Diet composition of otters (Lutra lutra L.) living on small watercourses in Southwestern Hungary.

摘要: The diet composition of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) was studied by spraint (faecal) analysis (n = 1,460 samples), over a two-year period, on five sections stream and channel in the Drava region southwest Hungary. primary food generally fish (range: 33.3–89.9%, biomass estimation), with amphibians secondary importance (3.4–48.5%). Highest consumption found winter lowest spring. Amphibians were eaten more spring than winter. Mammals (range 2.0–9.3%), birds (1.1–4.1%), reptiles (up to 22.2%), crayfish 1.7%) insects (0.1–4.2%) consumed at low levels. Trophic niche breadth did not differ significantly between areas, though widest seasonal values differed greatly (summer B 2.48, 1.12). Otters preyed mainly small (< 100 g weight, range 88.0–96.9% biomass) all study areas. Eurytopic (mean 72.7%) stagnophilic 21.7%) taken preferentially, lesser reophilic species 5.6%). Non-native most often 71.0%, e.g. giebel carp, brown bullhead). Our results indicate that watercourses can play an important role as regards otter habitat and, such, should receive attention when assessing habitats for otter.