This study investigated the diet of introduced barn owls (Tyto alba javanica, Gmelin) in the urban area of the Main Campus of Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia, based on collected regurgitated pellets. We also compared the diet of the introduced barn owls with the diet of barn owls from two agricultural areas, i.e. oil palm plantations and rice fields. Pellet analysis of introduced barn owls showed that commensal Norway rats, Rattus norvegicus, made up the highest proportion of the diet (65.37% prey biomass) while common shrews, Suncus murinus were the second highest consumed prey (30.12% prey biomass). Common plantain squirrel, Callosciurus notatus, made up 4.45% of the diet while insects were taken in a relatively small amount (0.046% prey biomass). Introduced barn owls showed a preference for medium-sized prey, i.e. 40–120 g (52.96% biomass and 38.71% total). In agricultural areas, rice field rats, Rattus argentiventer predominated the diet of barn owls (98.24% prey biomass) in rice fields while Malayan wood rats, Rattus tiomanicus, were the most consumed prey in oil palm plantations (99.5% prey biomass). Food niche breadth value was highest for barn owls introduced in an urban area with a value of 2.90, and 1.06 in rice fields and 1.22 in oil palm plantations. Our analysis reiterates the prey preference of barn owls in various landscapes for small mammals. Our results also indicate the suitability of utilizing barn owls as a biological control not only in agricultural areas, but also as a biological control agent for commensal rodent pests in urban areas.

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2This study investigated the diet of introduced barn owls (Tyto alba javanica, Gmelin) in the 3 urban area of the Main Campus of Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia, based on 4 collected regurgitated pellets. We also compared the diet of introduced urban barn owls with 5 the diet of barn owls from two agricultural areas, i.e. oil palm plantations and rice fields. Pellet 6 analysis of barn owls introduced in the urban area showed that commensal Norway rats, Rattus 7 norvegicus, made up the highest proportion of the diet (65.37% prey biomass) while common 8 shrews, Suncus murinus were the second highest consumed prey (30.12% prey biomass). 9Common plantain squirrel, Callosciurus notatus, made up 4.45% of the diet while insects were 10 taken in a relatively small amount (0.046% prey biomass). Introduced barn owls showed a 11 preference for medium-sized prey, i.e. 40 to 120g (52.96% biomass and 38.71% total). In 12 agricultural areas, Rattus argentiventer predominated the diet of barn owls (98.24% prey 13 biomass) in rice fields while Malayan wood rats, Rattus tiomanicus, were the most consumed 14 prey in oil palm plantations (99.5% prey biomass). Food niche breadth value was highest for 15 barn owls introduced in an urban area with a value of 2.90, and 1.06 in rice fields and 1.22 in 16 oil palm plantations. Our analysis reiterates the prey preference of barn owls in various 17 landscapes for small mammals. Our results also indicate the suitability of utilizing barn owls 18 as a biological control not only in agricultural areas, but also as a biological control agent for 19 commensal rodent pests in urban areas. 20

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