Abstract

BRITO-RIOS, Juan Guillermo Adrián et al. Food habits and consumption of exotic fish by the neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) in the Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve, Jalisco, Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2022, vol.93, e933840.  Epub Dec 05, 2022. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2022.93.3840.

The introduction of exotic species is the second leading cause of biodiversity loss worldwide. The neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) is considered one of the top predators of aquatic environments, so its presence exerts a natural control over other animal populations. The objective of this work was to describe the feeding habits of the otter and document the consumption of exotic fish species. Four transects of 10 km were established in the AyuquilaArmería and Marabasco rivers, near the Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve, for stool collection, in the dry and rainy seasons of 2018. In the laboratory, feces were washed, seined and dried in an oven at 70°C for 24 h; later, the consumed components were separated and identified. A total of 101 feces were collected in the Ayuquila-Armería river, and 93 in the Marabasco river. An 80% of the food is made up of fish and crustaceans, while the remaining 20% includes insects, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, mollusks and plant matter. Sixteen species of fish consumed were identified, of which five are exotic. The neotropical otter presents an opportunistic and generalist diet, based mainly on the consumption of fish and crustaceans.

Keywords : Natural protected areas; Biological control; Aquatic ecosystems; Introduced species; Biodiversity management.

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