Habitat selection by river otters (lontra canadensis) under contrasting land-use regimes

Canadian Journal of Zoology

Volumn 87, Issue 5, 2009, Pages 422-432

  Gallant, D ^a,d   Vasseur, L ^a   Dumond, M ^b   Tremblay, E ^c,e   Berube Ch ^a  

^a UNIVERSITÉ DE MONCTON   (Canada)

^b Nunavut Wildlife Division   (Canada)

^c Kouchibouguac National Park of Canada   (Canada)

^d UNIVERSITÉ DU QUÉBEC À RIMOUSKI   (Canada)

^e BROCK UNIVERSITY   (Canada)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ANTHROPOGENIC EFFECT; HABITAT STRUCTURE; HABITAT USE; LAND USE CHANGE; MUSTELID; REGRESSION ANALYSIS;

CANADA; NEW BRUNSWICK; NORTH AMERICA;

CARNIVORA; LONTRA CANADENSIS; LUTRA CANADENSIS; LUTRINAE;

EID: 68149136938     PISSN: 00084301     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1139/Z09-035     Document Type: Article

References (66)

1. Alexander, M.D. 1998. Effects of beaver (Castor canadensis) impoundments on stream temperature and fish community species composition and growth in selected tributaries of Miramichi River, New Brunswick. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2227: 1-44.
2. Anderson, D.R., and Burnham, K.P. 2002. Avoiding pitfalls when using information-theoretic methods. J. Wildl. Manage. 66: 912-918. doi: 10.2307/3803155.
3. Bailey, J.K., Schweitzer, J.A., Rehill, B.J., Lindroth, R.L., Martin- sen, CD., and Whitham, T.G. 2004. Beaver as molecular geneticists: a genetic basis to the foraging of an ecosystem engineer. Ecology, 85: 603-608. doi: 10.1890/03-3049.
4. Barbosa, A.M., Real, R., Marquez, A.L., and Rendón, M.Á. 2001. Spatial, environmental and human influences on the distribution of otter (Lutra Intra) in the Spanish provinces. Divers. Distrib. 7: 137-144. doi: 10.1046/j. 14724642.2001.00104.x
5. Ben-David, M., Dufly, L.K., Blundell, CM., and Bowyer, R.T. 2001. Natural exposure of coastal river otters to mercury: relation to age, diet and survival. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 20: 1986-1992. doi: 10.1897/1551 -5028(2001 )020< 1986:NEOCRQ>2.0. CO;2. PM1D:11521825.'
6. Bhat, M.C, Huflaker, R.C, and Lenhart, S.M. 1993. Controlling forest damage by dispersive beaver populations: centralized optimal management strategy. Ecol. Appl. 3: 518-530. doi: 10. 2307/1941920.
7. Bischof, R. 2003. Status of the northern river otter in Nebraska. Prairie Nat. 35: 117-120.
8. Bowyer, R.T., Testa, J.W., Faro, J.B., Schwartz, C.C., and Browning, J.B. 1994. Changes in diets of river otters in Prince William Sound, Alaska: effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Can. J. Zool. 72: 970-976. doi: 10.1139/z94-133.
9. Bowyer, R.T, Testa, J.W., and Faro, J.B. 1995. Habitat selection and home ranges of river otters in a marine environment: effect of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. J. Mammal. 76: 1-11. doi: 10. 2307/1382309.
10. Buniham, K.P., and Anderson, D.R. 2002. Model selection and multimodel inference: a practical information-theoretic approach. Springer-Verlag, New York.
11. Carter, S.K., and Rosas, F.C.W. 1997. Biology and conservation of the giant otter Ptcnmura brasi/iensis. Mammal Rev. 27: 1-26. doi: 10.1111/j.l 365-2907.1997. tb00370.x.
12. Conroy, J.W.H., and French, D.D. 1987. The use of spraints to monitor populations of otters (Lutra lutra L.). Symp. Zool. See. Lond. 58: 247-262.
