Scientific advances of the Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida Nelson 1903)

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate quantitatively the research trends of the Mexican Spotted Owl.

Design/methodology/approach: Scientific articles published between 2012 and February 2020 for the Mexican spotted owl were analyzed. The content of each article was classified into nine categorical variables: 1) biological description, 2) habitat, 3) distribution and abundance, 4) dispersion and movement, 5) diet and prey, 6) genetics and reproduction, 7) threats, 8) predictive models and 9) others. The published information was classified into similar groups by means of a hierarchical cluster analysis. Subsequently, were calculated and graphed the frequency and proportional representation of each attribute generated by country.

Results: Of the 23 scientific articles analyzed, the most studied attribute was habitat. The hierarchical cluster analysis grouped all the published information into five representative topics: a) habitat relationships, b) threats, c) distribution, d) bibliographic review and e) population relationship. The United States was the country with the highest scientific contribution. However, in the last three years of the period studied, publications in Mexico increased.

Limitations on study/implications: This study analyzes the research trends of the Mexican spotted owl and provides an overview for future research.

Findings/conclusions: There is little published information for this spotted owl subspecies. Although the characteristics of the habitat are widely described; it is necessary to venture into more complex ecological phenomena.