Isotopic niche of the Neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis (Carnivora, Mustelidae), in different coastal aquatic systems in southern Brazil

Carrasco, Thayara S.; Botta, Silvina; Machado, Rodrigo; Simões‐Lopes, Paulo C.; Carvalho-Junior, Oldemar; Ott, Paulo Henrique; Colares, Elton Pinto; Secchi, Eduardo R.

doi:10.1007/s10750-019-3931-x

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 73 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The analyses of stable isotope ratios (SIA) is a technique that overcomes many of the limitations associated with spraint analysis and has been used to investigate the diets and isotopic niches of various otter species (Angerbjörn et al 1994;Grey 2001;Newsome et al 2009;Carrasco et al 2019;Jordaan et al 2019). This method makes use of various animal tissues including bone collagen (Angerbjörn et al 1994), red blood cells and blood plasma (Hilderbrand et al 1996), muscle tissue (Grey 2001), teeth (Carrasco et al 2019) and vibrissae (Lübcker et al 2016;Lerner et al 2018). The use of vibrissae is often favourable as they provide multiple data points providing a temporal component due to the slow growth rate of vibrissae and their constant nutrient assimilation (Lübcker et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The diet of spotted-necked otters foraging in trout-stocked waters in Mpumalanga, South Africa

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Human-wildlife conflict is likely to increase as urbanisation increases. African clawless otters, Aonyx capensis, and spotted-necked otters, Hydrictis maculicollis, are illegally persecuted for their perceived role in reducing trout in artificially stocked habitats in South Africa. The diet of African clawless otters has been investigated, but little is known about the diet of spotted-necked otters in these habitats. Using stable isotope techniques, we investigated the diet of spotted-necked otters occupying habitats artificially stocked with trout. Stable isotope analyses revealed that the diet of spotted-necked otters included equal proportions of crab and trout followed by frog. Diet was found to vary between, as well as within, individuals suggesting individual dietary plasticity. Temporal variation in foraging areas was evident for some otters. These results suggest that individual animals specialise on trout when available. However, this was not consistent between individuals. The resulting conflict with freshwater fisheries may, therefore, be primarily due to individual animals adapting to diets consisting largely of farmed trout. The extent of spotted-necked otter influence on stocked trout, however, needs further investigation.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The diet of spotted-necked otters foraging in trout-stocked waters in Mpumalanga, South Africa

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Many of the limitations associated with spraint analysis can be overcome with the use of techniques such as stable isotope analysis (SIA). This method has been used to investigate numerous diets and isotopic niches including those of southern sea otter, E. lutris'nereis, and recently Neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis (Angerbjörn et al, 1994;Grey et al, 2001;Newsome et al, 2009;Carrasco et al, 2019). Various animal tissues are used in SIA including red blood cells and blood plasma (Hilderbrand et al, 1996), bone collagen (Angerbjörn et al, 1994), muscle tissue (Grey et al, 2001), teeth (Carrasco et al, 2019) and vibrissae (Lübcker et al, 2016;Lerner et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This method has been used to investigate numerous diets and isotopic niches including those of southern sea otter, E. lutris'nereis, and recently Neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis (Angerbjörn et al, 1994;Grey et al, 2001;Newsome et al, 2009;Carrasco et al, 2019). Various animal tissues are used in SIA including red blood cells and blood plasma (Hilderbrand et al, 1996), bone collagen (Angerbjörn et al, 1994), muscle tissue (Grey et al, 2001), teeth (Carrasco et al, 2019) and vibrissae (Lübcker et al, 2016;Lerner et al, 2018). Vibrissae are potentially the tissue with the most benefits as they are comparatively non-invasive to sample and provide multiple data points providing a temporal component due to assimilation of nutrients and the slow growth rate of vibrissae (Lübcker et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plasticity and specialisation in the isotopic niche of African clawless otters foraging in marine and freshwater habitats

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Individual-level behavioural plasticity resulting from differences in environmental conditions is prevalent in many organisms and may result in phenomena such as dietary-or habitat specialisation. The isotopic niche of African clawless otters, Aonyx capensis, occupying different habitats was investigated with the use of stable isotope techniques. Stable isotope analyses revealed that African clawless otter isotopic niche varied between, as well as within, individuals and varied when compared to conspecifics occupying different habitats. Some otters varied their isotopic niche and foraging areas temporally, whilst others did not. The isotopic niche of African clawless otters in a coastal habitat overlapped substantially with previous reports on otter diet, but illustrated that otters eat more shark and molluscs than previously estimated. In freshwater habitats, not all otters had trout in their isotopic niche, although this prey item was abundantly available in the study area. Our results suggest that the African clawless otters can exhibit substantial behavioural plasticity. Such evident adaptability is likely to benefit otters and allow for extended use of non-pristine environments affected by human disturbance when sufficient quantities of prey remain available.

show abstract

Trophic flexibility of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in Anzali Wetland, Iran, assessed by fecal and stable isotope analysis

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Isotopic niche of the Neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis (Carnivora, Mustelidae), in different coastal aquatic systems in southern Brazil

Cited by 4 publications

References 73 publications

The diet of spotted-necked otters foraging in trout-stocked waters in Mpumalanga, South Africa

The diet of spotted-necked otters foraging in trout-stocked waters in Mpumalanga, South Africa

Plasticity and specialisation in the isotopic niche of African clawless otters foraging in marine and freshwater habitats

Trophic flexibility of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in Anzali Wetland, Iran, assessed by fecal and stable isotope analysis

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About