Ecology of the neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) in southern Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
Land otters are predators at the top of the food chain in the rivers where they live and mold the biotic communities at lower trophic levels. The neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis, is widely distributed in the Americas, but populations are being decimated by hunting, habitat loss, water polluti...
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Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad |
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| Online Access: | https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/2820 |
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| author | Mario C. Lavariega Emilio Martínez-Ramírez Rocio N. Santiago-Olivera Gabriel Isaías Cruz-Ruíz Rosa María Gómez-Ugalde Miguel Briones-Salas |
| author_facet | Mario C. Lavariega Emilio Martínez-Ramírez Rocio N. Santiago-Olivera Gabriel Isaías Cruz-Ruíz Rosa María Gómez-Ugalde Miguel Briones-Salas |
| author_sort | Mario C. Lavariega |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Land otters are predators at the top of the food chain in the rivers where they live and mold the biotic communities at lower trophic levels. The neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis, is widely distributed in the Americas, but populations are being decimated by hunting, habitat loss, water pollution, and roadkills. An otter population was located in southern Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (TCBR), Mexico. Surveys were conducted in the dry season to determine otter
presence, to record physical-chemical data and to collect scats to determine their populational densities and feeding habits. River width and depth, dissolved oxygen and elevation were the significant variables that explained their presence. In the rivers where otters were present, we estimated densities between 0.19 and 0.22 otters/km. We found 12 prey taxa, mainly freshwater fish. In this protected area, the neotropical otter is restricted to large rivers at low elevations, and populations are low. Although otters have diverse feeding habits, they mainly prey upon Poeciliopsis spp., which constituted 60% of the scats. Density estimates comprise the dry season and were lower than previous surveys, therefore it is necessary to conduct yearly monitoring to identify trends and to implement actions focused on their conservation and management.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b902de9e36d74744a281d037d83fae45 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1870-3453 2007-8706 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad |
| spelling | doaj-art-b902de9e36d74744a281d037d83fae452025-08-20T02:31:08ZengUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoRevista Mexicana de Biodiversidad1870-34532007-87062020-12-019110.22201/ib.20078706e.2020.91.2820Ecology of the neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) in southern Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, MexicoMario C. Lavariega0Emilio Martínez-Ramírez1Rocio N. Santiago-Olivera2Gabriel Isaías Cruz-Ruíz3Rosa María Gómez-Ugalde4Miguel Briones-Salas5Instituto Politécnico NacionalInstituto Politécnico NacionalUniversidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de OaxacaEl Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad ChetumalInstituto Tecnológico del Valle de OaxacaInstituto Politécnico Nacional Land otters are predators at the top of the food chain in the rivers where they live and mold the biotic communities at lower trophic levels. The neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis, is widely distributed in the Americas, but populations are being decimated by hunting, habitat loss, water pollution, and roadkills. An otter population was located in southern Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (TCBR), Mexico. Surveys were conducted in the dry season to determine otter presence, to record physical-chemical data and to collect scats to determine their populational densities and feeding habits. River width and depth, dissolved oxygen and elevation were the significant variables that explained their presence. In the rivers where otters were present, we estimated densities between 0.19 and 0.22 otters/km. We found 12 prey taxa, mainly freshwater fish. In this protected area, the neotropical otter is restricted to large rivers at low elevations, and populations are low. Although otters have diverse feeding habits, they mainly prey upon Poeciliopsis spp., which constituted 60% of the scats. Density estimates comprise the dry season and were lower than previous surveys, therefore it is necessary to conduct yearly monitoring to identify trends and to implement actions focused on their conservation and management. https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/2820DensityFeeding habitsGeographic distributionHabitatMustelidaeProtected areas |
| spellingShingle | Mario C. Lavariega Emilio Martínez-Ramírez Rocio N. Santiago-Olivera Gabriel Isaías Cruz-Ruíz Rosa María Gómez-Ugalde Miguel Briones-Salas Ecology of the neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) in southern Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, Mexico Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad Density Feeding habits Geographic distribution Habitat Mustelidae Protected areas |
| title | Ecology of the neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) in southern Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, Mexico |
| title_full | Ecology of the neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) in southern Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, Mexico |
| title_fullStr | Ecology of the neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) in southern Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, Mexico |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecology of the neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) in southern Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, Mexico |
| title_short | Ecology of the neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) in southern Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, Mexico |
| title_sort | ecology of the neotropical otter lontra longicaudis in southern tehuacan cuicatlan biosphere reserve mexico |
| topic | Density Feeding habits Geographic distribution Habitat Mustelidae Protected areas |
| url | https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/2820 |
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