Diet of the Eurasian otter <i>Lutra lutra</i> on small watercourses in Western Poland

Krawczyk, Agata J.; Skierczyński, Michał; Tryjanowski, Piotr

doi:10.1515/mamm.2011.005

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…It is known among carnivorous mammals that larger species usually win the competition and consequently, in the long term, one of the competitors may yield by changing its diet (Krebs 2011). It is possible that exactly this phenomenon was observed in our study area, where the otter diet was composed almost exclusively of fish (Krawczyk et al 2011), and minks were forced to prey mostly on terrestrial prey (rodents), suggesting that a stable population of native species can be an important factor regulating the impact of this invasive predator. Our work shows that, on small midfield watercourses, rodents are the main food resource for mink across seasons.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

“…The study area is located about 20 km from the biggest complex of fish ponds in Europe (The Milicz Ponds), and the richness of the local avifauna make it a Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation of the European ecological network Natura 2000. The study area contains numerous populations of carnivorous mammals, including the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), the badger (Meles meles), the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), the European polecat (Mustela putorius), the stone marten (Martes foina), the pine marten (Martes martes), the stoat (Mustela erminea), and the weasel (Mustela nivalis) (Jankowiak et al 2008, Krawczyk et al 2011, Malecha & Antczak 2013.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diet of the American minkNeovison visonin an agricultural landscape in western Poland

2013

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Abstract:We studied the diet of the American mink (Neovison vison) in small artificial watercourses located in a farmland area of the valley of the River Barycz in Poland. Rodents, mainly Microtus spp., were the most frequent prey identified, occurring in 88.3 % of all analyzed mink scat. Minks also fed willingly on fish, birds and amphibians, whereas insects, crayfish and reptiles accounted for only a small part of the biomass of food consumed. The food niche breadth of the mink's diet was wide, and varied significantly between seasons; in spring and autumn minks preyed mainly on rodents and fish, while the winter and summer diets consisted of a broad characterization of prey items. The proportion of mammals in the diet also decreased significantly during the summer months. These patterns differ from those previously reported in Europe, and demonstrate the plasticity of the mink diet across habitats.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet of the American minkNeovison visonin an agricultural landscape in western Poland

2013

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“…The spraints (n = 158) were collected throughout all seasons from 16 May 2005 to 2 July 2007 in 14 sites on the Czerna River between Węgliniec and Żagań (Table 1). Analysis followed the standard procedure (Andrzejewska et al Krawczyk et al 2011). In a laboratory the spraints were individually soaked and washed through 0.5 mm mesh sieve to retrieve clear prey items, which were subsequently dried and sorted.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the otter diet has been thoroughly studied in Europe (Jędrzejewska et al 2001;Clavero et al 2003; Krawczyk et al 2016), it is not well known from the suboptimal habitats of small rivers colonized recently. From Poland, such data are available only from small water courses in agricultural landscape (Krawczyk et al 2011). The aim of the present study is to determine the diet composition and its changes on the monthly and annual basis of otters inhabiting forest streams.…”

Section: )mentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet of the Otter Lutra lutra inhabiting a forest stream in SW Poland

Kopij

Szymczyk

2023

Preprint

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Diet of the otter inhabiting a forest stream in SW Poland was studied in order to show the impact of the otter on fish and other aquatic animals. The diet was examined by means of spraint analysis. A total of 157 spraints were collected from 14 sites, and 605 prey items were extracted. Fish comprised the staple diet. It was supplemented by frogs, birds, small mammals and invertebrates. Fish were represented by at least 23 species belonging to seven families. Two families Cyrinidae and Percidae dominated the fish component of the diet (together 70.1%). The most numerous fish species consumed were Perca fluviatilis (24.1%) and Rutilus rutilus (12.1%). The otter diet was most diversified in the coldest months of the year (November-April; B = 10.0-10.5), and least in the warmest months of the year (July-August; B = 5.7). The niche breath was wider in 2006 (B = 12.2), compared with 2007 (B = 20.4). However, only the proportion of G. gobio and Esox lucius were statistically different in those two years compared. This study confirms previous findings that the otter is a generalist piscivorous predator hunting opportunistically on locally and seasonally most common fish species, mainly of low economic importance.

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“…The diet of grey herons is more varied, consisting mainly of fish, but also includes: amphibians, small mammals and insects (Cramp 1998). Fish is also a major component of the European otters diet (Jędrze-jewska et al 2001;Krawczyk et al 2011;Juhasz et al 2014), including species that occur most frequently at farms (Dobrowolski 1995). The American mink, still expanding its range after colonizing Europe in the 1980s, is another important fish consumer (Brzeziński and Marzec 2003), with fish making up 40-52 % of its diet in Poland (Jędrzejewska et al 2001;Krawczyk et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of the presence of conflict bird and mammal species at pond fisheries in western Poland

Manikowska-Ślepowrońska

Szydzik

Jakubas

2015

Aquat Ecol

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The presence of piscivorous vertebrates at fish farms often ignites conflicts over fish resources managed by humans. This study investigates the factors affecting the presence of conflict vertebrates at fish ponds. A telephone survey in western Poland in 2012-2013 examined 104 fish ponds. Six species were most often observed at fish farms: European otter Lutra lutra (87 % at farms), grey heron Ardea cinerea (83 %), great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (67 %), great egret Ardea alba (42 %), Eurasian beaver Castor fiber (37 %) and American mink Neovison vison (31 %). American mink, Eurasian beaver, great egret and grey heron were more often present at carp ponds. Eurasian beaver, European otter and great cormorant were present more often at larger ponds. Latitude significantly affected the occurrence of great egrets (more frequent in the south). European otter and American mink were present more often at ponds supplied by river water. Ponds supplied by river water may provide both species opportunity to enter imperceptibly to farms, with no need to exit water. Methods of pond protection and proximity of buildings to farms did not significantly affect the presence of conflict species. The data from this study concerning the presence of piscivores at ponds may serve as base for more comprehensive studies investigating the impact of these species on fish farming practices as well as for comparative and experimental studies on the effectiveness of various mitigation measures. Regular surveys of species occurring at ponds may be a tool of monitoring invasive species as well as species increasing its range.

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Diet of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra on small watercourses in Western Poland

Abstract: No abstract available

Cited by 10 publications

References 15 publications

Diet of the American minkNeovison visonin an agricultural landscape in western Poland

Diet of the American minkNeovison visonin an agricultural landscape in western Poland

Diet of the Otter Lutra lutra inhabiting a forest stream in SW Poland

Determinants of the presence of conflict bird and mammal species at pond fisheries in western Poland

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