Importance of small fishes and invasive crayfish in otter <i>Lutra lutra</i> diet in an English chalk stream

Britton, J. Robert; Berry, M.H.; Sewell, Samantha; Lees, Corina; Reading, Peter

doi:10.1051/kmae/2017004

Cited by 9 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Overall, our results indicate that there was a significant difference in prey community composition of otter spraints at species-level across sites, suggesting that otter diet is highly situational and determined by local variation in prey availability. This is consistent with the wide variety of dietary profiles for the otter reported by previous morphological studies ( Ruiz-Olmo et al 2001;Britton et al 2006Britton et al , 2017Remonti et al 2010;Reid et al 2013;Krawczyk et al 2016;Lanszki et al 2016). Our results are also in agreement with faecal DNA metabarcoding studies of otter diet.…”

Section: Otter Dietsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Capture of these species might require very little energy expenditure by the otter, even relative to their size, whereas larger, faster fish provide more energy, but require more energy to catch and a longer handling time (Remonti et al 2010;Martínez-Abraín et al 2019). Therefore, smaller fishes that can be consumed whole are often preferred, although habitat conditions and fish abundance also play a role (Ruiz-Olmo et al 2001;Britton et al 2006Britton et al , 2017Remonti et al 2010;Krawczyk et al 2016;Lanszki et al 2016;Martínez-Abraín et al 2019). European bullhead and stickleback species are common at all three of our study sites (Sayer et al 2011(Sayer et al , 2020Almeida et al 2012Almeida et al , 2013Alderton et al 2015;Champkin et al 2017;Harwood et al 2019;Hänfling et al unpublished data), thus their frequent occurrence in spraints may simply reflect their high abundance in the environment.…”

Section: Otter Dietmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These issues individually or combined can prevent species-level identification for various taxa, especially fishes (e.g. closely related cyprinids) and birds (Britton et al 2006(Britton et al , 2017Shehzad et al 2012a;Krawczyk et al 2016;Berry et al 2017;Smiroldo et al 2019;Traugott et al 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Using DNA metabarcoding to investigate diet and niche partitioning in the native European otter (Lutra lutra) and invasive American mink (Neovison vison)

Harper¹,

Watson²,

Donnelly³

et al. 2020

MBMG

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In the UK, the native European otter (Lutra lutra) and invasive American mink (Neovison vison) have experienced concurrent declines and expansions. Currently, the otter is recovering from persecution and waterway pollution, whereas the mink is in decline due to population control and probable interspecific interaction with the otter. We explored the potential of DNA metabarcoding for investigating diet and niche partitioning between these mustelids. Otter spraints (n = 171) and mink scats (n = 19) collected from three sites (Malham Tarn, River Hull and River Glaven) in northern and eastern England were screened for vertebrates using high-throughput sequencing. Otter diet mainly comprised aquatic fishes (81.0%) and amphibians (12.7%), whereas mink diet predominantly consisted of terrestrial birds (55.9%) and mammals (39.6%). The mink used a lower proportion (20%) of available prey (n = 40 taxa) than the otter and low niche overlap (0.267) was observed between these mustelids. Prey taxon richness of mink scats was lower than otter spraints and beta diversity of prey communities was driven by taxon turnover (i.e. the otter and mink consumed different prey taxa). Considering otter diet only, prey taxon richness was higher in spraints from the River Hull catchment and beta diversity of prey communities was driven by taxon turnover (i.e. the otter consumed different prey taxa at each site). Studies using morphological faecal analysis may misidentify the predator as well as prey items. Faecal DNA metabarcoding can resolve these issues and provide more accurate and detailed dietary information. When scaled up across multiple habitat types, DNA metabarcoding should greatly improve future understanding of resource use and niche overlap between the otter and mink.

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Section: Otter Dietsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Otter Dietmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Using DNA metabarcoding to investigate diet and niche partitioning in the native European otter (Lutra lutra) and invasive American mink (Neovison vison)

Harper¹,

Watson²,

Donnelly³

et al. 2020

MBMG

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show abstract

“…To explain the presence of this bunya-like virus in the otter feces, Bodewes et al (2014) proposed that the individual otter from which the sampled feces came from could have been systemically infected by the virus or that the virus could have infected a prey ingested by the otter. The later hypothesis is supported by the high identity between the BBSV found in crayfish and the Otter fecal bunyavirus (61-73%; Figure 2) and the fact that crayfish are known to make up a substantial fraction of the European otter's diet (Britton et al 2017).…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 94%

