Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Isotopic niche of the Neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis (Carnivora, Mustelidae), in different coastal aquatic systems in southern Brazil

  • Primary Research Paper
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis, is an opportunistic species usually found in freshwater habitats; however, it has also been recorded in environments with marine influence (e.g., islands and estuaries). Thus, we hypothesized that the isotopic niche of the Neotropical otter is wider in a coastal island (Santa Catarina Island—SC) and in a river basin composed of a series of lagoons and an estuary (Tramandaí River Basin—RS) than in a wetland (Taim Wetland—RS) due a greater occurrence of the species in the marine environment of the former areas. In order to test this hypothesis, the stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen in otter samples from different regions were analyzed. Long-term isotopic niche of otters was wider in Santa Catarina Island, followed by Taim Wetland, and Lagunar System of Tramandaí. Therefore, we conclude that otters from Santa Catarina Island and Taim Wetland use both freshwater and marine environments as foraging areas. The sampled otters of the Lagunar System of Tramandaí, on the other hand, used predominantly freshwater environments to forage. The differences found among the otters from different regions are probably related to a variety of factors, such as landscape characteristics, sampling and prey availability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alarcon, G. G. & P. C. Simões-Lopes, 2003. Preserved versus degraded coastal environments: a case study of the Neotropical otter in the Environmental Protection Area of Anhatomirim, Southern Brazil. IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin 20: 6–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alarcon, G. G. & P. C. Simões-Lopes, 2004. The Neotropical otter Lontra longicaudis deeding habits in a marine coastal area, southern Brazil. IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin 21: 24–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Araújo, M. S., D. I. Bolnick & C. A. Layman, 2011. The ecological causes of individual specialization. Ecology Letters 14: 948–958.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Artioli, L. G. S., 2012. As assembleias de peixes da zona litoral de lagoas costeiras subtropicais do sistema do Rio Tramandaí/RS: aspectos amostrais, variações espaciais e temporais de descritores ecológicos e suas relações com a variabilidade ambiental. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul – UFRGS. Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal.

