| Title: | Data from: Association of nesting Otus scops (Eurasian Scops Owl) with Xerotyphlops vermicularis (Worm snake) in Türkiye |
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| Authors: | ID Göçer, Elif (Author)
ID Johnson, David H. (Author)
ID Bilgin, Cemal Can (Author)
ID Vrezec, Al (Author) |
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| Files: |  URL - Source URL, visit https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.18931zd98
 ZIP - Research data, download (21,18 KB)
MD5: 5F9CF6B3BCB87B3778FED69A1418697E
 JSON - Metadata, download (4,79 KB)
MD5: 7B505B7DB0237CA950D34ED2357D5588
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| Language: | English |
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| Typology: | 2.20 - Complete scientific database of research data |
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| Organization: |  NIB - National Institute of Biology
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| Abstract: | We report the discovery of a novel relationship between the Eurasian Scops Owl (Otus scops) and the Worm Snake (Xerotyphlops vermicularis) found during systematic nest box inspections spanning six breeding seasons in central Türkiye. The presence of live Worm Snakes was specific only to nest boxes occupied by Eurasian Scops Owls, which delivered snakes alive to the nest boxes. The snakes were found in 44% of 109 owl nests. While there was no significant difference in clutch or brood size between nests with and without snakes, the presence of snakes in the nest significantly improved the survival rate of owl nestlings, from 29% to 61% in nests without and with snakes, respectively. Insectivorous snakes were found both on and within the nesting material, where they might remove commensal and kleptoparasitic insects, e.g., ants and fly larvae. Several research questions emerge from our findings, since non-consumptive interaction between blind snakes and owls is now known from different parts of the globe. Taken together, these studies suggest that behaviors potentially involving cognitive processes could, over evolutionary timescales, facilitate the emergence of mutualistic interactions through selective predation. Owl nests might be beneficial environments for the insectivorous Worm Snake, but it remains to be determined whether owl-snake interactions are a facultative mutualistic relationship or only misdirected predation or even parasitism, primarily beneficial just for the owls. |
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| Keywords: | biological sciences, breeding success, nest kleptoparasites, owl-snake association |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Publication date: | 30.09.2025 |
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| Place of publishing: | Durham |
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| Publisher: | Dryad |
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| Year of publishing: | 2025 |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DiRROS-31894  |
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| DOI: | 10.5061/dryad.18931zd98 |
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| Publication date in DiRROS: | 17.08.2026 |
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| Views: | 79 |
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| Downloads: | 58 |
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| Metadata: |    |
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