Factors determining habitat choice of the smooth-coated otter, Lutra perspicillata in a South Indian river system

Shenoy, Kausalya and Varma, Surendra and Devi Prasad, KV (2006) Factors determining habitat choice of the smooth-coated otter, Lutra perspicillata in a South Indian river system. In: Current Science, 91 (5). pp. 637-643.

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Abstract

This study has characterized spraint sites of the smooth-coated otter in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. Otters use specific sites on land (‘otter sites’/‘spraint sites’) for feeding and social activities; ‘non-otter sites’ are those not used by the otters. Various habitat parameters were identified and assessed. Otter sites varied significantly from non-otter sites, and comprised of loosely packed sand and rock, and lacked hard-packed sand, stone, gravel, vegetation and canopy cover. We believe these site features are important in facilitating grooming, and are prominent territorial markers. Otters avoided areas with high levels of anthropogenic disturbance, though avoidance was temporal rather than spatial. This study has categorized the preferred habitat of otters, which is of importance to conservation.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Current Science
Publisher:	Indian Academy of Sciences
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Indian Academy of Sciences.
Keywords:	Anthropogenic disturbance;Cauvery Wildlife;Sanctuary; Spraint sites;Social interactions;Wetland conservation.
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Centre for Ecological Sciences
Date Deposited:	09 Nov 2006
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 04:32
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/8831

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