  • Bagchi, S., S. P. Goyal & K. Sankar, 2003. Prey abundance and prey selection by tigers (Panthera tigris) in a semi-arid, dry deciduous forest in western India. Journal of Zoology, London 260: 285–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barbieri, F., R. Machado, C. A. Zappes & L. R. Oliveira, 2012. Interactions between the Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) and gillnet fishery in the southern Brazilian coast. Ocean & Coastal Management 63: 16–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barros, N. B. & R. S. Wells, 1998. Prey and feeding patterns of resident bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Sarasota Bay, Florida. Journal of Mammalogy 79: 1045–1059.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben-David, M., R. W. Flynn & D. M. Schell, 1997. Annual and seasonal changes in diets of martens: evidence from stable isotopes analysis. Oecologia 111: 280–291.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bocherens, H. & D. G. Drucker, 2013. Terrestrial teeth and bones. In Elias, S. A. & C. J. Mock (eds), Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science, 2nd ed. Elsevier, Amsterdam: 304–314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bodkin, J. L., J. A. Ames, R. J. Jameson, A. M. Johnson & G. M. Matson, 1997. Estimating age of Sea otters with cementum layers in the first premolar. Journal of Wildlife Management 61: 967–973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolnick, D. I., R. Svanbäck, M. S. Araújo & L. Persson, 2007. Comparative support for the niche variation hypothesis that more generalized populations also are more heterogeneous. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 104: 10075–10079.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bouzon, J. L., J. P. Salles, Z. Bouzon & P. A. Horta, 2006. Aspectos florísticos e fitogeográficos das macroalgas marinhas das baías da Ilha de Santa Catarina, SC, Brasil. Insula 35: 69–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Britto, V. O. & L. Bugoni, 2015. The contrasting feeding ecology of the great egrets and roseate spoonbills in limnetic and estuarine colonies. Hydrobiologia 744: 187–210.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buchheister, A. & R. J. Latour, 2010. Turnover and fractionation of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in tissues of a migratory coastal predator, summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 67: 445–461.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carlisle, A. B., S. L. Kim, B. X. Semmens, D. J. Madigan, S. J. Jorgensen, C. R. Perle, S. D. Anderson, T. K. Chapple, P. E. Kanive & B. A. Block, 2012. Using stable isotope analysis to understand the migration and trophic ecology of northeastern Pacific white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias). PLoS ONE 7: 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caro, T. M. & C. J. Stoner, 2003. The potential for interspecific competition among African carnivores. Biological Conservation 110: 67–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carrasco, T. S., S. Botta, R. Machado, E. P. Colares & E. R. Secchi, 2018. Effects of acidification on the isotopic rations of Neotropical otter tooth dentin. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 32: 784–788.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho-Junior, O., A. B. Birolo & L. C. P. Macedo-Soares, 2010. Ecological aspects of Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) in Peri Lagoon, south Brazil. IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin 27: 105–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho-Junior, O., A. Fillipini & C. Salvador, 2012. Distribution of Neotropical otter Lontra longicaudis (Olfers, 1818) (Mustelidae) in coastal islands of Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil. IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin 29: 95–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho-Junior, O., L. Macedo-Soares, A. B. Birolo & T. Snyder, 2013. A comparative diet analysis of the Neotropical otter in Santa Catarina Island, Brazil. IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin 30: 67–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castro, R. L., F. Saporiti, D. G. Vales, N. A. García, L. Cardona & E. A. Crespo, 2015. Feeding ecology of dusky dolphins Lagenorhynchus obsurus: evidence from stable isotopes. Journal of Mammalogy 97: 310–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caut, S., E. Angulo & F. Courchamp, 2007. Discrimination factors (∆15N and ∆13C) in an omnivorous consumer: effect of diet isotopic ratio. Functional Ecology 22: 255–263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caut, S., E. Angulo & F. Courchamp, 2009. Variation in discrimination factors (∆15N and ∆13C): the effect of diet isotopic values and applications for diet reconstruction. Journal of Applied Ecology 46: 443–453.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chemes, S. B., A. R. Giraudo & G. Gil, 2010. Dieta de Lontra longicaudis (Carnivora, Mustelidae) en el Parque Nacional el Rey (Salta, Argentina) y su comparación con otra poblaciones de la cuenca del Paraná. Mastozoología Neotropical 17: 19–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cherel, Y., K. A. Hobson & C. Guinet, 2015. Milk isotopic values demonstrate that nursing fur seal pups are a full trophic level higher than their mothers. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 29: 1485–1490.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chiaradia, A., F. Ramírez, M. G. Forero & K. A. Hobson, 2016. Stable isotope (δ13C, δ15N) combined with conventional dietary approaches reveal plasticity in central-place foraging behavior of little penguins Eudyptula minor. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 3: 154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clementz, M. T. & P. L. Koch, 2001. Differentiating aquatic mammal habitat and foraging ecology with stable isotopes in tooth enamel. Oecologia 129: 461–472.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Colares, E. P. & H. F. Waldemarin, 2000. Feeding of the Neotropical river otter (Lontra longicaudis) in the coastal region of the Rio Grande do Sul state, southern Brazil. IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin 17: 6–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cordazzo, C. V. & U. Seeliger, 1995. Guia Ilustrado da Vegetação Costeira do Extremo Sul do Brasil. Editora da Fundação Universidade do Rio Grande, Rio Grande.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Andrade, H. K., 1997. Food and feeding habits of the Neotropical river otter Lontra longicaudis (Carnivora, Mustelidae). Mammalia 61: 193–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeNiro, M. J. & S. Epstein, 1978. Influence of diet on the distribution of carbon isotopes in animals. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 42: 495–506.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drago, M., V. Franco-Trecu, L. Carbona & P. Inchausti, 2015. Diet-to-female and female-to-pup isotopic discrimination in South American sea lions. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 29: 1513–1520.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Evacitas, F. C., W. Kao, G. A. J. Worthy & L. Chou, 2017. Annual variability in dentin δ15N and δ13C reveal sex differences in weaning age and feeding habits in Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus). Marine Mammal Sience 33: 748–770.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Faria, F. A., A. Silva-Costa, D. Gianuca & L. Bugoni, 2016. Cocoi heron (Andrea cocoi) connects estuarine, coastal, limnetic and terrestrial environments: an assessment based on conventional dietary and stable isotope analysis. Estuaries and Coasts 39: 1271–1281.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira, N. C., R. M. Guereschi, C. Machado, C. A. Lopes & A. P. O. Nuñer, 2016. Structure and diversity of fishes in a freshwater and coastal subtropical lagoon. Journal of Fish Biology 90: 1265–1282.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer, L. G., L. E. D. Pereira & J. P. Vieira, 2011. Peixes Estuarinos e Costeiros (Segunda Edição). Editora Conscientia, Rio Grande.