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Abstract
The use of the habitat by the neotropical river otter was studied using indirect evidence in the lower Roble river. From August 2006 until March 2007, walks were taken along a 5 kilometer stretch of river, and 5 m of the river bank were examined on each side, with repetition every 15 days, in search for signs of the neotropical river otter. The terrestrial and aquatic habitat was characterized every 400 m and a vegetation coverage map was elaborated. The landascape matrix is dominated by pasture used for cattle grazing, followed by secondary and mixed forests and Guadua angustifoli forests, which are the dominant species, presenting abundant shrubbery and fallen logs that provide camouflage and refuge for the otter. The otter prefers territory marking sites in the summer (dry) season (January- March), rocks emerging from the stream, and the determining characteristics for choosing such rocks was size, height, bank proximity, and vegetation coverage (r2 = 20.44; cp = 2.151, n = 10). Whereas during the winter (wet) season (October - December), smaller rocks, yet high enough to avoid the stream during a rise in the water level, were chosen by the otter (r2 = 24.64; cp = 0.196, n = 10). 36.8% of the total marked rocks were reused during the study period. The preference of the neotropical river otter for this type of habitat with well preserved riverside vegetation is remarked, concluding that the low basin of the Roble river is a important area for the conservation of the species.
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References
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