Use of space by Lontra longicaudis (Mustelidae, Carnivora) in the changed environment Cai, Rio Grande River Sul, Brazil

• Published in: Iheringia. Série zoologia Vol. 103; no. 3; pp. 240 - 245
• Main Authors: Coletti, Luciane D, Michel, Thais, Sanfelice, Daniela, Jardim, Marcia M A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: 30.09.2013
• Subjects: Carnivora; Freshwater; Lontra; Mustelidae; North America, Rio Grande R; Brazil; Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul
• ISSN: 0073-4721; 1678-4766

Spatial habitat use by Lontra longicaudis (Mustelidae, Carnivora) in an anthropically modified environment in Cai river, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The use of shelters and space by the Neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis (Olfers, 1818), was studied in an environment formerly and presently altered by human presence in the Cai river, Triunfo, RS. Most marking sites were used occasionally, while a small percentage was frequently and intensely used. Most sprainting was observed on the soil, and sites were, on average, 1.65m away from the water level. In total, seven shelters were found in the study area and the otter showed preference for specific ones. The most used shelter was a holt built in the riverbank under the roots of a tree. This was the largest shelter and the only one presenting underground galleries. The other shelters were above ground, amongst heaps of branches beneath the vegetation, or under roots and/or fallen tree trunks. The use of space by the otter was correlated to the location of the shelters and to the level of vegetation cover, and seems to be poorly influenced by human disturbance. For the Neotropical otter conservancy we indicate the importance of maintaining the nparian buffers and the protection of the areas with the presence of shelters.Original Abstract: A utilizacao de abrigos e do espaco pela lontra neotropical (Lontra longicaudis) (Olfers, 1818), foi estudada em um ambiente alterado e com presenca humana no rio Cai, Triunfo, RS. A maioria dos sitios de marcacao teve uso ocasional, e uma pequena percentagem teve uso frequente e intenso. A maioria das marcacoes de cheiro se encontrava no solo a uma media de distancia de 1,65m da linha d'agua. Ao todo foram encontrados sete abrigos na area de estudo, sendo que a lontra demonstrou preferencia por abrigos especificos. O abrigo mais utilizado se constituia em escavacoes na barranca do rio sob as raizes de uma arvore, sendo este o de maiores dimensoes e o unico com galerias sob o solo. Os demais abrigos se encontravam no nivel do solo e consistiam em emaranhados de galhos sob a vegetacao, ou de raizes e/ou troncos caidos. O uso do espaco pela lontra esteve correlacionado a localizacao de suas tocas, ao grau de cobertura vegetal do local e parece ter sido pouco influenciado pelo disturbio humano. Para medidas de conscrvacao da lontra neotropical ressalta-se a irnportancia da manutencao da mata ciliar e a protecao das areas com a presenca de abrigos.