Foraging behaviour and feeding ecology of the otter Lutra lutra : a selective review
Abstract This paper reviews literature on food, foraging behaviour and feeding ecology of Lutra lutra and on the behaviour of their prey species. Otters have a diverse diet, forage in a wide variety of different habitats and have a relatively complex social system. Similarly, their strategies for ob...
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| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
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Associazione Teriologica Italiana
1995
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4404/hystrix-7.1-2-4069 https://doaj.org/article/b00155231e7e40c6ba9f6ebf7cd28ca2 |
| Summary: | Abstract This paper reviews literature on food, foraging behaviour and feeding ecology of Lutra lutra and on the behaviour of their prey species. Otters have a diverse diet, forage in a wide variety of different habitats and have a relatively complex social system. Similarly, their strategies for obtaining food are complex and varied. Three aspects of foraging behaviour (i, ii, iii) and two of feeding ecology (iv, v) are discussed: i) adaptations and ontogeny, ii) energetics and food-limitation, iii) human disturbance, and periods of prey vulnerability, iv) assessing diet, and v) changes in prey vulnerability and selection. The review has three main aims: (a) to summarize some recent advances in research, (b) to highlight gaps in current knowledge, and (c) to suggest some areas of future research. The need for such a review arises from a necessity to direct further research effort towards carnivore predator-prey relationships in general, and those of otters in particular, and also to meet demands for conservation management. Riassunto Foraggiamento ed ecologia alimentare della lontra Lutra lutra : un'analisi selettiva della letteratura disponibile - Questo lavoro prende in esame la letteratura riguardante dieta, foraggiamento ed ecologia alimentare della lontra Lutra lutra e il comportamento delle sue prede. La lontra ha una dieta varia, ricerca il cibo in un'ampia gamma di ambienti e ha un'organizzazione sociale relativamentc complessa. Similarmente, le sue strategie di ricerca del cibo sono complesse e varie. Tre aspetti del foraggiamento (i, ii, iii) e due di ecologia alimentare (iv, v) sono qui discussi: i) adattamenti e ontogenesi, ii) richiesta energetica e fattori limitanti la disponibilità di cibo, iii) disturbo antropico e periodi di vulnerabilità delle prede, iv) analisi della dieta, e v) cambiamenti nella vulnerabilità delle prede e selezione. Il presente lavoro ha tre principali obiettivi: (a) riassumere alcune recenti acquisizioni scientifiche, (b) sottolineare le attuali lacune conoscitive, e (c) ... |
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