Description
Data Records
The data in this occurrence resource has been published as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A), which is a standardized format for sharing biodiversity data as a set of one or more data tables. The core data table contains 3,491 records.
This IPT archives the data and thus serves as the data repository. The data and resource metadata are available for download in the downloads section. The versions table lists other versions of the resource that have been made publicly available and allows tracking changes made to the resource over time.
Versions
The table below shows only published versions of the resource that are publicly accessible.
How to cite
Researchers should cite this work as follows:
Rodríguez-Rodríguez E J, Matutano J, Calzada J, Freixas L, Fernández-López J, Palomo J, Rouco C, Santoro S, Román J (2026). Small Mammals – Owl Pellet Analysis – Spain – 2016–2025 – MOMAT Project. Version 2.1. Sociedad Ibérica para la Conservación y Estudio de los Mamíferos (SECEM). Occurrence dataset. https://doi.org/10.15470/juv2ew
Rights
Researchers should respect the following rights statement:
The publisher and rights holder of this work is Sociedad Ibérica para la Conservación y Estudio de los Mamíferos (SECEM). This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY 4.0) License.
GBIF Registration
This resource has been registered with GBIF, and assigned the following GBIF UUID: 6abff166-426c-468c-bd00-e359cbbe1321. Sociedad Ibérica para la Conservación y Estudio de los Mamíferos (SECEM) publishes this resource, and is itself registered in GBIF as a data publisher endorsed by GBIF Spain.
Keywords
Occurrence; Observation
Contacts
- Metadata Provider ●
- Originator
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1170-0788
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- Point Of Contact
Geographic Coverage
The study area encompasses the entire Spanish territory, including the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla.
| Bounding Coordinates | South West [-90, -180], North East [90, 180] |
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Temporal Coverage
| Start Date / End Date | 2016-01-01 / 2025-01-01 |
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Project Data
State and EU regulations require Member States to monitor, track, and assess various species of terrestrial mammals. Periodically, it is necessary to update reports and Red Lists, which are essential for defining appropriate management measures to protect and promote biodiversity in our country. In this context, the project developed by SECEM together with TRAGSATEC (2024–2025) was launched, in which a Terrestrial Mammal Monitoring plan (MOMAT) was designed. Its objective is to gather information on most mammal species that currently lack specific monitoring programs. At present, the MOMAT project operates thanks to volunteer participation. The data collected help improve knowledge about the species included both in the annexes of the Habitats Directive and in the EU Regulation on invasive alien species. Aditonally, 338 records have been provided by the platform for the collection of dietary data (pellets and latrines) within the Common Small Mammal Monitoring program SEMICE (www.semice.org). All the information generated will contribute to future updates of the Atlas and Red Book of Terrestrial Mammals of Spain, facilitating a better understanding of our fauna and supporting more effective decision-making in conservation.
| Title | Proyecto de Monitorización de Mamíferos Terrestres (MOMAT) |
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| Identifier | MOMAT |
| Funding | Mejora del conocimiento del estado de conservación de la fauna terrestre continental de España (especies autóctonas y exóticas invasoras): Informes sexenales del artículo 17 (Directiva Hábitats) y del artículo 24 (Especies Invasoras), y actualización de atlas y libros rojos”, commissioned by the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), implemented by TRAGSATEC, and funded by the European Union (NextGenerationEU) |
| Study Area Description | The study area encompasses the entire Spanish territory, including the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla. This region spans a wide range of bioclimatic zones, from Atlantic and Alpine in the north, to Mediterranean and semi-arid regions in the south and southeast, as well as Macaronesian climates in the Canary Islands. Elevation ranges from sea level to over 3,400 m in the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada, resulting in steep climatic and habitat gradients. The landscape is highly heterogeneous, comprising forests (deciduous, coniferous, and mixed), shrublands, grasslands, wetlands, rivers and streams, coastal areas, agricultural lands, and urbanized zones. Such environmental diversity supports a broad spectrum of terrestrial and semi-aquatic mammal species with varying ecological requirements and detectability, making standardized and complementary survey methods essential for comprehensive monitoring. |
The personnel involved in the project:
- Metadata Provider
- Author
- Author
- Author
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Sampling Methods
Micromammal presence was assessed through the analysis of owl pellets, mainly from barn owls and other nocturnal raptors. Pellets were collected at roosting and nesting sites, with up to 25 pellets analysed per site when available. Prey remains, primarily skulls and mandibles, were identified to species using osteological criteria and SECEM reference materials, and data were managed via the SEMICE platform. This non-invasive approach enables detection of many micromammal species for which other survey methods are limited.
| Study Extent | The study area encompasses the entire Spanish territory, including the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla. This region spans a wide range of bioclimatic zones, from Atlantic and Alpine in the north, to Mediterranean and semi-arid regions in the south and southeast, as well as Macaronesian climates in the Canary Islands. Elevation ranges from sea level to over 3,400 m in the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada, resulting in steep climatic and habitat gradients. The landscape is highly heterogeneous, comprising forests (deciduous, coniferous, and mixed), shrublands, grasslands, wetlands, rivers and streams, coastal areas, agricultural lands, and urbanized zones. Such environmental diversity supports a broad spectrum of terrestrial and semi-aquatic mammal species with varying ecological requirements and detectability, making standardized and complementary survey methods essential for comprehensive monitoring. |
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| Quality Control | All data were reviewed and validated by a SECEM specialist, and supporting images were requested for records involving uncertain species identification |
Method step description:
- Micromammal presence data were obtained through the analysis of pellets produced primarily by barn owls (Tyto alba), as well as other nocturnal raptors including Strix aluco, Asio otus, Bubo bubo and Athene noctua. Pellets were collected at known or potential roosting and nesting sites. When available, at least 25 pellets per roost were analysed; if fewer were present, all available pellets were processed. Prey remains contained within the pellets, mainly skulls and mandibles, were identified to species level using established osteological criteria. Identification was supported by reference manuals and digital tools developed by SECEM, and data were centrally managed using the SEMICE platform. This non-invasive method allows detection of a broad range of micromammal species for which alternative census methods are limited or unavailable.
Additional Metadata
| Acknowledgements | |
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| Purpose | |
| Alternative Identifiers | 10.15470/juv2ew |
| 6abff166-426c-468c-bd00-e359cbbe1321 | |
| https://ipt.gbif.es/resource?r=owl_pellets_mammal_survey |