13. Dean, TA., Bodkin, J.L., Fukuyama, A.K., Jewett, S.C., Monson, D.H., O'Clair, C.E., and VanBIaricom, G.R. 2002. Food limitation and the recovery of sea otters following the 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 241: 255-270. doi: 10.3354/ meps24l255.
14. Desloges, C. 1980. Les ressources naturelles du Parc national Kou- chibouguac. Parcs Canada, région de l'Atlantique, Halifax, N.-E.
15. Dubuc, L.J., Krohn, W.B., and Owen, R.B. 1990. Predicting occurrence of river otters by habitat on Mount Desert Island, Maine. J. Wildl. Manage. 54: 594-599. doi: 10.2307/3809355.
16. Dumond, M., Villard, M.-A., and Tremblay, E. 2001. Does coyote diet vary seasonally between a protected and an unprotected forest landscape? Ecoscience, 8: 301-310.
17. Gallant, D. 2007. Species-wise disparity in scientific knowledge about otters: an obstacle to optimal management and conservation actions? 1UCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 24: 5-13. Available from http://otterspecialistgroup. org/BuIletin/lUCNOSGBull.html.
18. Gard, R. 1961. Effects of the beaver on trout in Sagehen Creek, California. J. Wildl. Manage. 25: 221-242. doi: 10.2307/ 3797848.
19. Geary, R.C. 1954. The contiguity ratio and statistical mapping. Incorp. Statist. 5: 115-145. doi: 10.2307/2986645.
20. González, 1., and Utrera, A. 2004. Distribution of the neotropical otter Lontra Umgicaudis in the Venezuelan Andes: habitat and status of its population. 1UCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 21: 86-92. Available from http://otterspeciaIistgroup.org/BuIIetin/ IUCNOSGBull.html.
21. Graillon, P., Provencher, L., and Fortin, M.-J. 2000. Biophysical mapping of a greater ecosystem: Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick. Bull. Rech. n 152-153, Département de géographie et télé détection. Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Qué.
22. Green, H.U. 1932. Observation on the occurence of the river oter in the Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, in relation to beaver life. Can. Field-Nat. 46: 204-206.
23. Greer, K.R. 1955. Yearly food habits of the river otter in the Thompson Lakes region, northwestern Montana, as indicated by scat analyses. Am. Midi. Nat. 54: 299-313. doi: 10.2307/ 2422569.
24. Gurd, D.B., and Nudds, T.D. 1999. Insular biogeography of mammals in Canadian parks: a re-analysis. J. Biogeogr. 26: 973-982. doi: 10.1046/j. 1365-2699.1999.00334.x.
25. Hubbard, B., and Serfass, T. 2004. Assessing the distribution of reintroduced populations of river otters in Pennsylvania (USA) development of a landscape-level approach. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 21: 60-65. Available from hup:// otterspecialistgroup.org/Bulletin/IUCNOSGBull.html.
26. Hurlbert, S.H. 1984. Pseudoreplication and the design of ecological field experiments. Ecol. Monogr. 54: 187-211. doi: 10.2307/ 1942661.
27. Jensen, P.G., Curtis, P.D., Lehnert, M.E., and Hamelin, D.L. 2001. Habitat and structural factors influencing beaver interference with highway culverts. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 29: 654-664.
28. Johnson, S.A., and Berkley, K.A. I999. Restoring river otters in Indiana. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 27: 419-427.
29. Johnson, S.A., and Berkley, K.A. 1999/?. Construction of a natal den by an introduced river otter, Lutra canadensis, in Indiana. Can. Field-Nat. 113: 301-304.
