Food Habits of a Re-introduced River Otter (Lontra Canadensis) Population in Western New York

Food Habits of a Re-introduced River Otter (Lontra Canadensis) Population in Western New York PDF Author: Melissa Skyer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : North American river otter
Languages : en
Pages : 88

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Book Description
"River otters were re-introduced to Western New York by the Department of Environmental Conservation between 1995 and 2000. The success of this population relies heavily on the availability of suitable prey. Diet was investigated via frequency of prey occurrence in scats from 2004-2006. Overall diet was comprised mostly of fish and crayfish. The major fish taxa were Centrarchidae (sunfish), Cyprinidae (carp), and Salmonidae (trout); less common were Esocidae (pike) and Castostomidae (sucker). All fish species combined ocurred at 100% frequency during the winter and spring months, but declined during the summer and fall. Sunfish prey were at their highest frequency in the winter and spring months (50-60%), and tapered off to 10-20% in the summer and fall. Carp in the diet showed a seasonal trend, highest in the spring at 30%, 10-20% during the summer and winter, and

Food Habits of a Re-introduced River Otter (Lontra Canadensis) Population in Western New York

Food Habits of a Re-introduced River Otter (Lontra Canadensis) Population in Western New York PDF Author: Melissa Skyer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : North American river otter
Languages : en
Pages : 88

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Book Description
"River otters were re-introduced to Western New York by the Department of Environmental Conservation between 1995 and 2000. The success of this population relies heavily on the availability of suitable prey. Diet was investigated via frequency of prey occurrence in scats from 2004-2006. Overall diet was comprised mostly of fish and crayfish. The major fish taxa were Centrarchidae (sunfish), Cyprinidae (carp), and Salmonidae (trout); less common were Esocidae (pike) and Castostomidae (sucker). All fish species combined ocurred at 100% frequency during the winter and spring months, but declined during the summer and fall. Sunfish prey were at their highest frequency in the winter and spring months (50-60%), and tapered off to 10-20% in the summer and fall. Carp in the diet showed a seasonal trend, highest in the spring at 30%, 10-20% during the summer and winter, and

Diet of a Recently Reintroduced River Otter (Lontra Canadensis) Population in Taos County, New Mexico

Diet of a Recently Reintroduced River Otter (Lontra Canadensis) Population in Taos County, New Mexico PDF Author: Gabriela Alexandra Wolf-Gonzalez
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 80

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Distribution Patterns of River Otters, Lontra Canadensis, Within Monroe County, New York

Distribution Patterns of River Otters, Lontra Canadensis, Within Monroe County, New York PDF Author: Darren Doherty
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : North American river otter
Languages : en
Pages : 90

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Book Description
"River Otters, Lontra canadensis were reintroduced to western NY after being extirpated in the early 1900's. The goal of this project was to understand what environmental variables influence habitat selection of river otters, within Monroe County, New York. Water chemistry and the use of benthic macroinvertebrates were investigated to assess the water quality and human impacts. The research area included three tributaries of the Genesee River: Black, Honeoye, and Oatka Creeks. At identified latrine sites, I collected macroinvertebrates at 9 sites and water chemistry at 30 sites to provide an index of the water quality. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) was used to incorporate land use and determine if there are any relationships between water quality and habitat preference. A statistical analysis of the chemistry and invertebrate sites showed that there is not enough evidence to conclude that a significant positive correlation exists between water quality and river otter habitat selection. However, the data suggest that other possible parameters are influencing selection or there just isn't a significant enough difference between the creeks to deter otter inhabitance. With more confirmed otter sites, more data collection may show that there is indeed a significant correlation."--Abstract.

Wild Mammals of North America

Wild Mammals of North America PDF Author: George A. Feldhamer
Publisher: JHU Press
ISBN: 9780801874161
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 1250

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Food Habits of River Otters (Lontra Canadensis) in the Red River of the North Drainage of Eastern North Dakota

Food Habits of River Otters (Lontra Canadensis) in the Red River of the North Drainage of Eastern North Dakota PDF Author: Cory R. Stearns
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : North American river otter
Languages : en
Pages : 432

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Population Demographics and Diet Variation of the North American River Otter (Lontra Canadensis) in Ohio, USA

Population Demographics and Diet Variation of the North American River Otter (Lontra Canadensis) in Ohio, USA PDF Author: Sara A. Adamczak
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : North American river otter
Languages : en
Pages : 76

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Book Description
The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semi-aquatic, apex predator that has undergone vast changes in its distribution in the past few decades. In the Midwest, river otters were extirpated and later reintroduced with little follow up on their population status. It is important to assess the current population in order to make the proper management decisions statewide. In addition to the lack of demographic knowledge, spatio-temporal variation in the North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) diet is not well understood. As resource availability and usage can influence population demographics, it is important to assess river otter diet to properly understand river otter ecology. In order to assess the river otter population in Ohio, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) requested carcass submission by licensed trappers. Throughout the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 trapping seasons, 107 river otter carcasses were collected. Necropsies were performed to assess age and sex, reproductive status, and stable-isotope informed diet composition. Reproductive rates were determined from counting corpora lutea in female river otters. Demographic data were compared to the 2005-2008 harvests seasons, when river otter trapping was first reinstated. Samples of river otter muscle were collected, prepared and assessed for stable isotopes of 13C and 15N to estimate the variability in the dietary contribution of multiple prey sources by age, sex, and location.

