Diet of otters (Lutra lutra) in various habitat types in the Pannonian biogeographical region compared to other regions of Europe.

ABSTRACT: Knowledge of the effect of habitat type and region on diet and feeding behaviours of a species facilitates a better understanding of factors impacting populations, which contributes to effective conservation management. Using spraint analysis and relative frequency of occurrence data from the literature, we described the dietary patterns of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) in 23 study sites within the Pannonian biogeographical region in Hungary. Our results indicated that diet composition varied by habitat type and is therefore context dependant. The differences among habitat types were however lower than expected. We noticed a decline in the fish consumption with a concomitant increase in trophic niche breadth and amphibian consumption in rivers, ponds (fish farms), backwaters, marshes and s

SUBMITTER: Lanszki J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4994076 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature