Ecological role of the Eurasian otter, Lutra lutra (Mustelidae, Carnivora) as a seed dispersal species for riparian vegetation in Iberian fresh waters

Latorre, Dani; Merino-Aguirre, Raquel; Cruz, Alejandra; Lantero, Esther; Arroyo, Alejandra M.; Fletcher, David H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5029-7453; Almeida, David. 2022 Ecological role of the Eurasian otter, Lutra lutra (Mustelidae, Carnivora) as a seed dispersal species for riparian vegetation in Iberian fresh waters. Journal of Vertebrate Biology, 71, 22037. 11, pp. https://doi.org/10.25225/jvb.22037

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Abstract/Summary

Endozoochory is a mutualistic interaction between plants and animals. Such a relationship has rarely been examined in the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra. This study aimed to assess the use and electivity of fruit by this carnivore, along with the viability of ingested seeds. Otter spraints and fruit were collected from the River Bullaque (Guadiana River basin, central Spain) in June and September 2018-2019. A high occurrence of fruit (> 40%) was found in spraints during September. Otters ingested fruit in June from only one plant species: Iberian bushweed Flueggea tinctoria (Phyllanthaceae); whereas seeds ingested in September belonged to four plant species: apple mint Mentha suaveolens (Lamiaceae), common hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, dog rose Rosa canina and elmleaf blackberry Rubus ulmifolius (three Rosaceae species). According to the environmental availability, otters displayed avoidance for mint and rose, neutral selection for hawthorn and preference for blackberry. Germination was unsuccessful for mint seeds, whereas germination was the highest for blackberry (37%; 49% for blackbird Turdus merula, a well-known frugivorous species). Otters appear to display an ecological role as seed dispersers for riparian vegetation in Iberian fresh waters. These findings provide insights into this endozoochorous co-evolution between plants and Carnivora.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.25225/jvb.22037
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	2694-7684
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	dietary traits, endozoochory, frugivory, germinability, spraint analysis
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	27 Oct 2022 10:25 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/533432

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