The Use of Molecular Scatology to Study River Otter (Lontra Canadensis) Genetics

The Use of Molecular Scatology to Study River Otter (Lontra Canadensis) Genetics PDF Author: Barbara McElwee
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Feces
Languages : en
Pages : 118

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Book Description
"North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) were extirpated throughout all of Western New York due to habitat loss, pollution, and trapping. Between 1995 and 2000, 279 river otters were released throughout Western New York, 31 of which were released in the Genesee river watershed. Since their release there have been no follow-up studies on the river otters until the RIT River Otter Lab was formed in 2004. Researchers surveyed three local creeks to record data on toilet site locations and collect otter feces in order to perform dietary and genetic analyses. Through the use of molecular scatology I extracted DNA from feces in order to determine the amount of genetic diversity of the reintroduced river otter population. I also utilized otter scat samples from British Columbia and the Thousand Islands. Using a QIAGEN QIAamp Stool Mini Kit I attempted to extract mitochondrial cytochrome b DNA from 177 samples, roughly 16% of which were successfully amplified and sequenced. From the sequenced scat samples I identified two otter, 14 raccoon, one beaver, one coyote, and three fish: common carp, golden redhorse, and shorthead redhorse from the Genesee watershed. I have also sequenced one sample as otter and one sample as pink salmon from British Columbia and five samples as bullhead catfish from the Thousand Islands. It is believed that the samples that were sequenced as fish were likely from otters. I then utilized microsatellites, and I included a raccoon sample as well. To my surprise the raccoon sample worked with the river otter microsatellite primer, despite a 25% divergence between the two species' cytochrome b sequences. I determined that out of ten river otter microsatellite primers, three river otter primers do not work with raccoons, five primers produced identical or nearly identical sequence, and two primers need more research to determine if they work with raccoons. These results stress the importance of confirming species identification from fecal samples using mitochondrial DNA prior to the use of microsatellites to avoid misleading results."--Abstract.

Feeding Ecology of a Reintroduced River Otter (Lontra Canadensis) Population in Northcentral Pennsylvania

Feeding Ecology of a Reintroduced River Otter (Lontra Canadensis) Population in Northcentral Pennsylvania PDF Author: Anthony J. Giordano
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : North American river otter
Languages : en
Pages : 248

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Otters

Otters PDF Author: Hans Kruuk
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 0191513725
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 278

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Book Description
Otters are highly charismatic and popular animals of very considerable concern to conservationists worldwide. Written by the pre-eminent authority in the field, this book builds on the reputation of the author's landmark monograph of the European otter, Wild Otters (OUP, 1995). Furthermore, its broader scope to include all species of otter in North America as well as Europe and elsewhere leads to a deeper synthesis that greatly expands the book's overall relevance and potential readership. Aimed at naturalists, scientists and conservationists, its personal style and generously illustrated text will appeal to amateurs and professionals alike. It emphasises recent research and conservation management initiatives for all 13 species of otter worldwide, incorporates recent molecular research on taxonomy and population genetics, and discusses the wider implications of otter studies for ecology and conservation biology. As well as enchanting direct observations of the animals, there is guidance about how and where to watch and study them. From otters in the British and American lakes and rivers, to sea otters in the Pacific Ocean, giant otters in the Amazon and other species in Africa and Asia, this book provides an engaging approach to their fascinating existence, to the science needed to understand it, and to the very real threats to their survival.

Feeding Habits of Yellowstone River Otters on Two Lakes

Feeding Habits of Yellowstone River Otters on Two Lakes PDF Author: William Ralph Wengeler
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Brown trout
Languages : en
Pages : 128

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Book Description
"The introduction of exotic lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) to Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park has contributed to a significant decline in the heretofore healthy population of Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri). There is great concern not only regarding the persistence of this genetically pure cutthroat subspecies, but also for the potential impacts their disappearance will have on the fish-eating predators of Yellowstone Lake and the surrounding community. Nearby Lewis Lake has no cutthroat trout, but is home to a well-established population of non-native lake trout, brown trout (Salmo trutta), and Utah chub (Gila atraria). We examined the contents of 179 river otter (Lontra canadensis) scats collected along the shores of Yellowstone (n=101) and Lewis Lakes (n=78) in Yellowstone National Park to compare otter dietary habits, especially with regard to the mustelid's utilization of native vs. non-native fish species. We also assessed diets using stable isotopes analysis ... on otters and represenatative prey from both lakes. In addition, we analyzed the isotopic signatures of fur taken from Yellowstone Lake otter specimens collected in the early part of the 20th century before exotic trout were introduced. Fecal analysis indicated that trout were consumed much more frequently by contemporary Yellowstone Lake otters (57% annually) than by otters occupying Lewis Lake (12% annually). The predominant fish found in Lewis Lake otter feces were minnows, presumably Utah chub. Stable isotopes analysis, however, identified longnose suckers (Catostomus catostomus) as the primary fish prey for Yellowstone Lake otters (56% contribution to otter diet), while indicating that otters there are generally preying on neither cutthroat trout nor introduced lake trout. Analysis of stable isotopes also indicated that contemporary Yellowstone Lake otters forage at a lower trophic level ... than their historic counterparts ... Isotopic data from Lewis Lake revealed that brown trout (60% contribution to otter diet) contribute more to otter diets there than local lake trout and Utah chub together (40% combined contribution). This study establishes the importance of alternative prey species to otters foraging on both lakes and supplements the growing body of research demonstrating that lake trout will not constitute a major food source for Yellowstone river otters."--Abstract.