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Diet of coastal foraging Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra L.) in Pembrokeshire south-west Wales

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Abstract

The importance of the marine environment to Eurasian otters is currently poorly understood. Wales is one of the few countries where coastal activity has been recorded and an increase in marine otter sightings could indicate remarkable developments within Welsh populations. The trophic niche of coastal otter populations around Pembrokeshire was investigated over a 12-month period. Marine activity was more widespread than previously thought and marine prey formed the largest component of otter diet, although, otters also consumed freshwater and terrestrial prey throughout the year. Otter diet was very diverse compared to other European coastal populations and a spring contraction in trophic niche width coincided with the estimated timing of breeding activity. Seasonal variation in prey composition was predominantly due to differences in the consumption of alternate prey types. In areas where wetlands are fragmented and populations of freshwater fish are declining, the marine environment may become an increasingly important habitat for otters. It is necessary to define the historical importance of coastal populations to otter conservation. Coastal areas are often subject to pressure from human activities, so the impact of disturbance needs to be assessed. Importantly, there is no verified otter survey method for coastal areas, so the use of marine habitat is likely to be underestimated.

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to all of the volunteers who gave up their time to make this study possible and to the Pembrokeshire marine SAC group and Pembrokeshire Biodiversity Partnership for planning and co-ordinating the project. Thanks to Rob Parry from the Welsh Wildlife Trust for delivering training workshops for the volunteers and to Geoff Liles for providing advice and access to his reports. This work was funded through the Pembrokeshire Marine SAC Relevant Authorities Group.

Ethical standards declaration

We confirm that this study fully complied with current UK law and consideration was paid to the potential impact on the study organisms, prior to commencement. The data providers and NBN Trust bear no responsibility for the further analysis or interpretation of the data and/or information obtained through the NBN gateway.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pure and Applied Ecology, Conservation Ecology Research Team, School of the Environment and Society, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK

    Gareth S. Parry & Dan W. Forman

  2. Pembrokeshire Marine SAC officer, The Old Sail Loft, Milford Docks, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, SA73 3AF, UK

    Sue Burton

  3. Pembrokeshire Biodiversity Partnership Implementation Officer, c/o Development Planning, Pembrokeshire County Council, County Hall, Freeman’s Way, Haverfordwest, Pembs, SA61 1TP, UK

    Bethan Cox

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  1. Gareth S. Parry
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  2. Sue Burton
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  3. Bethan Cox
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  4. Dan W. Forman
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Correspondence to Dan W. Forman.

Additional information

Communicated by C. Gortázar

Appendix A

Appendix A

Table 6 Studies included in the comparison of total niche width (TNE) of otter populations across Europe
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Parry, G.S., Burton, S., Cox, B. et al. Diet of coastal foraging Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra L.) in Pembrokeshire south-west Wales. Eur J Wildl Res 57, 485–494 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-010-0457-y

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