30. Kruuk, H., Conroy, J.W.H., and Moorhouse, A. 1991. Recruitment to a population of otters (Lutra lutra) in Shetland, in relation to fish abundance. J. Appl. Ecol. 28: 95-101. doi: 10.2307/2404116.
31. Larivìre, S., and Walton, L.R. 1998. Umtra canadensis. Mamm. Species, 587: 1-8.
32. LeBIanc, F.A., Gallant, D., Vasseur, L., and Léger, L. 2007. Unequal summer use of beaver ponds by river otters: influence of beaver activity, pond size, and vegetation cover. Can. J. Zool. 85: 774-782. doi: 10.1139/Z07-056.
33. Lodé, T. 1993. The decline of otter Lutra lutra populations in the region of the Pays de Loire, western France. Biol. Conserv. 65: 9-13. doi: 10.1016/0006-3207(93)90190-C.
34. Loy, A. 2005. European otter workshop: research advances and otter conservation in Europe. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 22: 34-37. Available from http://otterspeciaIistgroup.org/Bulletin/ IUCNOSGBull.html.
35. Macdonald, S.M., and Mason, C.F. 1982. The otter Lutra lutra in central Portugal. Biol. Conserv. 22: 207-215. doi: 10.1016/0006- 3207(82)90070-2.
36. Madsen, A.B., and Prang, A. 2001. Habitat factors and the presence or absence of otters Lutra lutra in Denmark. Acta Theriol. 46: 171-179.
37. Mason, C.F. 1995. Impact of pollution on the European otter. Cah. Ethol. 15: 307-320.
38. Mech, D.L. 2003. Incidence of mink, Mustela visnn, and river oter, Lutra canadensis, in a highly urbanized area. Can. Field- Nat. 117: 115-116.
39. Melquist, W.E., and Dronkert, A.E. 1987. River otter. In Wild fur- bearer management and conservation in North America. Edited by M. Novak, J.A. Baker, M.E. Obbard, and B. Malloch. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Toronto, pp. 626-641.
40. Melquist, W.E., and Hornocker, M.G. 1983. Ecology of river otters in west central Idaho. Wildl. Monogr. 83: 1-60.
41. Mierle, G., Addison, E.M., MacDonald, K.S., and Joachim, D.G. 2000. Mercury levels in tissues of otters from Ontario, Canada: variation with age, sex, and location. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 19: 3044-3051. doi: 10.1897/1551-5028(2000) 019<3044:MLITOO>2.0.CO;2.
42. Mowbray, E.E., Chapman, J.A., and Goldsberry, J.R. 1976. Preliminary observations on otter distribution and habitat preferences in Maryland with description of otter field sign. Trans. Northeast Sect. Wildl. Sec. 33: 125-131.
43. Naiman, R.J., Johnston, C.A., and Kelley, J.C. 1988. Alteration of North American streams by beaver. Bioscience, 38: 753-762. doi: 10.2307/1310784.
44. Newman, D.G., and Griffin, C.R. 1994. Wetland use by river otters in Massachusetts. J. Wildl. Manage. 58: 18-23. doi: 10.2307/ 3809544.
45. O'Donoghue, M., Boutin, S., Krebs, C.J., and Hofer, E.J. 1997. Numerical responses of coyotes and lynx to the snowshoe hare cycle. Oikos,80: 150-162. doi: 10.2307/3546526.
46. Parks, S.A., and Haicourt, A.H. 2002. Reserve size, local human density, and mammalian extinctions in U.S. protected areas. Conserv. Biol. 16: 800-808. doi: 10.1046/j. I523-I739.20O2. 00288.x.
47. Parra, J.L., Graham, C.C., and Freile, J.F. 2004. Evaluating alternative data sets for ecological niche models of birds in the Andes. Ecography, 27: 350-360. doi: 10.111 l/j.0906-7590.2004.03822.x.
48. Pitt, J.A., Clark, W.R., Andrews, R.D., Schlarbaum, K.P., Hoffman, D.D., and Pitt, S.W. 2003. Restoration and monitoring of the river otter population in Iowa. J. Iowa Acad. Sci. 110: 7-12.
