Desert otters: Distribution, habitat use and feeding ecology in arid rivers of Morocco

Riesco, María; Delibes, Miguel; Calzada, Javier; Esquivias, Javier; Qninba, Abdeljebbar; Clavero, Miguel

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2020.104165

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Since barbels were important preys in the pre‐filling phase (spring 2001) and in lotic sampling sites in the filling phase (autumn 2003), we believe that the immediate consumption decline in the reservoir was caused by damming effects and not by seasonal patterns of otter diet variability (Table 1). Luciobarbus barbels have an important role in the diet of the otters in the Iberian Peninsula (Clavero et al, 2008) and other areas where they are abundant (Riesco et al, 2020). The non‐native pumpkinseed was the most frequently consumed fish prey during the filling phase, when it was also the most abundant fish species in the Alqueva reservoir (Ribeiro et al, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the diet of the otter tends to reflect the local availability of the main prey types, being sensitive to their seasonal and spatial changes (Kruuk, 2006; Prigioni, Balestrieri, Remonti, Gargaro, & Priore, 2006). Moreover, trophic flexibility allows the otter to feed along ecological gradients, reflecting a succession of prey communities also at larger scales (Clavero et al, 2008; Riesco et al, 2020). Almeida et al (2012) identified otter dietary analyses as a surrogate for the assessment of changes in prey communities in general, and the monitoring of threatened species in particular, and Smiddy and Saich (2015) proposed the use of otter diet analyses as a tool for the detection of the white clawed crayfish ( Austropotamobius pallipes ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the diet of the otter tends to reflect the local availability of the main prey types, being sensitive to their seasonal and spatial changes (Kruuk, 2006;Prigioni, Balestrieri, Remonti, Gargaro, & Priore, 2006). Moreover, trophic flexibility allows the otter to feed along ecological gradients, reflecting a succession of prey communities also at larger scales (Clavero et al, 2008;Riesco et al, 2020). species in the Alqueva reservoir ( Banha et al, 2017;Pérez-Bote and Roso 2009;Ribeiro et al, 2006) and the spatial variation of fish communities in relation to distance to reservoirs along the Guadiana basin (Hermoso et al, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temporal and spatial patterns in the shifting of otter diet to invasive prey after river damming

Bedmar

Blanco

Delibes

et al. 2022

River Research & Apps

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River damming promotes profound changes in aquatic biodiversity, including the facilitation of biological invasions, with subsequent impacts on native communities. The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is a generalist aquatic predator that often incorporates new prey types when they become available. We studied the short‐ and long‐term effects of river damming on the trophic ecology of the otter across a riverine landscape gradient, from the flooded area to upstream tributaries, focusing on the largest artificial lake of Western Europe. Through the analysis of otter feces (spraints), we describe otter diet composition in 14 sites at different distances from the impounded area in three periods: (i) the pre‐filling phase (i.e., lotic conditions); (ii) the immediate filling phase; and (iii) 16 years after the dam closure. The diet of the otter drastically shifted in the short term, from being dominated by native cyprinids to being mainly composed of invasive species of fish and crayfish. In the long term, the number of invasive species consumed by the otter continued to increase while native fish completely disappeared as prey near the reservoir. Presumably, the construction of the dam generated clear spatial gradients of abundances of native and invasive fish species. These patterns arose in the short term but became accentuated in the long term and were mirrored in otter diet composition. Our results demonstrate the potential of otter diet analyses as a surrogate for the impacts of human alterations on aquatic ecosystems, including those of river damming and the associated facilitation of biological invasions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the diet of the otter tends to reflect the local availability of the main prey types, being sensitive to their seasonal and spatial changes (Kruuk, 2006;Prigioni, Balestrieri, Remonti, Gargaro, & Priore, 2006). Moreover, trophic flexibility allows the otter to feed along ecological gradients, reflecting a succession of prey communities also at larger scales (Clavero et al, 2008;Riesco et al, 2020). species in the Alqueva reservoir ( Banha et al, 2017;Pérez-Bote and Roso 2009;Ribeiro et al, 2006) and the spatial variation of fish communities in relation to distance to reservoirs along the Guadiana basin (Hermoso et al, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temporal and spatial patterns in the shifting of otter diet to invasive prey after river damming

