Evaluating river otter demography using noninvasive genetic methods

摘要: The decline in river otter (Lontra canadensis) populations during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries throughout North America has led to protective status strict harvest regulations. Despite sustained interest protecting otters, relatively few contemporary studies have evaluated current of populations, especially California. An effective way estimate population sizes facilitate monitoring is with noninvasive genetic methods. Our objective was establish baseline demographic information for an understudied northern California by estimating abundance using sampling, supplemented data obtained from observation-based citizen science project focusing on otters. We extracted DNA scat genotyped samples at 6 microsatellite loci. used Program MARK build mark-recapture models pooled visual observations a maintained Humboldt County, supplement estimates regarding pups group size. Between 41 44 otters were study area based samples, ranged 1–7 or 2–12 observational data, respectively. Bay region had high density (0.93 otters/km) as compared other coastal systems; resource attributes could contribute this difference. Results reported herein demonstrate methods appropriate establishing demographics. © 2013 Wildlife Society.