Volume 17 Issue 2 Pages 59 - 99 (October 2000)

Citation: Yoxon, P. (2000) Geology and Otters IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 17(2): 85 - 88

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Geology and Otters

Paul Yoxon

Skye Env Centre, Harapool, Broadford, Isle of Skye 1V49 9AQ, United Kingdom

IOSF has undertaken eight years' research on the otter populations of the Isle of Skye and below is a summary of the findings. For the purposes of the study the island was divided into seven geological coastal zones based on maps from the British Geological Survey.

In an initial survey of otter sightings in 1990 (YOXON and YOXON, 1990) it was found that certain coastlines favoured denser otter populations than others; it seemed that the geology of the coastline had an effect on this distribution with the Torridonian coastline having a much denser number than any other rock type. The island was divided into 500m coastal sections and the following variables were studied: coastal type, inland vegetation, slope of shoreline, width of the intertidal zone, otter activity per hour, number of holts, sprainting points, number of spraints and freshwater pools.

60% of the coastline was covered and data sheets completed for each section. Upon analysis of the data, certain predictable patterns emerged (YOXON, 1999): the Torridonian zone had a higher proportion of all the 'otter variables' than any other zone [mean numbers per 500m section (otters/hour = 2.4, holts = 0.4, sprainting points = 2.5, spraint numbers = 6.3 and freshwater pools = 1.4)] compared with the lowest numbers in the Tertiary Intrusive zone [mean numbers per 500m section (otters/hour = 0, holts = 0.04, sprainting points = 1.5, spraint numbers = 3, freshwater pools = 0.6)]. The increased activity on the Torridonian coastal zone is attributed to this zone having the greatest number of freshwater pools, a gently sloping shoreline with a boulder intertidal zone and native woodland adjacent to the High Water Mark. A map of otters per km is shown here together with the geology (Fig. 1).

Figure 1. Geology on Skye and otter distribution  Click on image for full-size version.

Until now, little was known about the relationship between otter utilisation of the coastal zone and geology. On Shetland, MILNER (1978) categorised major coastal types and identified eight major coastal types using 81 physical and 18 geological attributes. CONROY and FRENCH (1985) classified the Shetland coast using over 200 attributes which were grouped into seven headings. Still on Shetland, KRUUK (1989) grouped the coast into six types based on evidence from maps, reports and prior knowledge of the area. He found a strong relationship between numbers of holts and peaty coasts with little agriculture and no high cliffs and a negative association between holts and tall cliffs.

On Orkney there are few otters, in sharp contrast to Shetland, (KRUUK, 1995). This difference could possibly be attributed to distribution of prey species but it seems likely that Orkney shores are just as productive as those of Shetland. GREEN and GREEN (1997) stated, "that despite the productive nature of Orkney's fresh and coastal waters, the otter population was less dense than those of other island regions or parts of mainland Scotland". A more likely reason for the difference is the geology of the Orkney coast, which makes it a less suitable habitat for otters.

The Torridonian sandstone on Skye is impervious and has very low porosity allowing freshwater pools to build up easily on the coastal fringe. By contrast, Devonian sandstone has a high degree of porosity and permeability (many oil reservoirs are present in Devonian sandstone), and so it would be difficult for freshwater pools to build up on these rock types in the same numbers as on the Torridonian sandstone. The Orkney landscape is composed of Devonian sandstone and is well drained with rich farmland. The low density of otters from Dunnett Head to the Moray Firth could equally be a consequence of the geology of the coastal fringes, which also consist of Devonian sandstone.

REFERENCES

Conroy, J.W.H., French, D.D. 1985. Monitoring otters in Shetland. Shell Oil Terminal Report.
Green, J., Green, R. 1997. Otter Survey of Scotland 1991-1994. Vincent Wildlife Trust. London.
Kruuk, H., Moorhouse, A., Conroy, J.W.H., Durbin, L. 1989. An estimate of numbers and habitat preferences of otters (Lutra lutra) in Shetland. Biol. Cons. 49, 241-254.
Kruuk, H. 1995. Wild Otters, Predation and Populations. Oxford University Press.
Milner, C. 1978. Shetland Ecology Survey. Geographical Magazine 50, 730-53
Yoxon, G.M., Yoxon, P. 1990. Otter Survey of Skye 1988-1989. Skye Environmental Centre, Scotland.
Yoxon, P. 1999. The effect of geology on the distribution of Eurasian otters Lutra lutra on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. PhD Thesis, The Open University, Scotland.

Resumen: Geología y nutrias
Durante 8 años IOSF ha llevado a cabo investigaciones sobre las poblaciones de nutrias de la isla de Skye. En un relevamiento primario de avistamientos de nutrias en 1990 se encontró que ciertas costas favorecían poblaciones más densas de nutrias que otras. Parecía ser que la geología de la costa tenía un efecto sobre esta distribución, siendo la costa Toridoniana la que presentaba mayor densidad que los demás tipos de rocas. La isla se dividió en secciones de 500 m y en cada uno se estudiaron las siguientes variables: tipo de costa, vegetación terrestre, pendiente de la orilla, ancho de la zona intermareal, actividad de nutrias por hora, número de refugios, de defecaderos, de fecas y de piscinas de agua dulce. El 60% de la costa fue cubierto. La zona Torridoniana presentó una mayor proporción de todas las variables referentes a las nutrias que cualquier otra zona (promedios por cada 500 metros: nutrias por hora= 2.4, refugios= 0.4, defecaderos= 2.5, número de fecas= 6.3, piscinas de agua dulce= 1.4). La zona Terciaria Intrusiva presentó las menores proporciones (promedios por cada 500 metros: nutrias por hora= 0, refugios= 0.04, defecaderos= 1.5, número de fecas= 3, piscinas de agua dulce= 0.6). La mayor actividad en la zona Terridoniana se atribuye a que esta tiene el mayor número de piscinas de agua dulce, una inclinación suave de la línea costera, una zona intermareal más ancha y monte nativo adyacente. En claro contraste con lo que ocurre en Shetland, en Orkney hay pocas nutrias. Esta diferencia puede atribuirse a la distribución de las especies de presas, pero parece que ambas orillas son igualmente productivas. Una razón más adecuada para las diferencias puede ser precisamente las diferencias geológicas entre ambas costas. La de Orkney es mucho menos apropiada para las nutrias. La arenisca Torridoniana en Skye es impermeable y tiene una porosidad muy baja, lo que permite la formación de piscinas en la margen costera. En contraste, la arenisca del Devónico de la que está compuesto el paisaje de Orkney tiene una alto nivel de porosidad y permeabilidad, lo que dificulta la formación de piscinas.
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