Browse > Article

Ecology of Otters and Utilization of Artificial Holts in the Ecosystem Conservation Region of the Seomjin River  

Jo, Yeong-Seok (Dong River Conservation Center)
Choi, Byung-Jin (Korean Natural Environment Institute)
Won, Chang-Man (Division of Wildlife, National Institute of Environmental Research)
Kim, Joo-Pill (Department of Biology, Dongguk University)
Publication Information
Korean Journal of Environmental Biology / v.24, no.2, 2006 , pp. 160-165 More about this Journal
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to ascertain the prey composition and utilization of the Eurasian otter, Lutra lutra, in the ecosystem conservation region of the Seomjin River. The study was conducted for a 12-month period from March 2003 to February 2004 by spraints analysis and an investigation using artificial holts. We found seasonal variation in the number of spraints and composition of prey items. Fish were the main prey items throughout the period (82%), and other prey items included birds (14%), amphibians (2%) and arthropods (1%). In addition to prey identification, we investigated habitat utilization by otters through spraints distribution. The traces of otters were discovered in five of the six total artificial holts. However, the utilization of the artificial holts in the study area seemed to be limited as evidenced by the low frequency of traces in the holts.
Keywords
Eurasian otter; prey composition; artificial holt; Seomjin River;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Brzezinski M, W Jedrzejewski and B Jedrzejewska. 1993. Diet of otters (Lutra lutra) inhabiting small rivers in the Bialowieza National Park, eastern Poland. J. Zool. Soc. London 230:495-501   DOI   ScienceOn
2 Cannonfarm. 2004. Constructing an artificial holt. . [accessed 2005 Feb. 18]
3 Clavero M, J Prenda and M Delibes. 2003. Trophic diversity of the otter (Lutra lutra L.) in temperate and Mediterranean freshwater habitats. J. Biogeogr. 30:761-769   DOI   ScienceOn
4 Jacobsen Land HM Hansen. 1996. Analysis of otter (Lutra lutra) spraints: Part I: comparison of methods to estimate prey proportions; Part 2: Estimation of the size of prey fish. J. Zool. London 238: 167-180   DOI
5 Kruuk H. 1995. Wild otters: Predation and Population. Oxford University Press, Oxford
6 Willson DE and DM Reeder. 1993. Mammal species of the World. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington
7 Won CM, BH Yoo, WM Kim and DK Lee 2002. Wildlife survey. Rep. NEIR 24: 141-152. (in Korean)
8 Won CM and KG Smith. 1999. History and current status of mammals of the Korean Peninsula. Mammal Rev. 29:3-33   DOI   ScienceOn
9 Jo YS. 2003. The prey habit and habitat preference of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra along the Ungok River in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. MS thesis. Dongguk University
10 Mason CF and SM Macdonald. 1986. Otters: Ecology and Conservation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
11 Norman S. 2004. Log Pile Holts: Anglian otter and river project. Handout manual. Suffolk Wildlife Trust
12 Green J, R Green and DJ Jefferies. 1984. A radio-tracking survey of otter Lutra lutra on a perthshire river system. Lutra 27:85-145
13 Earthwatch. 2004. Bringing Back Otters. . [accessed 2005 Feb. 18]
14 Nowak RM. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore
15 Beja PR. 1996. An analysis of otter Lutra lutra predation on introduced American crayfish Procambarus clarkii in Iberian streams. J. Appl. Ecol. 33: 1156-1170   DOI   ScienceOn
16 Aquarium of the Lakes. 2003. Otters spotted in Aquarium's artificial home. . [accessed 2005 Feb. 18]
17 Hutchings MR and PCL White. 2000. Mustelid scent-marking in managed ecosystems: implications for population management. Mammal Rev. 30:157-169   DOI   ScienceOn
18 Kim IS and H Yang. 2002. Freshwater fish in Banya-bong: Second national ecosystem survey. Ministry of Environment, 401-447. (in Korean)
19 Caughley G and A Gunn. 1996. Conservation biology in theory and practice. Blackwell Science, Cambridge
20 Won CM. 2004. Ecology and Conservation of Eurasian otter, Lutra lutra, in freshwater and marine ecosystem of Korea. Korea-Japan Workshop for habitat assessment techniques for wetland animal in Dam construction. 1-8
21 Kruuk H. 1998. Habitat use and conservation of otters (Lutra lutra) in Britain: Behavior and Ecology of riparian mammals (ed by N. Dunston and M. L. Gorman) Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. pp. 119-133
22 Macdonald SM and CF Mason. 1987. Seasonal marking in an otter population. Acta Theriol. 32:449-462   DOI