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Body temperature and foraging behaviour of the Eurasian otter ( Lutra lutra ), in relation to water temperature
Author(s) -
Kruuk H.,
Taylor P. T.,
Mom G. A. T.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1997.tb05741.x
Subject(s) - lutra , otter , foraging , biology , zoology , ecology
The effects of water temperature (T w ) on core body temperature (T b ) and foraging behaviour were studied in four free‐ranging and one captive otter Lutra lutra in NE Scotland. The free‐ranging animals were observed in and around two freshwater lochs, and measurements were made of T w (2–16°C), T b at the beginning and end of swimming bouts, lengths of swimming bouts, and dive times and intervals. T b ranged from 35.9 to 40.4°C (mean 38.1°C). At the beginning of a period of activity and of a swimming bout. T b rose significantly; during swimming it fell at a rate of 2.3°C/h, independent of T w . Dive intervals were longer in colder waters, but this was probably due to other, seasonal environmental changes (perhaps water level). T w had no significant effect on length of swimming bouts or on T b . Although otters entered water with increased T b , they exited when T b was not significantly different from the mean resting T b . The data suggest that otters maintain T b irrespective of T w , by increasing it before entering water, then either exiting at a given T b , or at an earlier time determined by other environmental conditions.