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia, A. M., M. A. Bemvenutti, J. P. Vieira, D. M. L. M. Marques, M. D. M. Burns, A. Moresco & M. V. L. Condini, 2006. Checklist comparison and dominance patterns of the fish fauna at Taim Wetland, South Brazil. Neotropical Ichthyology 4: 261–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gomes, N. & L. Krause, 1982. Lista preliminar de répteis da Estação Ecológica do Taim, Rio Grande do Sul. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 1: 71–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gori, M., G. M. Carpaneto & P. Ottino, 2003. Spatial distribution and diet of the Neotropical otter Lontra longicaudis in the Ibera Lake (Northern Argentina). Acta Theriologica 48: 495–504.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregg, W. W., N. W. Casey & C. R. McClain, 2005. Recent trends in global ocean chlorophyll. Geophysical Research Letters 32: L03606.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heggberget, T. M., 1984. Age determination in the European otter Lutra lutra. Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde 49: 299–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoeinghaus, D. J., J. P. Vieira, C. S. Costa, C. E. Bemvenuti, K. O. Winemiller & A. M. Garcia, 2011. Estuary hydrogeomorphology affects carbon sources supporting aquatic consumers within and among ecological guilds. Hydrobiologia 673: 79–92.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, G. E., 1957. Concluding remarks. Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology 22: 415–427.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iversen, M., J. Aars, T. Haug, I. G. Alsos, C. Lydersen, L. Bachmann & K. M. Kovacs, 2013. The diet of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Svalbard, Norway, inferred from scat analysis. Polar Biology 36: 561–571.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, A. L., R. Inger, A. C. Parnell & S. Bearhop, 2011. Comparing isotopic niche widths among and within communities: SIBER—Stable Isotope Bayesian Ellipses in R. Journal of Animal Ecology 80: 595–602.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kasper, C. B., J. Salvi & H. C. Z. Grillo, 2004a. Estimativa do tamanho de duas espécies de ciclídeos (Osteichthyes, Perciformes) predados por Lontra longicaudis (Olfers) (Carnivora, Mustelidae), através de análise das escamas. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 21: 499–503.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasper, C. B., M. J. Feldens, J. Salvi & H. C. Z. Grillo, 2004b. Estudo preliminar sobre a ecologia de Lontra longicaudis (Olfers) (Carnivora, Mustelidae) no Vale do Taquari, sul do Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 21: 65–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasper, C. B., V. A. G. Bastazini, J. Salvi & H. C. Z. Grillo, 2008. Trophic ecology and use of shelters and latrines by the Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) in the Taquari Valley, southern Brazil. Iheringia, Série Zoologia 98: 469–474.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasper, C. B., F. B. Peters, A. U. Christoff & T. R. O. Freitas, 2016. Trophic relationships of sympatric small carnivores in fragmented landscapes of southern Brazil: niche overlap and potential for competition. Mammalia 80: 143–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, S. L., C. M. Rio, D. Casper & P. L. Koch, 2012. Isotopic incorporation rates for shark tissues from a long-term captive feeding study. Journal of Experimental Biology 215: 2495–2500.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klare, U., J. F. Kamler & D. W. McDonald, 2011. A comparison and critique of different scat-analysis methods for determining carnivore diet. Mammal Review 41: 294–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kruuk, H., 2006. Otters: Ecology, Behaviour and Conservation. Oxford University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kruuk, H. & A. Moorhouse, 1990. Seasonal and spatial differences in food selection by otters (Lutra lutra) in Shetland. Journal of Zoology, London 221: 621–637.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kruuk, H. & A. Moorhouse, 1991. The spatial organization of otters (Lutra lutra) in Shetland. Journal of Zoology, London 224: 41–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Louzada-Silva, D., T. M. Vieira, J. P. Carvalho, A. P. Hercos & B. M. Souza, 2003. Uso de espaço e alimento por Lontra longicaudis no Lago Paranoá, Brasília, DF. Ciências da Saúde 1: 305–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lübcker, N., R. R. Reisinger, W. C. Oosthuizen, P. J. N. Bruyn, A. Tonder, P. A. Pistorius & M. N. Bester, 2017. Low trophic level diet of juvenile southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina from Marion Island: a stable isotope investigation using vibrissal regrowths. Marine Ecology Progress Series 577: 237–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Macías-Sánchez, S. & M. Aranda, 1999. Análisis de la alimentación de la nutria Lontra longicaudis (Mammalia: Carnivora) en un sector del rio Los Pescadores, Veracruz, México. Acta Zoológica Mexicana 76: 49–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Madigan, D. J., S. Y. Litvin, B. N. Popp, A. B. Carlisle, C. J. Farwell & B. A. Block, 2012. Tissue turnover rates and isotopic trophic discrimination factors in the endothermic teleost, Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis). PLoS ONE 7: e49220.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Malabarba, L. R., P. C. Neto, V. A. Bertaco, T. P. Carvalho, J. F. Santos & L. G. S. Artioli, 2013. Guia de Identificação dos Peixes da Bacia do Rio Tramandaí. Editora Via Sapiens, Porto Alegre.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marques, D. M., L. R. Rodrigues, C. R. Fragoso, L. Crossetii, L. S. Cardoso, W. Collischonn, R. Tassi, N. H. They, M. Bemvenuti, A. Garcia, J. P. Vieira, E. B. Canterle, M. A. Cardoso, V. Becker, V. Gazulha, J. M. Bravo, R. Souza, C. Volkmer-Ribeiro, V. L. Callegaro, S. Alves-da-Silva, V. Werner, Z. Rosa, A. Villanueva, A. Moresco, M. V. Condini, M. Burns & N. Würdig, 2013. O Sistema Hidrológico do Taim. In Tabarelli, M., C. F. D. Rocha, H. P. Romanowski, O. Rocha & L. D. Lacerda (eds), PELD-CNPq Dez Anos do Programa de Pesquisas Ecológicas de Longa Duração no Brasil: Achados, Lições e Perspectivas. Editora Universitária UFPE, Recife: 197–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayor-Victoria, R. & A. Botero-Botero, 2010. Dieta de la nutra Neotropical Lontra longicaudis (Carnívora, Mustelidae) en el Río Roble, Alto Cauca, Colombia. Acta Biológica Colombiana 15: 237–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakano-Oliveira, E., R. Fusco, E. A. V. Santos & E. L. A. Monteiro-Filho, 2004. New information about the behavior of Lontra longicaudis (Carnivora: Mustelidae) by radio-telemetry. IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin 21: 31–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newsome, S. D., C. M. Rio, S. Bearhop & D. L. Phillips, 2007. A niche for isotopic ecology. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 5: 429–436.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newsome, S. D., M. T. Tinker, D. H. Monson, O. T. Oftedal, K. Ralls, M. M. Staedler, M. L. Fogel & J. A. Estes, 2009. Using stable isotopes to investigate individual diet specialization in California sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis). Ecology 90: 961–974.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Newsome, S. D., K. Ralls, C. V. H. Job, M. L. Fogel & B. L. Cypher, 2010a. Stable isotopes evaluate exploitation of anthropogenic foods by the endangered San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica). Journal of Mammalogy 91: 1313–1321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newsome, S. D., M. T. Clementz & P. L. Koch, 2010b. Using stable isotope biogeochemistry to study marine mammal ecology. Marine Mammal Science 26: 509–572.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Newsome, S. D., M. T. Tinker, V. A. Gill, Z. N. Hoyt, A. Doroff, L. Nichol & J. L. Bodkin, 2015. The interaction of intraspecific competition and habitat on individual diet specialization: a near range-wide examination of sea otters. Oecologia 178: 45–59.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Noernberg, M. A., M. Kampel & F. P. Brandini, 2007. Estudo da variabilidade temporal da concentração de clorofila estimada por satélite na plataforma continental catarinense: latitude 26º46′S. Anais XIII Simpósio Brasileiro de Sensoriamento Remoto: 4635–4642.

