Uncovering the Calls of Data‐Deficient Masked Owls Using Morphology and Environmental Gradients

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aim To test whether vocal characteristics of little‐known and ‘lost’ owl species can be inferred from environmentally driven morphological and vocal correlations, using the Australian Masked Owl ( Tyto novaehollandiae ) as a model system. Location Australasia. Taxon Australian Masked Owl ( T. novaehollandiae superspecies, Tytonidae). Methods We fit linear models to examine the relationship between environmental variables (latitude, temperature, elevation) and wing length for 196 Australian Masked Owl specimens. We also examined the relationship between these environmental variables and acoustic characteristics (call duration and mean dominant frequency) from 700 calls recorded via passive acoustic monitoring. These datasets were then integrated to predict vocalisations for the Papuo‐Moluccan taxa Tyto aurantia , Tyto manusi , Tyto sororcula and Tyto novaehollandiae calabyi . Results Wing length of Australian Masked Owls was greater in females than in males ( R 2 = 0.480, p < 0.001) and increased with cooler temperatures ( R 2 = 0.240, p < 0.001) and higher latitudes ( R 2 = 0.211, p < 0.001). Call duration decreased with decreasing latitude ( R 2 = 0.347, p = 0.013) and temperature ( R 2 = 0.347, p = 0.036). Mean dominant frequency increased at lower latitudes ( R 2 = 0.402, p < 0.001) and warmer temperatures ( R 2 = 0.391, p < 0.001) and decreased with elevation ( R 2 = 0.429, p = 0.032). Main Conclusions Environmental factors influencing morphology correlate with vocal traits, enabling predictions for species lacking reference calls. By correlating small datasets of data‐deficient species with larger datasets from better‐known relatives, our approach provides insights into the expected vocalisations of ‘lost’ Papuo‐Moluccan masked owls, challenges taxonomic boundaries, and offers a broadly applicable framework for biogeographic and taxonomic inference.

Affiliated Institutions

• NSW Forestry Corporation AU
• The University of Queensland AU
• ACT Government
• Bush Heritage Australia AU
• Australian National Wildlife Collection AU
• Princess Margaret Hospital for Children AU
• Charles Darwin University AU
• University of Tasmania AU
• Cancer Council NSW AU

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