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Diet diversity and breeding of top predators are determined by habitat stability and structure: a case study with the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra L.)

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Abstract

A study on Eurasian otter was conducted in order to establish if feeding ecology and breeding of this European freshwater top predator were affected by the habitat complexity or stability. The work was based on the comparison of contrasting environmental settings. Significant gradients were found for otter diet parameters and breeding, both also changing according to habitat gradient patterns (water capacity and permanence during droughts, habitat stability, and habitat complexity). The otter diet was less diverse in the most stable (and complex) habitats, eating more fish. Otters also breed more regularly in such more stable courses, with more suitable fish availability. The step toward lower habitat stability can put otters in a less advantageous position in front of generalist predators, foraging more frequently outside or in the edge of aquatic ecosystems. Implications for otters and other similar top predator’s conservation are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

Several people have helped us at various stages of this study. We would especially like to thank Antoni Batet, Miguel Angel Bartolomé, Francesca Casadesús, Willy Chacón, Diego Martínez, Santiago Palazón, Alejandro Pascual, Marc Ruiz and Montserrat Sagalés for their collaboration on this project. We are grateful for Dr. J.W.H. Conroy and M. Clavero for their comments.

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  1. Direcció general del Medi Natural, Dr. Roux 80, 08017, Barcelona, Spain

    Jordi Ruiz-Olmo

  2. Dirección general de Gestión del Medio Natural, Francesc Cubells 7, 46011, Valencia, Spain

    Juan Jiménez

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  1. Jordi Ruiz-Olmo
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  2. Juan Jiménez
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Correspondence to Jordi Ruiz-Olmo.

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Communicated by C. Gortazar

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Ruiz-Olmo, J., Jiménez, J. Diet diversity and breeding of top predators are determined by habitat stability and structure: a case study with the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra L.). Eur J Wildl Res 55, 133–144 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-008-0226-3

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