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Population Demographics and Diet Variation of the North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) in Ohio, USA

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2019, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Environment and Natural Resources.
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.
Stanley Gehrt (Advisor)
Mažeika Sullivan (Committee Member)
Chris Tonra (Committee Member)
Kelly George (Committee Member)
90 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Adamczak, S. (2019). Population Demographics and Diet Variation of the North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) in Ohio, USA [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1566204325904714

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Adamczak, Sara. Population Demographics and Diet Variation of the North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) in Ohio, USA. 2019. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1566204325904714.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Adamczak, Sara. "Population Demographics and Diet Variation of the North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) in Ohio, USA." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1566204325904714

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)