Site-specific and seasonal variation in habitat use of Eurasian otters (<i>Lutra</i> <i>lutra</i>) in western China: implications for conservation

Qiao-Yun Wang; Kai-Dan Zheng; Xue-Song Han; Fang He; Xiang Zhao; Peng-Fei Fan; Lu Zhang

doi:10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2021.238

Volume 42 Issue 6

Nov. 2021

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Article Navigation > Zoological Research > 2021 > 42(6): 825-833

Qiao-Yun Wang, Kai-Dan Zheng, Xue-Song Han, Fang He, Xiang Zhao, Peng-Fei Fan, Lu Zhang. Site-specific and seasonal variation in habitat use of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) in western China: implications for conservation. Zoological Research, 2021, 42(6): 825-833. doi: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2021.238

Citation:

Qiao-Yun Wang, Kai-Dan Zheng, Xue-Song Han, Fang He, Xiang Zhao, Peng-Fei Fan, Lu Zhang. Site-specific and seasonal variation in habitat use of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) in western China: implications for conservation. Zoological Research, 2021, 42(6): 825-833. doi: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2021.238

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Site-specific and seasonal variation in habitat use of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) in western China: implications for conservation

doi: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2021.238

Qiao-Yun Wang¹,
Kai-Dan Zheng¹,
Xue-Song Han^{2, 3},
Fang He⁴,
Xiang Zhao²,
Peng-Fei Fan^{1
,
,},
Lu Zhang^{1
,
,}

1.
School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
2.
Shan Shui Conservation Center, Beijing 100871, China
3.
School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
4.
Tangjiahe National Natural Reserve, Guangyuan, Sichuan 628109, China

Funds: This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31900372), Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, Yushu Prefecture Forestry and Grassland Bureau, “One Yangtze” Project of Huatai Securities (HTSC), and the State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol (Sun Yat-Sen University)

More Information

Corresponding author: E-mail: fanpf@mail.sysu.edu.cn; zhanglu38@mail.sysu.edu.cn
Received Date: 2021-09-07
Accepted Date: 2021-11-04

Published Online: 2021-11-05

Publish Date: 2021-11-18

Abstract

Abstract

As a top predator, the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is an indicator of healthy freshwater ecosystems and a flagship species for conservation. Once widespread in China, the species is now distributed mainly in the upper reaches of the great rivers of western China. However, a lack of knowledge on local otter populations continues to hinder their conservation in China. Here, we conducted a detailed study on habitat use of Eurasian otters in Yushu City and Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve in western China using transect surveys. At both study sites, otters preferred to defecate on large rocks close to or protruding from the river and about 50 cm above the waterline. In Yushu, no spraints were found along the 5 km river bank section in the downtown area, with otters preferring sprainting sites with natural banks, riparian zones, and lower human population density. However, this pattern was not obvious at Tangjiahe, where river transformation and human disturbance are minor. Otter river use intensity was negatively correlated with elevation and human population density in Yushu in both seasons. In Tangjiahe, otter river use intensity was positively correlated with prey mass and flow rate and negatively correlated with human population in spring, but positively correlated with human population and negatively correlated with flow rate in autumn. These results reflect the flexible habitat use strategies of otters at different sites, underlining the necessity to study otters living in different regions and habitat types. We provide suggestions for river modification and call for more site-specific studies to promote otter conservation in China.
- Lutra lutra,
- Sprainting site,
- Habitat selection,
- Conservation,
- Local scale

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References(53)

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