

Objective: To characterize the realized niche of the Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) and compare the environmental values it uses within the Mexican physiographic provinces. Design/methodology/approach: The environmental temperature variables (n7), precipitation (n7) and elevation (n1) were extracted from 79 unique occurrences sites of S. o. lucida. These values were grouped by physiographic provinces: Sierra Madre Occidental (n59), Sierra Madre Oriental (n13) and Transverse Neovolcanic Belt (n6). The climate and elevation of these sites were described and compared via non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis and Bonferroni-Dunn tests (P0.05). Results: The presences of the spotted owls were both, dispersed and focally distributed, over the geographic space in Mexico. The temperature and elevation variables have similar characteristics in the assessed physiographic provinces. To be noted, the precipitation variables showed significant differences among sites.Limitations on study/implications: This study describes the environmental characteristics of the realized niche of the Mexican spotted owl; however, it is necessary to investigate other habitat variables at a smaller scale. Findings/conclusions: The temperature and elevation environmental characteristics of the ecological niche of the Mexican spotted owl was similar between physiographic provinces