Under the bridge : marking sites prove the presence of Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in the Poljanska Sora River valley, Slovenia

Kraševec, Rudi (author), Trajbarič, Aleksander (author), Fležar, Urša (author)

Knowledge on distribution of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in Slovenia in the past was very limited, due to the lack of studies of this species. Hunting and persecution reduced the species distribution area and densities. After its legal protection in 1973, the species seems to have increased in population size. A few studies had shown the Eurasian otter repopulating the Alpine region. To confirm the presence of the species in the Slovenian Pre-Alps, we searched for otter scat – spraint, on six tributaries to the Poljanska Sora River of Polhograjsko hribovje, the Pre-Alpine mountains around Polhov Gradec. Otter marking sites were exclusively in the riverbed (100 %), with a great majority found under the bridges (83 %). Using camera traps, we were able to collect video evidence of the otter reproduction and confirm that the species is reproducing in the studied region. Since this area could act as a corridor for the otter’s recovery in the Adriatic River basin, it is crucial to continue to monitor its presence and the potential expansion to the west of the country.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Lutra lutra, recolonisation, alpine streams, marking behaviour, ecology
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 01.01.2022
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: Str. 17-29
• Numbering: Letn. 24, št. 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-142488
• UDC: 58
• ISSN on article: 1580-0814
• COBISS.SI-ID: 124513283
• Publication date in RUL: 11.11.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Natura Sloveniae. revija za terensko biologijo
• Publisher: Zveza za tehnično kulturo Slovenije, Biotehniška fakulteta Univerze, Nacionalni inštitut za biologijo
• ISSN: 1580-0814
• COBISS.SI-ID: 102784768

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian

Abstract

Znanje o pretekli razširjenosti evrazijske vidre (Lutra lutra) v Sloveniji je zaradi pomanjkanja študij pomanjkljivo. Lov in preganjanje živali sta pripomogla k upadu številčnosti osebkov in območja razširjenosti. Z zavarovanjem vrste leta 1973 se je populacija sčasoma ponovno prostorsko in številčno razširila. Nekaj študij tudi nakazuje na ponovno poselitev Alpskega območja. Za potrditev vidre v slovenskem predalpskem prostoru smo iskali iztrebke vider – vidrekov na šestih pritokih Poljanske Sore s Polhograjskega hribovja. Mesta iztrebljanja vidre so bila izključno v strugi potoka (100 %), ki so bili večinoma pod mostovi (83 %). Prek uporabe avtomatskih fotopasti smo zabeležili video dokaze o reprodukciji in s tem potrdili, da razmnoževanje že poteka v predalpskem prostoru. Ker je območje študije koridor do Jadranskega povodja, je to lahko pomembno območje za povezovanje in okrevanje populacije v Jadranskem povodju. Zato je ključno za nadaljnje spremljanje širjenja proti zahodu države.

• Keywords: rekolonizacija, alpski potoki, markiranje, ekologija