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Burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) nest and roost in abandoned burrows that other animals had dug, mostly in open habitats like prairies and grasslands. In North America the main providers of burrows for these owls are the badger (Taxidea taxus), and ground rodents like prairie dogs (Cynomys spp).

Indeed, some studies suggest that the reproductive success of burrowing owls increase with the density of burrows abandoned by mammals, because more nesting and roosting sites are avaliable. Also, owls can benefit from higher densities of nests by increasing predator alertness, as they can hear more easily alarms from their neighbors.

To make things more interesting, in many areas badgers are the main predators of the owls nests. Moreover, ground rodents are preyed upon by badgers and by burrowing owls as well.

Propose a mathematical model for the coupled population dynamics of burrowing owls and of at least a prey or a predator of the owls. Your model should take into account the indirect effects of preys (and/or predators) by providing burrows for the owls. Use this model to explore the consequences of such indirect effects.

• Alberta Burrowing Owl Recovery Plan
• Desmond, M. J., Savidge, J. A., & Seibert, T. F. (1995). Spatial patterns of burrowing owl (Speotyto cunicularia) nests within black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) towns. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 73(7), 1375-1379.
• Desmond, M. J., Savidge, J. A., & Eskridge, K. M. (2000). Correlations between burrowing owl and black-tailed prairie dog declines: a 7-year analysis. Papers in Natural Resources, 162.
• Poulin, R. G., Todd, L. D., Dohms, K. M., Brigham, R. M., & Wellicome, T. I. (2005). Factors associated with nest-and roost-burrow selection by burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) on the Canadian prairies. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 83(10), 1373-1380.
• Green, G. A., & Anthony, R. G. (1989). Nesting success and habitat relationships of burrowing owls in the Columbia Basin, Oregon. Condor, 347-354.