Diet of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in relation to freshwater habitats and alien fish species in southern Italy

摘要: The diet composition of otters in the upper catchment River Agri (southern Italy) was investigated by spraint analysis (N = 555) between May 2001 and January 2003. Once a season, spraints were collected along four riverine stretches, two with swift-waters slow-waters. Overall, fish represented dominant food (percent mean volume, Vm% 57.30), followed amphibians (Vm% 18.90) crayfish 15.60). feeding swift-water sections differed significantly from that recorded slow-water sections. trophic niche larger for sections, because presence more species. In both sampled habitats (swift- slow-waters) importance decreased winter when flooding increasing water speeds turbidity thus reduced hunting efficiency otters. Hibernating primary alternative resource. As expected, insects reptiles eaten frequently summer, while birds ...