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<p>Eurasian otter (<i>Lutra lutra</i>) populations in the Segura River&#xa0;(SE Spain) are gradually recovering from the marked decline occurred in the twentieth century because of water pollution and habitat degradation. To assess how otters have adapted to changes in water quality and fish availability over the last three decades, we analysed their diet based on 266 spraints collected in 2008–09 and summer 2014. These data were compared with previous dietary studies conducted in the late 1990s and, after habitat restoration actions, between 2016 and 2019. Our findings indicate that fish (primarily Andalusian barbel <i>Luciobarbus sclateri</i> and Iberian nase <i>Pseudochondrostoma polylepis</i>) along with the introduced red swamp crayfish (<i>Procambarus clarkii</i>), formed the bulk of the otter diet. Compared to the late 1990s, the frequency of occurrence of native barbel markedly declined, while non-native fish showed a slight increase. These results suggest that otter trophic flexibility, meaning its ability to exploit novel food resources, may have played a key role in its recovery.</p>

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Long-term pattern of use of non-native prey by the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in the catchment of the Segura River (SE Spain)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月26日

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  • Sara Martínez-Torres,
  • Francisco Robledano-Aymerich,
  • Alessandro Balestrieri,
  • José Manuel Lucas,
  • María Teresa Fernandez-Fernadez,
  • Obdulia Sanchez-Domingo,
  • José Galian,
  • Ettore Emanuele Dettori

摘要

Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) populations in the Segura River (SE Spain) are gradually recovering from the marked decline occurred in the twentieth century because of water pollution and habitat degradation. To assess how otters have adapted to changes in water quality and fish availability over the last three decades, we analysed their diet based on 266 spraints collected in 2008–09 and summer 2014. These data were compared with previous dietary studies conducted in the late 1990s and, after habitat restoration actions, between 2016 and 2019. Our findings indicate that fish (primarily Andalusian barbel Luciobarbus sclateri and Iberian nase Pseudochondrostoma polylepis) along with the introduced red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), formed the bulk of the otter diet. Compared to the late 1990s, the frequency of occurrence of native barbel markedly declined, while non-native fish showed a slight increase. These results suggest that otter trophic flexibility, meaning its ability to exploit novel food resources, may have played a key role in its recovery.