Diet of Otters in Fish Farms in Lithuania

Baltrūnaitė, Laima

doi:10.2478/v10043-009-0031-6

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…This might be an effect of the high percentage of fishponds in the standing waterbodies studied (50% of standing water study sites were fishponds). Fish in fishponds are both abundant and easy to prey on (Lanszki & Kormendi , Kloskowski , Lanszki & Molnar , Baltrūnaitė ). Thus, the energetic importance of non‐fish prey is small, as well as their occurrence in faeces.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet composition of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in different freshwater habitats of temperate Europe: a review and meta‐analysis

et al. 2015

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The Eurasian otterLutra lutra is a top predator that feeds mostly on fish. Yet, studies show the high plasticity of otter foraging behaviour and the varying importance of alternative food types in the species' diet. 2. The aims of this study were, firstly, to demonstrate by meta-analysis how the diet composition of otters varies depending on the habitat occupied, in terms of the types of land use, waterbody, and bank vegetation. Secondly, we tested whether the choice of method of presenting prey percentages in the diet of otters influenced the conclusions of the meta-analysis. 3. The percentage of fish in the diet was greater for otters occupying standing water than for those occupying flowing water; was higher for otters in waterbodies overgrown by reed vegetation; and varied depending on the type of surrounding land use. However, the results of the meta-analysis varied depending on which of the two most common methods of diet analysis were used: percentage biomass or relative frequency of occurrence (RFO). 4. We showed that the plasticity of otter feeding behaviour might be explained by the various habitats occupied by otters. Habitat differences reflected in otters' diets might have importance for the maintenance and conservation of local populations of this species. 5. The high diversity of methods used by researchers to report the results of dietary studies precludes full comparisons and synthesis. This demonstrates the importance of unification of reporting. Moreover, the conclusions reached by the authors of any particular study might be highly dependent on the method they applied. Thus, care should be taken when comparing ecological studies based on different methods.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet composition of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in different freshwater habitats of temperate Europe: a review and meta‐analysis

et al. 2015

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“…In fish farms in Eastern Europe, otter biomass consumption can be composed almost entirely of carp (e.g. Kortan et al 2007;Baltrūnaitė 2009). Artificially stocked carp fisheries are common in the study region (Crawford 2010), but wild common carp were also occasionally detected at the study sites during EA electrofishing surveys.…”

Section: Evidence For Prey Selection By Ottersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish selection by riverine Eurasian otters in lowland England

Grant

Harrington

2015

Mamm Res

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Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) may conflict with humans using fish stocks for food, income or recreation. Understanding fish selection by otters is important for predicting and managing potential conflicts. We used spraint analysis to describe the diet of Eurasian otters on rivers in the Upper Thames Valley, lowland England, in summer and winter, focusing specifically on the species and size of fish consumed. We assessed the proportion of fish consumed that were of potential commercial or sporting value (the 'Potential Value' category). Within this group, we assessed relative selection for family and length by comparing fish found in otter diet with their local availability. Local availability was estimated from UK Environment Agency electrofishing survey data. Fish represented 46 % (relative frequency of occurrence, RFO) of total otter diet, with fish of Potential Value representing 19 % (RFO). In the Potential Value category, cyprinids were relatively avoided; percids and esocids were relatively preferred. Most (∼80 %) fish prey items originated from fish 4-13 cm in length, 3 % from fish>20 cm. Smaller (0-10 cm) percids and cyprinids, and larger (16-20 cm) esocids, were preferred. In summer, diet was broad, comprising 31 % (RFO) fish, 24 % birds and 14 % crayfish. In winter, diet was predominantly fish (68 % RFO) with crayfish and birds accounting for ∼5 % each. In summer, most fish consumed (70 % RFO) were the relatively slow-swimming common bullhead (Cottus gobio). Significantly more of the fasterswimming cyprinids were consumed in winter, presumably because they are easier to catch when the water is colder.

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“…Emmerson and Philip (2004) reported that the diet of African clawless otter varies with site due to the wide distribution throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. Studies by Baltrunaite (2009) in Lithuania also noted that changes in the diet of otters are related to different habitat. Rowe-Rowe (1977) and Rowe-Rowe and Somers (1998) also reported that diet of the African clawless otter varies depending on locality, season and prey availability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Diet analysis of the African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) in and around Lake Tana

Andarge¹,

Wube²,

Balakrishnan³

2017

J. Ecol. Nat. Environ.

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The diet composition of the African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) was studied by analyzing of 440 spraint samples collected during January, 2014 and December, 2015 in both dry and wet seasons from eight sites in and around Lake Tana, North West Ethiopia. Percentage frequency of occurrence and relative percentage frequency of diet items in the spraint samples were calculated.The statistical analysis was conducted using chi-square and one-way ANOVA tests.The number of diet categories per spraint ranged from 1 to 4 with a mean of 1.42 ± 0.591. Fish was the dominant prey item in all sites with an overall frequency of occurrence of 84.77% and a relative percentage frequency of 59.68%. Labeobarbus spp. was the most frequent fish prey (35.45%). Crabs were the second most frequent prey items with percentage frequency of 33.41% and a relative percentage frequency of 23.52%, while small mammals and birds were the least frequent dietary items with percentage frequency of 0.45 and 0.23%, respectively. Other identified diet items and the respective percentage frequency were plant matter (6.17%), insects (5.68%), amphibians (5%), mollusks (2.5%) and unidentified items (3.86%). Variation on fish and crab prey items were observed between seasons and sites, while no variation was observed for other prey items. The results suggested a dietary flexibility and shift in the African clawless otter from crabs to fish that can be explained by availability and accessibility.

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Diet of Otters in Fish Farms in Lithuania

Cited by 7 publications

References 20 publications

Diet composition of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in different freshwater habitats of temperate Europe: a review and meta‐analysis

Diet composition of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in different freshwater habitats of temperate Europe: a review and meta‐analysis

Fish selection by riverine Eurasian otters in lowland England

Diet analysis of the African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) in and around Lake Tana

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