  • Norrdahl, K. & E. Korpimäki, 2000. The impact of predation risk from small mustelids on prey populations. Mammal Review 30: 147–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira, G. C., J. F. M. Barcellos & F. C. W. Rosas, 2007. Age estimation in giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis) using growth layers groups in canine teeth. Latin-American Journal of Aquatic Mammals 6: 155–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira, M. C. L., R. F. Bastos, M. C. Claudino, C. M. Assumpção & A. M. Garcia, 2014. Transport of marine-derive nutrients to subtropical freshwater food webs by juvenile mullets: a case study in southern Brazil. Aquatic Biology 20: 91–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pardini, R., 1998. Feeding ecology of the Neotropical river otter Lontra longicaudis in an Atlantic Forest stream, south-eastern Brazil. Journal of Zoology 245: 385–391.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pardini, R. & E. Trajano, 1999. Use of shelters by the Neotropical river otter (Lontra longicaudis) in an Atlantic Forest stream, southeastern Brazil. Journal of Mammalogy 80: 600–610.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parnell, A. & R. Inger, 2016. Stable isotope mixing models in R with simmr. https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/simmr/vignettes/simmr.html. Accessed on 02 September 2017.

  • Peres, B., 2014. Variação espacial e intra-anual na dieta de Lontra longicaudis (Olfers, 1818) em três áreas do extremo sul do Brasil. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande—FURG. Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia de Ambientes Aquáticos Continentais.