Bedmar

Blanco

Delibes

et al. 2022

River Research & Apps

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“…Each year, surveys were done within 12 consecutive days over three seasonal sampling periods [February -March (low rainy season), July (dry season), and November (high rainy season); 36 sampling days per year] assessing the upstream, reservoir, and downstream waterscape areas (Table 1). We attributed a site as positive when we found at least one otter record and as negative otherwise (Riesco et al, 2020). Each positive record was georeferenced (Garmin 62sc) and variables such as the number of records (individuals, faeces, tracks, or dens), date, riverscape area (upstream, reservoir, downstream), and marking substrate (trunk, rock or latrine) were registered.…”

Section: Surveys and Data Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution and habitat use intensity of the Neotropical Otter (Lontra longicaudis) in a Colombian hydroelectric dam

Franco-Pérez

Hincapié-Usma

Restrepo

et al. 2020

RBT

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Introduction: The Neotropical Otter, Lontra longicaudis, is a semi-aquatic mammal that ranges from Mexico to Argentina inhabiting near-pristine watercourses, but also human-dominated aquatic and riparian landscapes. Objective: We assessed the distribution and habitat use frequency of L. longicaudis in La Miel I hydroelectric power dam and its influence area in the Department of Caldas, Colombia. Methods: We carried out diurnal surveys across standardized transects between 2014 and 2018 looking for records (sightings, faeces, tracks, and dens) that indicate the presence of the species. Each yearly survey was done during 12 consecutive days over three seasonal sampling periods assessing the upstream, reservoir, and downstream waterscape areas. Results: We sampled a total of 875 km in a five-year period across the three main waterscape areas (upstream -103 km, reservoir -582 km, and downstream -190 km) registering a total of 1 496 records. Faeces were the most common record (~ 95 %) across the whole study area followed by sightings, dens (1.7 % each), and tracks (1.3 %). Spatial distribution analyses suggest that L. longicaudis prefers dwelling upstream watercourses (hot spots areas; Gi Z-score = 4.46, p < 0.001) and in a lesser extent, areas around the water reservoir (cold spot areas; Gi Z-score = -2.69, p = 0.007). Signs of otters were also recorded at downstream area, but these records were non-significant within the analysis (Gi Z-score = -0.11, p = 0.48), suggesting L. longicaudis uses this area opportunistically. Cluster and outlier analysis showed that even though L. longicaudis was commonly found upstream and in the reservoir area, only some specific sectors (Moro, La Miel and Tasajos rivers) had high (LMI Z-score = 5.63, p = 0.001) and low (LMI Z-score = 2.12, p = 0.001) clusters. Conclusions: The upstream waterscape area is key for the survival of L. longicaudis in this regulated system, likely providing enough shelter and food for the species to carry out living activities and have resident populations. In contrast, downstream areas require specific attention to understand in a better way the effects of caused by the dam on the species dynamics, also defining management strategies that avoid population fragmentation and movement reduction.

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Assessing river ecological status through Eurasian otter diet analysis

Tolrà,

Riera,

Ruiz‐Olmo

2024

River Research & Apps

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To identify and mitigate biodiversity decline, it is necessary to develop and implement appropriate ecological assessment methods. This particularly relevant in ecosystems under strong human pressure, such as riverine environments, in which ecological assessment requires several standardized methods useful in a wide range of riverine characteristics and habitats. In this work, we related otter diet composition with a set of environmental variables in representative river reaches of two contiguous river basins with a high diversity of habitats and varying degrees of human alteration. Our goal was to determine to what extent otter prey communities were sensitive to habitat characteristics and human pressures. Our results suggest that otter prey community in heavily anthropized rivers vary significantly across three gradients: habitat productivity, habitat structure and habitat stability. We also compared the results obtained from the otter diet with those obtained from electrofishing. Overall, the otter diet changed spatially in a similar way to the fish community sampled by electrofishing, but both methods showed disagreements that suggest different biases in some habitats and for some species. We conclude that otter diet analysis is a potential supplementary method for assessing river ecological status and that human alterations related to habitat structural simplification and water extraction can prevent freshwater biodiversity recovery in human‐dominated landscapes despite improvements in biochemical water quality.

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Desert otters: Distribution, habitat use and feeding ecology in arid rivers of Morocco

Cited by 7 publications

References 44 publications

Temporal and spatial patterns in the shifting of otter diet to invasive prey after river damming

Temporal and spatial patterns in the shifting of otter diet to invasive prey after river damming

Distribution and habitat use intensity of the Neotropical Otter (Lontra longicaudis) in a Colombian hydroelectric dam

Assessing river ecological status through Eurasian otter diet analysis

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