Dietary Plasticity of African Clawless Otters (Aonyx capensis): An Assessment of Seasonal Variation in Prey Availability
ABSTRACT African clawless otters (Aonyx capensis) are opportunistic feeders with a broad dietary niche. Variation in their diet can be influenced by environmental and anthropogenic factors, which can affect seasonal and longitudinal prey availability. Flexibility in the diet allows African clawless...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71810 |
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| author | Marli Burger Andre Ganswindt Tshepiso L. Majelantle Juan Scheun Andrea B. Webster |
| author_facet | Marli Burger Andre Ganswindt Tshepiso L. Majelantle Juan Scheun Andrea B. Webster |
| author_sort | Marli Burger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT African clawless otters (Aonyx capensis) are opportunistic feeders with a broad dietary niche. Variation in their diet can be influenced by environmental and anthropogenic factors, which can affect seasonal and longitudinal prey availability. Flexibility in the diet allows African clawless otters to adapt to these changes and exploit novel prey items when available. Seasonal examination of otter spraints from three different locations across South Africa demonstrates that African clawless otters are able to shift from their preferred crab‐based diet to a fish‐ or insect‐based diet in response to environmental and anthropogenic drivers. Here we provide direct evidence of African clawless otters in terrestrial environments shifting to an insect‐dominated diet when this resource is available. The dietary plasticity and response of this species to the shifts in available prey items may be an important factor for future consideration in conservation management of the species. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1da7b34d5cbb44589a9802ccc52fef34 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-1da7b34d5cbb44589a9802ccc52fef342025-08-20T03:08:40ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582025-07-01157n/an/a10.1002/ece3.71810Dietary Plasticity of African Clawless Otters (Aonyx capensis): An Assessment of Seasonal Variation in Prey AvailabilityMarli Burger0Andre Ganswindt1Tshepiso L. Majelantle2Juan Scheun3Andrea B. Webster4Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria Pretoria South AfricaFaculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria Pretoria South AfricaBrain Function Research Group, Department of Physiology University of Witwatersrand Johannesburg South AfricaDepartment Nature Conservation Tshwane University of Technology Pretoria South AfricaFaculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria Pretoria South AfricaABSTRACT African clawless otters (Aonyx capensis) are opportunistic feeders with a broad dietary niche. Variation in their diet can be influenced by environmental and anthropogenic factors, which can affect seasonal and longitudinal prey availability. Flexibility in the diet allows African clawless otters to adapt to these changes and exploit novel prey items when available. Seasonal examination of otter spraints from three different locations across South Africa demonstrates that African clawless otters are able to shift from their preferred crab‐based diet to a fish‐ or insect‐based diet in response to environmental and anthropogenic drivers. Here we provide direct evidence of African clawless otters in terrestrial environments shifting to an insect‐dominated diet when this resource is available. The dietary plasticity and response of this species to the shifts in available prey items may be an important factor for future consideration in conservation management of the species.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71810African clawless otterdietary flexibilitydominant prey iteminsectsseasonal prey shifts |
| spellingShingle | Marli Burger Andre Ganswindt Tshepiso L. Majelantle Juan Scheun Andrea B. Webster Dietary Plasticity of African Clawless Otters (Aonyx capensis): An Assessment of Seasonal Variation in Prey Availability Ecology and Evolution African clawless otter dietary flexibility dominant prey item insects seasonal prey shifts |
| title | Dietary Plasticity of African Clawless Otters (Aonyx capensis): An Assessment of Seasonal Variation in Prey Availability |
| title_full | Dietary Plasticity of African Clawless Otters (Aonyx capensis): An Assessment of Seasonal Variation in Prey Availability |
| title_fullStr | Dietary Plasticity of African Clawless Otters (Aonyx capensis): An Assessment of Seasonal Variation in Prey Availability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dietary Plasticity of African Clawless Otters (Aonyx capensis): An Assessment of Seasonal Variation in Prey Availability |
| title_short | Dietary Plasticity of African Clawless Otters (Aonyx capensis): An Assessment of Seasonal Variation in Prey Availability |
| title_sort | dietary plasticity of african clawless otters aonyx capensis an assessment of seasonal variation in prey availability |
| topic | African clawless otter dietary flexibility dominant prey item insects seasonal prey shifts |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71810 |
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