The influence of wave exposure on the foraging activity of marine otter, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lontra felina</Emphasis> (Molina, 1782) (Carnivora: Mustelidae) in northern Chile |
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Authors: | Mario J Villegas Alejandro Aron Luis A Ebensperger |
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Institution: | (1) Departamento de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Arturo Prat, Casilla 121, Iquique, Chile;(2) Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Casilla 117, Coquimbo, Chile;(3) Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Ecología y Biodiversidad, Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile |
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Abstract: | The marine otter Lontra felina has been said to prefer wave-exposed habitats over more protected sites in response to a greater prey abundance in exposed
habitat. We examined how the foraging activity of L. felina is affected by the regime of wave exposure and prey availability at Isla Choros, northern Chile. Through focal sampling we
recorded time spent by otters in foraging, the duration of dives, and the hunting success on a wave-exposed and a wave-protected
site on the island. In addition, we quantified the abundance of prey in both habitats. Marine otters spent more time foraging
in the wave-protected site compared with the wave-exposed habitat. Successful dives reached 26.9% in the wave-exposed habitats,
and 38.2% in the wave-protected habitat. Foraging dives were 18% shorter in wave-exposed as compared with wave-protected habitat.
Numerically, available prey did not differ significantly with habitat. Our results are more consistent with the hypothesis
that wave-exposed habitats represent a sub-optimal habitat to foraging marine otters. Marine otters’ use of wave-exposed patches
through northern and central Chile coastal areas probably reflects a low availability of suitable protected areas and greater
human disturbance of more protected habitat. |
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Keywords: | Chile Lontra Marine otter Foraging success Dive time |
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