Population Demographics and Diet Variation of the North American River Otter (Lontracanadensis) in Ohio, USA
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| Language: | English |
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The Ohio State University / OhioLINK
2019
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| Online Access: | http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1566204325904714 |
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ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-osu15662043259047142021-08-03T07:12:35Z Population Demographics and Diet Variation of the North American River Otter (Lontracanadensis) in Ohio, USA Adamczak, Sara Wildlife Management Environmental Studies The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semi-aquatic, apex predator that has undergone vast changes in its distribution in the past few decades. In the Midwest, river otters were extirpated and later reintroduced with little follow up on their population status. It is important to assess the current population in order to make the proper management decisions statewide. In addition to the lack of demographic knowledge, spatio-temporal variation in the North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) diet is not well understood. As resource availability and usage can influence population demographics, it is important to assess river otter diet to properly understand river otter ecology. In order to assess the river otter population in Ohio, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) requested carcass submission by licensed trappers. Throughout the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 trapping seasons, 107 river otter carcasses were collected. Necropsies were performed to assess age and sex, reproductive status, and stable-isotope informed diet composition. Reproductive rates were determined from counting corpora lutea in female river otters. Demographic data were compared to the 2005-2008 harvests seasons, when river otter trapping was first reinstated. Samples of river otter muscle were collected, prepared and assessed for stable isotopes of 13C and 15N to estimate the variability in the dietary contribution of multiple prey sources by age, sex, and location. 2019 English text The Ohio State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1566204325904714 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1566204325904714 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws. |
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NDLTD |
| language |
English |
| sources |
NDLTD |
| topic |
Wildlife Management Environmental Studies |
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Wildlife Management Environmental Studies Adamczak, Sara Population Demographics and Diet Variation of the North American River Otter (Lontracanadensis) in Ohio, USA |
| author |
Adamczak, Sara |
| author_facet |
Adamczak, Sara |
| author_sort |
Adamczak, Sara |
| title |
Population Demographics and Diet Variation of the North American River Otter (Lontracanadensis) in Ohio, USA |
| title_short |
Population Demographics and Diet Variation of the North American River Otter (Lontracanadensis) in Ohio, USA |
| title_full |
Population Demographics and Diet Variation of the North American River Otter (Lontracanadensis) in Ohio, USA |
| title_fullStr |
Population Demographics and Diet Variation of the North American River Otter (Lontracanadensis) in Ohio, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Population Demographics and Diet Variation of the North American River Otter (Lontracanadensis) in Ohio, USA |
| title_sort |
population demographics and diet variation of the north american river otter (lontracanadensis) in ohio, usa |
| publisher |
The Ohio State University / OhioLINK |
| publishDate |
2019 |
| url |
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1566204325904714 |
| work_keys_str_mv |
AT adamczaksara populationdemographicsanddietvariationofthenorthamericanriverotterlontracanadensisinohiousa |
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1719456367708733440 |