ECOLOGY OF THE OTTER (LUTRA-LUTRA) IN MARAIS POITEVIN AREA .2. GENERAL-ANALYSIS OF FEEDING-HABITS

From 1982 to 1987, 165 otter spraints samples were collected in the Marais Poitevin area (Western France). Eel is the main prey whichever way the results are presented: relative occurrence, relative abundance of relative biomass. Despite their high frequency or abundance in the spraints, other preys such as Atherina, mosquito-fish, stickleback, stone loach, bluegill or invertebrates, are quite negligible as far as biomass is considered. In turn, less frequent bigger preys (mammals, tenches) are of greater importance. Except for cyprinid fishes, more frequent in spring, no marked seasonal variations were found in the otters diet.