  • Perini, A. A., E. M. Vieira & U. W. Schulz, 2009. Evaluation of methods used for diet analysis of the Neotropical otter. Mammalian Biology 74: 230–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Post, D. M., 2002. Using stable isotopes to estimate trophic position: models, methods and assumptions. Ecology 83: 703–718.

    Google Scholar 

  • Post, D. M., C. A. Layman, D. A. Arrington, G. Takimoto, J. Quattrochi & C. G. Montaña, 2007. Getting to the fat of the matter: models, methods and assumptions for dealing with lipids in stable isotope analyses. Oecologia 152: 179–189.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prado, J. F., 2009. Vegetação de ambientes aquáticos do litoral norte do estado do Rio Grande do Sul. In Würdig, N. L. & S. M. F. Freitas, S. M. F. (eds), Ecossistemas e Biodiversidade do Litoral Norte do RS. Editora Nova Prova, Porto Alegre: 76–89.

  • Quadros, J. & E. L. A. Monteiro-Filho, 2001. Diet of the Neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis, in an Atlantic forest area, Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment 36: 15–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quintela, F. M., R. A. Porciuncula & E. P. Colares, 2008. Dieta de Lontra longicaudis (Olfers) (Carnivora, Mustelidae) em um arroio costeiro da região sul do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Neotropical Biology and Conservation 3: 119–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quintela, F. M., L. G. S. Artioli & R. A. Porciuncula, 2012. Diet of Lontra longicaudis (Olfers, 1818) (Carnivora: Mustelidae) in three limnic systems in southern Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology 55: 877–886.

