Under the bridge: marking sites prove the presence of Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in the Poljanska Sora River valley, Slovenia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14720/ns.24.1.17-29Keywords:
Lutra lutra, recolonisation, alpine streams, marking behaviour, ecologyAbstract
Knowledge on distribution of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in Slovenia in the past was very limited, due to the lack of studies of this species. Hunting and persecution reduced the species distribution area and densities. After its legal protection in 1973, the species seems to have increased in population size. A few studies had shown the Eurasian otter repopulating the Alpine region. To confirm the presence of the species in the Slovenian Pre-Alps, we searched for otter scat – spraint, on six tributaries to the Poljanska Sora River of Polhograjsko hribovje, the Pre-Alpine mountains around Polhov Gradec. Otter marking sites were exclusively in the riverbed (100 %), with a great majority found under the bridges (83 %). Using camera traps, we were able to collect video evidence of the otter reproduction and confirm that the species is reproducing in the studied region. Since this area could act as a corridor for the otter’s recovery in the Adriatic River basin, it is crucial to continue to monitor its presence and the potential expansion to the west of the country.
Metrics
Downloads
References
[ARSO] Agencija Republike Slovenije za okolje. 2021. Mesečne statistike - VODE. Pretoki / Discharge - 4000 - Sava brez rek (without rivers) Ljubljanica, Savinja, Krka; [accessed on 2021 Nov 9]. http://www.arso.gov.si/vode/podatki/arhiv/hidroloski_arhiv.html
Balestrieri A, Remonti L, Prigioni C. 2015. Towards extinction and back: Decline and recovery of otter populations in Italy. In: Angelici FM, editor. Problematic Wildlife. Springer International. Switzerland. p. 91-105. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22246-2_5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22246-2_5
Gorman ML, Trowbridge BJ. 1989. The role of odor in the social lives of carnivores. In: Gittleman JL, editor. Carnivore behavior, ecology, and evolution. Ithaca, New York (US): Cornell University Press. p. 57-88. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0855-3_3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-4716-4_3
Gregorc T, Nekrep I. 2010. Poročilo skupine za vidro. In: Vinko D, editor. Raziskovalni tabor študentov biologije Most na Soči 2010. Ljubljana (SI): Društvo študentov biologije. p. 12-21.
Guter A, Dolev A, Saltz D, Kronfeld-Schor N. 2008. Using videotaping to validate the use of spraints as an index of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) activity. Ecological Indicators. 8(5): 462-465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2007.04.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2007.04.009
Hönigsfeld Adamič M. 2003. Vidra (Lutra lutra), Strokovna izhodišča za vzpostavljanje omrežja Natura 2000. Ljubljana (SI): Lutra, inštitut za ohranjanje naravne dediščine.
Hönigsfeld Adamič M, Gregorc T, Nekrep I, Mohar P, Torkar G. 2009. Vidra na pragu prestolnice, Inventarizacija vidre (Lutra lutra) in drugih večjih vodnih sesalcev na Ljubljanskem barju in z njim povezanih vodnih ekosistemih. Ljubljana (SI): Lutra, inštitut za ohranjanje naravne dediščine.
Hönigsfeld Adamič M, Gregorc T, Nekrep I, Šemrl M, Berce T. 2011. Z vidro skozi prestolnico. Ljubljana (SI): Lutra, inštitut za ohranjanje naravne dediščine.
Hönigsfeld Adamič M, Gregorc T, Nekrep I. 2010. Vidra (Lutra lutra) v ribniku. Ljubljana (SI): Lutra, inštitut za ohranjanje naravne dediščine.
Hutchings MR, White PCL. 2000. Mustelid scent-marking in managed ecosystems: Implications for population management. Mammal Review. 30(3-4): 157-169. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2907.2000.00065.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2907.2000.00065.x
Križnar M. 2019. Pojav vidre v našem ribiškem okolišu in škoda na ribjem življu. Ribiška družina Sora; [accesed on 2020 July 5]. https://rd-sora.si/pojav-vidre-v-nasem-ribiskem-okolisu-in-skode-na-ribjem-zivlju/
Krofel M, Potočnik H. 2016. Stopinje in sledovi živali. Ljubljana (SI): Lovska zveza Slovenije.
Kruuk H, Conroy JWH, Glimmerveen U, Ouwerkerk EJ. 1986. The use of spraints to survey populations of otters (Lutra lutra). Biological Conservation. 35: 187-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3207(86)90050-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3207(86)90050-9
Kruuk H. 2006. Otters: ecology, behaviour and conservation, 1. edition. New York (US): Oxford University Press. p. 265. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198565871.001.0001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198565871.001.0001
Kruuk H, Moorhouse A. 1991. The spatial organization of otters (Lutra lutra) in Shetland. Journal of Zoology. 224(1): 41-57. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1991.tb04787.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1991.tb04787.x
Kryštufek B, Krže B, Hönigsfeld Adamič M, Leksovic B. 1986. Zveri I: Kune - Mustelidae, 1. edition. Ljubljana (SI): Lovska Zveza Slovenije.
Kryštufek B. 1991. Sesalci Slovenije. Ljubljana (SI): Prirodoslovni muzej Slovenije.
Kryštufek B. 2001. Raziskava razširjenosti evropsko pomembnih vrst v Sloveniji. Ljubljana (SI): Prirodoslovni muzej Slovenije. p. 683.
Lampa S, Mihoub J, Gruber B, Klenke R. 2015. Non-invasive genetic mark-recapture as a means to study population sizes and marking behaviour of the elusive Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra). PLoS ONE. 10(5): e0125684. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0125684 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0125684
Macdonald DW. 1980. Patterns of scent marking with uring and faeces amongst carnivore communities. Symposia of the Zoological Society of London. University of Oxford. 45: 107-139.
Mason CF, Macdonald SM. 1987. The use of spraints for surveying otter Lutra lutra populations: An evaluation. Biological Conservation. 41(3): 167-177. https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3207(87)90100-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3207(87)90100-5
Remonti L, Balestrieri A, Smiroldo G, Prigioni C. 2011. Scent marking of key food sources in the Eurasian otter. Annales Zoologici Fennici. 48(5): 287-294. https://doi.org/10.5735/086.048.0503 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5735/086.048.0503
Sittenthaler M, Schöll EM, Leeb C, Haring E, Parz-Gollner R, Hackländer K. 2020. Marking behaviour and census of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) in riverine habitats: what can scat abundances and non-invasive genetic sampling tell us about otter numbers?. Mammal Research. 65(2): 191-202. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-020-00486-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-020-00486-y
Trowbridge BJ. 1983. Olfactory communication in the European otter (Lutra lutra). [Ph. D. thesis]. [Aberdeen (GB)]: University of Aberdeen.