49. Prenda, J., Lopez-Nieves, P., and Bravo, R. 2001. Conservation of otter (Luira Intra) in a Mediterranean area: the importance of habitat quality and temporal variation in water availability. Aquat. Conserv.: Mar. Freshwat. Ecosyst. 11: 343-355. doi: 10. I002/aqc.454.
50. Raesly, E.J. 2001. Progress and status of river otter reintroduction projects in the United States. Wildl. See. Bull. 29: 856-862.
51. R Development Core Team. 2008. R: a language and environment for statistical computing. Version 2.8.1 [computer program]. The R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. Available from http://www.r-project.org/ .
52. Reid, D.G. 1984. Ecological interactions of river otters and beavers in a boreal ecosystem. M.Sc. thesis. University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.
53. Reid, D.G., Code, T.E., Reid, A.C.H., and Herrero, S.M. 1994. Spacing, movements, and habitat selection of the river otter in boreal Alberta. Can. J. Zool. 72: 1314-1324. doi: 10.1139/z94- 175.
54. Reuther, C. 1999. From the chairman's desk. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 16: 3-5. Available from http://otterspeciaIistgroup. org/Bulletin/ IUCNOSGBull.html.
55. Robitaille, J.-F, and Laurence, S. 2002. Otter, Lutm Intra, occurrence in Europe and in France in relation to landscape characteristics. Anim. Consenz.ast;. 5: 337-344.
56. Romanowski, J., Brzeziński, M, and Cygan, J.P. 1996. Notes on the technique of the otter field sun*ey. Acta Theriol. 41: 199- 204.
57. Rosell, F, Bozsér, O., Collen, P., and Parker, H. 2005. Ecological impact of beavers Castor fiber and Castor canadensis and their ability to modify ecosystems. Mammal Rev. 35: 248-276. doi: 10.111 l/j. 1365-2907.2005.00067.x.
58. Ruiz-Olmo, J., Lopez-Martîn, J.M., and Palazon, S. 2001. The influence of fish abundance on the otter (Lutra Intra) populations in Iberian Mediterranean habitats. J. Zool. (Lond.), 254: 325- 336. doi:10.10I7/S095283690l000838.
59. Santiago-Alarcon, D., and Parker, P.G. 2007. Sexual size dimorphism and morphological evidence supporting the recognition of two subspecies in the Galápago dove. Condor, 109: 132-141. doi:10.1650/0010-5422(2007) l09[l32:SSDAME]2.0.CO;2.
60. Schlosser, I.J., and Kallemeyn, L.W. 2000. Spatial variation in fish assemblages across a beaver-influenced successional landscape. Ecology, 81: 1371-1382.
61. Snodgrass, J.W., and Meffe, G.K. 1998. Influence of beavers on stream fish assemblages: effects of pond age and watershed position. Ecology, 79: 928-942.
62. SPSS Inc. 1997. SPSS" for Windows. Version 8.0 [computer program]. SPSS Inc., Chicago.
63. Swimley, T.J., Serfass, T.L., Brooks, R.P., and Tzilkowski, W.M. 1998. Predicting river otter latrine sites in Pennsylvania. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 26: 836-845.
64. Szor, G., Berteaux, D., and Gauthier, G. 2008. Finding the right home: distribution of food resources and terrain characteristics influence selection of denning sites and reproductive dens in arctic foxes. Polar Biol. 31: 351-362. doi: 10.1007/s00300-007- 0364-1.
65. Taylor, C, Dufly, L.K., Bowyer, R.T., and Blundell, G.M. 2000. Profiles of fecal porphyrins in river otters following the Exxon Va/dez oil spill. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 40: 1132-1138. doi: 10.1016/ S0025-326X(00)000734.
66. Wright, J.P., Jones, C.G., and Flecker, A.S. 2002. An ecosystem engineer, the beaver, increases species richness at the landscape scale. Oecologia (Berl.), 132: 96-101. doi: 10.1007/s00442-002- 0929-1.