Data from: Association of nesting Otus scops (Eurasian Scops Owl) with Xerotyphlops vermicularis (Worm snake) in Türkiye
Data files
Sep 30, 2025 version files 21.42 KB
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data-owl-snake.xlsx
19.66 KB
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README.md
1.77 KB
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.
Data from: Association of nesting Otus scops (Eurasian Scops Owl) with Xerotyphlops vermicularis (Worm snake) in Türkiye
Dataset description
This dataset was collected between 2017 and 2022 in Türkiye as part of a long-term nest box monitoring study of the Otus scops (Eurasian Scops Owl).
File format
File name: data-owl-snake.xlsx
File type: Microsoft Excel (.xlsx)
Sheets: “without snake”, “with snake”
The dataset contains two separate sheets:
- Without snake – Data from nests without Worm Snakes.
- With snake – Data from nests where Worm Snakes were found.
Column descriptions
Shared columns (in both sheets):
- Nest no. – nest box identification number.
- Year – Year of breeding attempt.
- Eggs laid – Total number of eggs laid.
- Eggs date – Date of first egg laid.
- Egg Julian – Julian day of the first egg laid.
- Hatched – Number of eggs hatched.
- Hatched date – Date of first young hatching.
- Hatch Julian – Julian day of first young hatching.
- Fledged – Number of young fledged.
- Fledged date – Date of first fledgling leaving the nest.
- Fledge Julian – Julian day of first fledgling leaving the nest.
- Success rate – Fledged/Hatched.
- Survival rate – Hatched/Eggs
Snake number – Number of Xerotyphlops vermicularis individuals detected in the nest.
Additional columns:
(only in the “with snake” sheet):
First snake date – Date of the first Worm Snake observed in the nest.
First snake Julian – Julian day of the first Worm Snake observed.
Usage notes:
All data were collected directly during field monitoring.
Missing (empty cells) values are coded as NA.
All dates are given both in calendar format (day/month) and in Julian day format.