In this study the predation and ®sh prey selection of otters Lutra lutra L. living by eutrophic ®sh ponds on agricultural land and in a protected area of temperate climate in Hungary were investigated. The correlations between ®sh in the diet of the otters (by spraint analysis involved 1942 and 1280 samples for the two habitats) and the ®sh stock available (by harvest and sample ®shing) were generally close. Prey selection was signi®cantly related to selected species of a particular size range (P < 0.01). The preference calculations were performed with Ivlev's index of preference (E i , minimum 71, maximum +1). Regardless of species, the otters avoided (E i = 70.51) ®sh heavier than 1000 g, with a preference for individuals weighing between 500 and 1000 g (E i = 0.79). No substantial or clear preference was observed in the weight range below 500 g (E i = 70.02±0.38). The preference for ®sh in accordance with their characteristic sites of occurrence within the body of water was also signi®cant (P < 0.01). They avoided ®sh living primarily in open water (E i = 70.64) and to a lesser degree those occurring near the pond bed (E i = 70.22). They favoured ®sh inhabiting the area with a covering of aquatic plants (E i = 0.46), and showed a preference to a lesser degree for ®sh living in the shallow littoral regions (E i = 0.14). With the cessation of ®sh farming and the effect of the drastic changes which occurred in the vegetation, the otters fed substantially on the stock of alternative sources of prey such as amphibians and water insects as well as terrestrial animals, and at such times, depending on season, ®sh became a secondary source of prey.

. 1999. Feeding habits and trophic niche overlap in a Carnivora community of Hungary. Acta Theriologica 44: 429-442.The seasonal feeding habits of the red fox Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758), the stone marten Marłeś foina (Erxleben, 1777), the stoat Mustela erminea Linnaeus, 1758, the badger Meles meles (Linnaeus, 1758) and the otter Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758) were studied in south-west Hungary, in the course of four years. The habitat conditions, because of human influences, were different in the first and second two years. Diet was examined by scat analysis (238, 262, 67, 50 and 1033 samples, respectively). Small mammals, mainly rodents, were the most important prey for foxes, stone martens and stoats in winter and spring. In summer and autumn insects and fruit were added to fox and marten diet, while birds were added to stoat diet. The badger's main food resources were invertebrates (mainly insects) and maize and, in autumn, rodents. Domestic animals (mainly poultry and rabbit) occurred in the diet of the foxes and martens in all seasons, carcasses (mainly Cervidae) in the diet of these predators and in that of the badgers. The predominant prey of otters was fish, but when the abundance of fish declined, the consumption of amphibians increased. Predation on game birds and hare was not significant. In all seasons, niche overlap was high between foxes, martens and stoats. Niche overlap between these species and the badger increased from spring to autumn. Niche overlap between terrestrial predators and the otter was low. The diet of predators were different between the 1st and 2nd periods.

Otter diet in relation to fish availability in a fish pond in Hungary. Acta Theriologica 41: 127-136.The food composition of otters Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758) was investigated in an artificially established fish pond of 12 ha in south-western Hungary between December 1991 and November 1994. In the fish pond fish farming was carried out with the introduction of different species during the first two years of the investigations, while the filling up of the pond with water and its planting did not come about in the third year. The diet of otters was examined by spraint analysis (873 samples). The most important prey of otters was fish amounting 40 to 100%; the variation was due to season, method of farming and density and composition of the fish stock available. There was a close relationship between the frequency of occurrence of different fish species in the otter diet and the amount of fish available to the otters. The correlation coefficients (rp) were 0.56 (p < 0.05), 0.87 (p < 0.0001) and 0.93 (p < 0.0001) in the three years. Fish species that are predominant in the fish pond were the most frequent in the otter diet. Most of the fish eaten were below 50 g, ie 55, 88 and 90% respectively in the three years. Prey fish weighing more than 1000 g were found in scats only in the second year, and in a low proportion (1%). Economically important fish species constituted 33, 9 and 3% of the otter diet in the three years. The economic consequences of otter predation on fish are discussed.

Between March and September in 1994 we examined the Crustacea and Rotatoria fauna of five different water bodies (Duna, Sió, dead arms and temporary pool) in Gemenc. During the period of the investigation we determined altogether 38 Rotatoria taxons, 10 Cladocera taxons, 6 Copepoda taxons.

Between 2000 and 2003 we examined the biological water quality and also the Crustacea and Rotatoria fauna of four moors in Somogy county (moors of Baláta and Darányi-Nagyberek, alders of Lankóci and Komiósdi). According to the water quality examinations the salt concentration (salinity) and organic matter (COD) of water is increasing in moors in line with the lapse of period of vegetation. During the period of the investigation we determined altogether 60 Rotatoria taxons, 34 Cladocera taxons, 15 Copepoda taxons, 3 Ostracoda taxons, 1-1 Isopoda and Amphipoda taxons.