Volume 2 Pages 1 - 58 (March 1987)

Citation: O'Sullivan. L.. (1987) Research on Otters, carried out at the Zoology Department, University College Cork, Ireland).  IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 2: 46

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Research on Otters, carried out at the Zoology Department, University College Cork, Ireland

Liam O'Sullivan

Department of Zoology, University College, Lee Maltings, Prospect Row, Cork, Ireland

During the summer of 1984, a broad programme of investigation of otter ecology and feeding biology was undertaken on part of a major river system (Munster Blackwater) in North Cork. In all, 46.8 km of watercourse (including main tributary and feeder streams) and some 90 km of riverbank were surveyed for otter signs. A considerable amount of information was compiled on a variety of study topics including: Habitat structure, resting sites, marking behaviour, minimum number of otters present, the effects of bankside clearance, disturbance and pollution. The feeding biology of otters was determined by spraint analysis and by examination of prey remains in feeding places. A comparison was made of the importance of different prey fjah recorded in the diet of otters, as gained from different dietary analysis techniques.

Full-time research of otters began in September 1985 and is currently based on the River Awbeg system in North Cork (a major tributary of the Munster Blackwater). To date, some 15 months of baseline research has been carried out. Study topics include extensive monitoring of marking behaviour, spraint collection, track size and sighting observations, identification of main habitat features, resting sites, effects of arterial drainage in the upper reaches, electrofishing and otter hunting.

A subsidiary investigation includes a marine habitat as a study area. Another subsidiary investigation involves analysis of mortality causes. It is hoped to continue current research and to extend field work on various aspects of otter ecology, should funding be made available.

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