Scale-dependent Factors Affecting North American River Otter Distribution in the Midwest

摘要: The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is recovering from near extirpation throughout much of its range. Although reintroductions, trapping regulations and habitat improvements have led to the reestablishment otters in Midwest, little known about how their distribution influenced by local- landscape-scale habitat. We conducted sign surveys Jan. Apr. 2008 2009 eastern Kansas assess factors affect occupancy. surveyed three nine 400-m stretches stream reservoir shorelines for 110 sites measured local-scale variables (e.g., order, land cover types) within a 100 m buffer survey site road density, Hydrological Unit Code 14 watersheds. then used occupancy models that account probability detection estimate as function these covariates using Program PRESENCE. best-fitting model indicated increased with proportion woodland decreased cropland grassland at local scale. Occupancy also shoreline diversity, waterbody density landscape was not affected or human disturbance Understanding scale important occurrence will be useful identifying areas management continued restoration.