Diet of otter (Lutra lutra) in Central Brittany

Abstract

Fifty six Otter spraints were collected along three oligotrophic streams of Central Brittany, from 1982 to 1985. Prey items were identified, enumerated, and their size estimated, using the same criteria as those previously used by Hallet (1977-1985) in her study of the diet of the Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis). Among the 251 prey items belonging to 11 taxa, small fish species such as the Bullhead (Cottus gobio) and the Minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) were the most abundant. From the trophic point of view, however, their importance was rather negligible, since their biomass made up 10 % only of the overall biomass ingested. Larger prey, such as Trout (Salmo trutta), birds and mammals, made up the bulk of the Otter diet in this are