Distribution and sprainting activity of the Otter (<i>Lutra lutra</i>) in the Pollino National Park (southern Italy)

Prigioni, Claudio; Remonti, Luigi; Balestrieri, Alessandro; Sgrosso, Silvia; Priore, Giuseppe; Misin, C.; Viapiana, M.; Spada, S.; Anania, R.

doi:10.1080/08927014.2005.9522606

Cited by 31 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 20 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The Drava River corridor in Hungary is subject to substantial fluctuations in water levels and flow velocites (Za´vodszky 2005) and such disturbances may influence territorial marking behaviour (Jefferies 1986;Conroy and French 1987;Kruuk and Conroy 1987;Reuther et al 2000). Otter density is naturally influenced by fish food availabilty and habitat quality (Mason and Macdonald 1986;Kruuk et al 1991Kruuk et al , 1993Ruiz-Olmo et al 2001a, 2002Sidorovich and Pikulik 2002) and sprainting behaviour is influenced by a variety of factors (Jefferies 1986;Ruiz-Olmo and Gosa´lbez 1997;Reuther et al 2000;Prigioni et al 2005), thus it is difficult or impossible to compare the efficiency of different survey methods between studies. The relative advantage of the traditional spraint counts in comparison with the genetic method was the lower cost (0.8 vs. 25.5 EUR/sample).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Relative spraint density and genetic structure of otter (Lutra lutra) along the Drava River in Hungary

Lanszki

Hidas²,

Szentes³

et al. 2008

Mammalian Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this study, we used genetic-based approaches to estimate population size and structure of Eurasian otter along the Drava River in Hungary, and compared these results to traditional survey-based methods. The relative spraint density of otter was estimated based on the number of fresh (D f ) and total number (D t ) of spraints collected on standard routes over a 2-year period. Nine microsatellite loci were screened, generating 17 individual otter genotypes composed of 45 different alleles. The expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.53 to 0.89 and observed heterozygosity from 0.25 to 0.92. The mean density (D g ) estimated over six different sites was 0.17 individuals per km of shoreline. A close correlation was found between the number of genotypes and spraint counts along a standard route (fresh spraints: r P ¼ 0.85, Po0.01; total spraints r P ¼ 0.76, Po0.05). All genotypes found within the 50 km-long study area were closely related (D m ranged between 0.08 and 0.21).

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Relative spraint density and genetic structure of otter (Lutra lutra) along the Drava River in Hungary

Lanszki

Hidas²,

Szentes³

et al. 2008

Mammalian Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the study area, spraints distribution (Prigioni et al 2005) and genetic typing of fresh faeces (Prigioni et al 2006b) revealed a stable and relatively abundant otter population (0.18-0.20 individuals/km of watercourse).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Trophic flexibility of the otter (Lutra lutra) in southern Italy

et al. 2008

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Diet composition of otters (Lutra lutra) was investigated in 2001 by spraints analysis (N ¼ 1323) on five rivers of southern Italy, with the aim of assessing the influence of fish availability, elevation and discharge on the consumption of food resources alternative to fish. Data were expressed as per cent frequency of occurrence (%FO) and per cent volume (%V). The study confirmed the great feeding adaptability of the otter that, in rivers partially interconnected and flowing on a small area, showed a strong fish eating habit in some rivers (Sinni and Mercure-Lao) and a diet mainly constituted by alternative resources in other ones (amphibians in the rivers Cogliandrino and Frido, crustaceans in the River Battendiero). Fish consumption for the five rivers was significantly correlated with fish biomass and with mean summer discharge, while it was inversely correlated with the mean altitude of the five rivers. The lack of a clear seasonality in the consumption of food sources alternative to fish together with the correlation between fish use and fish biomass for each river indicated fish availability as the main factor affecting otter relying to non-fish preys. Otter diet seemed influenced by the characteristics of river habitats (altitude, discharge and consequently fish biomass) more than by summer drought, typical of Mediterranean regions. The %FO and the %V allowed to drawn a similar picture of otter diet. Nonetheless the %V was useful for better illustrating diet variation among the different rivers and we argue that it could be useful in habitats where the otter feeds on preys with different proportions of indigestible remains.

show abstract

“…In the River Sinni, fish form the bulk of otter diet, whilst in the surrounding rivers otters show a great adaptability, preying on fish, amphibians and crustaceans (Remonti et al 2008). In the Pollino National Park and surrounding areas, spraint distribution (Prigioni et al 2005) and genetic typing of fresh faeces (Prigioni et al 2006b) revealed a stable and relatively abundant otter population (0.18-0.20 individuals/ km of watercourse).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) prey selection in response to a variation of fish abundance

Remonti

Prigioni

Balestrieri

et al. 2010

Italian Journal of Zoology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In 2001 and 2002 we studied Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) fish selection in southern Italy by comparing otter diet (805 analysed spraints) with fish availability, estimated by electrofishing. The surveyed river was dominated by cyprinids, particularly by chub (Leuciscus cephalus), roach (Rutilus rubilio) and bleak (Alburnus sp.). Roach and chub were the most common prey recorded in spraints. Otters ate mainly small prey (total length < 90 mm). Chub were widely consumed according to abundance, whilst roach and bleak consumption was not proportionate to their availability. Otters selected roach both in 2001 and 2002 and responded to a decrease in roach availability (-27.3%) by increasing their frequency of consumption rather than switching to an alternative prey. Despite their high abundance, bleak seemed to be markedly avoided by otters. We hypothesized that differences in microhabitat selection may influence the susceptibility of cyprinids to otter predation. The possible effects on fish community were briefly discussed.

show abstract

Distribution and sprainting activity of the Otter (Lutra lutra) in the Pollino National Park (southern Italy)

Cited by 31 publications

References 20 publications

Relative spraint density and genetic structure of otter (Lutra lutra) along the Drava River in Hungary

Relative spraint density and genetic structure of otter (Lutra lutra) along the Drava River in Hungary

Trophic flexibility of the otter (Lutra lutra) in southern Italy

Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) prey selection in response to a variation of fish abundance

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About