A new bunya-like virus associated with mass mortality of white-clawed crayfish in the wild

et al. 2019

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We report the discovery of a new enveloped, spherical virus belonging to the Phenuiviridae family of negative ssRNA viruses associated with a massive outbreak in a French population of the endangered white-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes. We call this virus Bunya-like Brown Spot Virus (BBSV) and characterize it using transmission electronic microscopy, genome sequencing and clinical signs. Infected specimens show discolored brown spots on the cuticle. Using RNA-seq data we assembled a partial sequence for the L, M and S genome segments of BBSV. Phylogenetic analyses using all three segments show this virus is closely related to the Wenling crustacean virus 7 (China) and to a bunya-like virus found in feces of the European otter. Our survey of the mass mortality event indicates the virus is less virulent than the crayfish plague caused by Aphanomyces astaci. Overall, the discovery of BBSV provides a new important asset to monitor A. pallipes populations.

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“…lowland streams). In those areas, otters rarely consumed species and fish sizes that are also preferred by anglers (Grant and Harrington, 2015;Britton et al, 2017;Lyach and Cech, 2017).…”

Section: Human-wildlife Conflicts In Salmonid Streamsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish size selection and diet composition of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) in salmonid streams: Picky gourmets rather than opportunists?

Sittenthaler

Koskoff

Pinter

et al. 2019

Knowl. Manag. Aquat. Ecosyst.

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Knowledge on predator diet and drivers of prey selection is particularly of interest for an efficient management of predator and prey populations where predators potentially compete with humans for resources. Actual or perceived predation by Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) on fish stocks generates conflicts in many countries. Recently, conflicts are heating up in riverine habitats, where multiple stressors affect stream fish populations. We combined dietary analysis of otter faeces and prey fish availability in three Austrian streams to assess spatial and seasonal differences in diet composition, the extent of (salmonid) fish consumption and the selection for specific salmonid fish sizes relative to their availability. Otters in upper reaches of temperate salmonid streams occupied a narrow trophic niche. Overall, otters fed predominantly on fish with salmonids dominating diet, both in terms of frequency and ingested biomass measures. Within the category of salmonids, otters selected for specific size classes. Concurrently, otters also displayed an opportunistic feeding behaviour, and seasonally and locally non-fish prey and other fish species than salmonids became key resources. Diet composition and salmonid size selection varied significantly within and between streams, which we relate to spatio-temporal variations of prey community composition and stream-specific habitat characteristics affecting prey vulnerability.Keywords: otter faeces / salmonid fish / feeding ecology / predator diet / human-wildlife conflict Résumé -Choix de la taille des poissons et composition du régime alimentaire des loutres d'Europe (Lutra lutra) dans des cours d'eau à salmonidés : des gourmets difficiles plutôt que des opportunistes ? Les connaissances sur le régime alimentaire des prédateurs et les facteurs de sélection des proies sont particulièrement intéressantes pour une gestion efficace des populations de prédateurs et de proies où les prédateurs sont potentiellement en compétition avec les humains pour les ressources. La prédation réelle ou perçue de la loutre d'Europe (Lutra lutra) sur les stocks de poissons génère des conflits dans de nombreux pays. Récemment, les conflits se sont intensifiés dans les habitats de rivière, où de multiples facteurs de stress affectent les populations de poissons des cours d'eau. Nous avons combiné l'analyse alimentaire des fèces de loutres et de la disponibilité des poissons proies dans trois cours d'eau autrichiens pour évaluer les différences spatiales et saisonnières dans la composition du régime alimentaire, l'importance de la consommation de poissons (salmonidés) et la sélection en fonction des tailles spécifiques de poissons salmonidés par rapport à leur disponibilité. Les loutres dans le cours supérieur des cours d'eau de salmonidés tempérés occupaient une niche trophique étroite. Dans l'ensemble, les loutres se nourrissaient principalement de poissons et les salmonidés dominaient leur régime alimentaire, tant en termes de *

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Importance of small fishes and invasive crayfish in otter Lutra lutra diet in an English chalk stream

Cited by 9 publications

References 19 publications

Using DNA metabarcoding to investigate diet and niche partitioning in the native European otter (Lutra lutra) and invasive American mink (Neovison vison)

Using DNA metabarcoding to investigate diet and niche partitioning in the native European otter (Lutra lutra) and invasive American mink (Neovison vison)

A new bunya-like virus associated with mass mortality of white-clawed crayfish in the wild

Fish size selection and diet composition of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) in salmonid streams: Picky gourmets rather than opportunists?

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