DIET COMPOSITION OF OTTERS LIVING ON ABANDONED FISHPOND AND GRAVEL PITPOND SYSTEMS
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the diet composition of otters living in the Danube-Drava National Park along the Középrigóci abandoned fishpond system and the Somogyudvarhelyi gravel pitpond system which managed by an angling club. The food of otters consisted mainly fish (annual mean 93% and 95%, respectively), in the fish diet most important was the gibel carp (55–93%) in the Középrigóci ponds, and the brown bullhead (47–76%) in the Somogyudvarhelyi ponds. The ratio of economically important fish, from the angling point of view consumed by otters was low (2.8%). Main fish food of otters consisted of small-sized fish (below 100 g, 90% and 89%, respectively). Otters consumed mainly euritopic fish (98%) in the Középrigóci ponds and stagnophil fish (62%) in Somogyudvarhelyi ponds. Otters consumed mainly non-native fish (77% and 74%, respectively) in both areas. Results may be utilized in the management of nature conservation areas.
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