The influence of wave exposure on the foraging activity of marine otter, Lontra felina (Molina, 1782) (Carnivora: Mustelidae) in northern Chile

Abstract

The marine otter Lontra felina has been said to prefer wave-exposed habitats over more protected sites in response to a greater prey abundance in exposed habitat. We examined how the foraging activity of L. felina is affected by the regime of wave exposure and prey availability at Isla Choros, northern Chile. Through focal sampling we recorded time spent by otters in foraging, the duration of dives, and the hunting success on a wave-exposed and a wave-protected site on the island. In addition, we quantified the abundance of prey in both habitats. Marine otters spent more time foraging in the wave-protected site compared with the wave-exposed habitat. Successful dives reached 26.9% in the wave-exposed habitats, and 38.2% in the wave-protected habitat. Foraging dives were 18% shorter in wave-exposed as compared with wave-protected habitat. Numerically, available prey did not differ significantly with habitat. Our results are more consistent with the hypothesis that wave-exposed habitats represent a sub-optimal habitat to foraging marine otters. Marine otters' use of wave-exposed patches through northern and central Chile coastal areas probably reflects a low availability of suitable protected areas and greater human disturbance of more protected habitat.

The marine otter Lontra felina ( ): A review of its present status and implications for future conservation

“…3) are preferred as they provide protected dens within caves with reproduction and resting places. Caves are above water at high tide and may be exposed to heavy seas (Cabello 1983;Ostfeld et al 1989;Villegas et al 2006) and present a variety of architecture (Medina-Vogel et al 2006). Entrances, which may be several, are often well defined and do not have a submarine access, as they do have in other otter species (Sielfeld and Castilla 1999).…”

“…obs. by the author in 2009), forage in shores with strong waves (Cabello 1983;Ostfeld et al 1989;Villegas et al 2006) and dive up to 77 s (Valqui 2004). They may even spend time swimming and feeding in the short period of time between two breaking waves (pers.…”

Estimación de dietas del chungungo Lontra felina (Molina, 1782) en dos localidades de la región del Biobío, Chile

“…al. 2009) y análisis de muestras fecales (Villegas et al 2007, Medina-Vogel et al 2004, Ostfeld et al 1989, Sielfeld 1990). Esta última utilizada especialmente para estudios de dieta, ya que correspondería al análisis más directo, confi able y sin daños a la población.…”

“…1989) y en la localidad de Isla Choros se registró un total de 7 especies de crustáceos donde Petrolisthes sp. es la presa más consumida, 7 especies de peces siendo Girella laevifrons la presa más consumida y 3 especies de moluscos de los cuales Tegula atra es la presa más consumida (Villegas et. al.…”

Interacción entre la pesca artesanal y el depredador de alto nivel trófico Lontra felina en Chile

“…A pesar de la protección legal, tanto nacional como internacional, su caza ilegal continúa, al menos cuando este estudio fue realizado. Las poblaciones chilenas de esta nutria en particular han sido estudiadas en diversos aspectos, que están relacionados con su distribución y abundancia (Cabello 1983, Rozzi & Torres-Mura 1990, Sielfeld & Castilla 1999, características y selección de hábitat (Sielfeld 1990, Ebensperger & Castilla 1991, dieta y conducta (Castilla & Bahamondes 1979, Castilla 1982, Ostfeld et al 1989, Sielfeld 1990, Ebensperger & Castilla 1991, Medina 1995, Villegas et al 2007, Badilla & GeorgeNascimento 2009, Córdova et al 2009, Mangel et al 2011, inmovilización química e implante de radio-transmisores (SotoAzat et al 2006(SotoAzat et al , 2008, sinantropía (Cursach et al 2012) y filogeografía (Vianna et al 2010). Algunos de estos estudios se han realizado, esencialmente, con el fin de caracterizar las poblaciones y crear planes estratégicos para la conservación de la especie.…”