    Google Scholar 

  • R Core Team, 2017. R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. R Core Team, Geneva.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rheingantz, M. L., H. F. Waldemarin, L. Rodrigues & T. P. Moulton, 2011. Seasonal and spatial differences in feeding habits of the Neotropical otter Lontra longicaudis (Carnivora: Mustelidae) in a coastal catchment of southeastern Brazil. Zoologia 28: 37–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rheingantz, M. L., L. G. Oliveira-Santos, H. F. Waldemarin & E. P. Caramaschi, 2012. Are otters generalists or do they prefer larger, slower prey? Feeding flexibility of the Neotropical otter Lontra longicaudis in the Atlantic Forest. IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin 29: 80–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rheingantz, M. L., J. F. S. Menezes, M. Galliez & F. A. S. Fernandez, 2017. Biogeographic patterns in the feeding habits of the opportunist and semiaquatic Neotropical otter. Hydrobiologia 792: 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ripple, W. J., J. A. Estes, R. L. Beschta, C. C. Wilmers, E. G. Ritchie, M. Hebblewhite, J. Berger, B. Elmhagen, M. Letnic, M. P. Nelson, O. J. Schmitz, D. W. Smith, A. D. Wallach & A. J. Wirsing, 2014. Status and ecological effects of the world’s largest carnivores. Science 343: 151–162.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robbins, C. T., L. A. Felicetti & M. Sponheimer, 2005. The effect of dietary protein quality on nitrogen isotope discrimination in mammals and birds. Oecologia 144: 534–540.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosa-Filho, J. S., C. E. Bemvenuti & M. Elliott, 2004. Predicting biological parameters of estuarine benthic communities using models based on environmental data. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology 47: 613–627.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz-Cooley, R. I., D. Gendron, S. Aguíñiga, S. Mesnick & J. D. Carriquiry, 2004. Trophic relationships between sperm whales and jumbo squid using stable isotopes of C and N. Marine Ecology Progress Series 277: 275–283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schäfer, A., 1988. Tipificação ecológica das lagoas costeiras do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia 11: 29–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva-Costa, A. & L. Bugoni, 2013. Feeding ecology of Kelp Gulls (Larus dominicanus) in marine and limnetic environments. Aquatic Ecology 47: 211–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva, R. E., E. Nakano-Oliveira & E. L. A. Monteiro-Filho, 2005. Methodology for test occurrence and distribution of Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis, Olfers, 1818) in Cananéia, south coast of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin 18: 29–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva, F. A., E. M. Nascimento & F. M. Quintela, 2012. Diet of Lontra longicaudis (Carnivora: Mustelidae) in a pool system in Atlantic Forest of Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil. Acta Scientiarum. Biological Sciences 34: 407–412.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. A., D. Mazumder, I. M. Suthers & M. D. Taylor, 2013. To fit or not to fit: evaluating stable isotope mixing models using simulated mixing polygons. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 4: 612–618.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, K. S., V. A. G. Bastazini & E. P. Colares, 2013. Feeding ecology of the Neotropical otter Lontra longicaudis in the Lower Arroio Grande River, southern Brazil. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências 85: 285–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephenson, A. B., 1977. Age determination and morphological variation of Ontario otters. Canadian Journal of Zoology 55: 1577–1583.

    Google Scholar 

  • Syväranta, J., A. Lensu, T. J. Marjomäki, S. Oksanen & R. I. Jones, 2013. An empirical evaluation of the utility of convex hull and standard ellipse areas for assessing population niche widths from stable isotope data. PLoS ONE 8: e56094.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Szpak, P., T. J. Orchard, I. McKechnie & D. R. Gröcke, 2012. Historical ecology of late Holocene Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) from Northern British Columbia: isotopic and zooarchaelogical perspectives. Journal of Archaelogical Science 39: 1553–1571.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trinca, C. S., C. F. Jaeger & E. Eizirik, 2013. Molecular ecology of the Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis): non-invasive sampling yields insights into local population dynamics. Biological Journal of the Linean Society 109: 932–948.

    Google Scholar 

  • Troina, G., S. Botta, E. R. Secchi & F. Dehairs, 2016. Ontogenetic and sexual characterization of the feeding habits of franciscanas, Pontoporia blainvillei, based on tooth dentin carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes. Marine Mammal Science 32: 1115–1137.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uchôa, T., G. P. Vidolin, T. M. Fernandes, G. O. Valastin & P. R. Mangini, 2004. Aspectos ecológicos e sanitários da lontra (Lontra longicaudis OLFERS, 1818) na Reserva Natural Salto Morato, Guaraqueçaba, Paraná, Brasil. Cadernos da Biodiversidade 4: 19–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valenzuela, A. E. J., A. R. Rey, L. Fasola, R. A. S. Samaniego & A. Schiavini, 2013. Trophic ecology of a top predator colonizing the southern extreme of South America: feeding habits of invasive American mink (Neovison vison) in Tierra del Fuego. Mammalian Biology 78: 104–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Villwock, J. A., 2009. Geografia, geologia e gênese do litoral norte. In Würdig, N. L. & S. M. F. Freitas (eds), Ecossistemas e Biodiversidade do Litoral Norte do RS. Editora Nova Prova, Porto Alegre: 12–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wrege, M. S., S. Steinmetz, C. R. Júnior & I. R. Almeida, 2012. Atlas Climático da Região Sul do Brasil: Estados do Paraná, Santa Catarina e Rio Grande do Sul (Segunda Edição). Embrapa, Brasília.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are thankful to the Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha—ECOMEGA (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande—FURG) for all the logistical support during the study. We are also grateful to the researchers from Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Aquáticos do Rio Grande do Sul—GEMARS, Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos—LAMAQ (Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina—UFSC), Projeto Lontra (Instituto Ekko Brasil—IEB), Núcleo de Educação e Monitoramento Ambiental—NEMA, and Centro de Estudos Costeiros, Limnológicos e Marinhos—CECLIMAR (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul—UFRGS) for providing otter and prey samples. ESEC do Taim (Instituto Chico Mendes—ICMBio) also provided logistical support for sampling at the Taim Wetland. Finally, we are grateful to Dr. Leandro Bugoni and Dr. Marcelo Lopes Rheingantz for their critical review of a previous version of this manuscript. T.S.C. received a scholarship from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—CAPES. E.R.S. is a Research Fellow (PQ 307843/2014-0) of the Conselho Nacional para Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brazilian Government. This study is a contribution of the Research Group “ECOMEGA/CNPq.”

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia de Ambientes Aquáticos Continentais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Avenida Itália km 8 s/n, Rio Grande, RS, 96203-900, Brazil

    Thayara S. Carrasco, Elton P. Colares & Eduardo R. Secchi

  2. Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha – ECOMEGA, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, RS, 96203-900, Brazil

    Thayara S. Carrasco, Silvina Botta & Eduardo R. Secchi

  3. Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Aquáticos do Rio Grande do Sul – GEMARS, Torres, RS, 95560-000, Brazil

    Rodrigo Machado & Paulo H. Ott

  4. Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos – LAMAQ, Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, 88040-970, Brazil

    Paulo C. Simões-Lopes

  5. Instituto Ekko Brasil – IEB, Gerencia de Projetos e Pesquisa, Florianópolis, SC, 99040-970, Brazil

    Oldemar Carvalho-Junior

  6. Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Conservação, Universidade Estadual do Rio Grande do Sul – UERGS, Osório, RS, 95520-000, Brazil

    Paulo H. Ott

Authors
  1. Thayara S. Carrasco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Silvina Botta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rodrigo Machado
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Paulo C. Simões-Lopes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Oldemar Carvalho-Junior
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Paulo H. Ott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Elton P. Colares
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Eduardo R. Secchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thayara S. Carrasco.

Additional information

Handling editor: Michael Power

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 21 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Carrasco, T.S., Botta, S., Machado, R. et al. Isotopic niche of the Neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis (Carnivora, Mustelidae), in different coastal aquatic systems in southern Brazil. Hydrobiologia 835, 83–100 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-019-3931-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-019-3931-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation