Characterization of shelters of the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis, Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) in the pantanal wetlands, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil

Abstract The giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is an endangered mammal that occupies aquatic environments, especially in the Amazon Rainforest and Pantanal wetlands in South America. The species uses shelters (dens and campsites), such as burrowed tunnels and tangles of branches and roots along watercourses, where it feeds mainly on fishes. In Espírito Santo Creek (northern portion of the Pantanal wetlands in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil), 60 shelters (45 dens and 15 campsites) were identified and georeferenced during 12 fieldtrips between 2002 and 2003. The density was 1.8 dens/km. The shelters were significantly found in locations with partial (35%) or complete (55%) plant cover. The dens were dug mainly in soil associated with roots located, on average, 4.4 m in distance and 2.4 m in height in relation to the waterline. The campsites had a significantly smaller distance and height compared to the dens. The greater density of dens in the study area underscores the need for conserved environments with little human interference for the protection of giant otter populations. The vegetal coverage of riparian forests and the occurrence of ravines along Espírito Santo Creek offer greater protection to the shelters, hindering the access of predators to the interior of the shelter. Studies integrating biological and ecological knowledge with social participation in areas of occurrence of the giant otter are fundamental to the conservation of the species and its habitat in the Pantanal wetlands of Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Damasceno,Júnio de Souza, Shiraiwa,Marília Couto Silva, Dalponte,Júlio César
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo 2021
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0031-10492021000100262
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
id oai:scielo:S0031-10492021000100262
record_format ojs
spelling oai:scielo:S0031-104920210001002622021-09-15Characterization of shelters of the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis, Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) in the pantanal wetlands, state of Mato Grosso, BrazilDamasceno,Júnio de SouzaShiraiwa,Marília Couto SilvaDalponte,Júlio César Giant Otter Pteronura brasiliensis Dens Campsites Pantanal Abstract The giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is an endangered mammal that occupies aquatic environments, especially in the Amazon Rainforest and Pantanal wetlands in South America. The species uses shelters (dens and campsites), such as burrowed tunnels and tangles of branches and roots along watercourses, where it feeds mainly on fishes. In Espírito Santo Creek (northern portion of the Pantanal wetlands in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil), 60 shelters (45 dens and 15 campsites) were identified and georeferenced during 12 fieldtrips between 2002 and 2003. The density was 1.8 dens/km. The shelters were significantly found in locations with partial (35%) or complete (55%) plant cover. The dens were dug mainly in soil associated with roots located, on average, 4.4 m in distance and 2.4 m in height in relation to the waterline. The campsites had a significantly smaller distance and height compared to the dens. The greater density of dens in the study area underscores the need for conserved environments with little human interference for the protection of giant otter populations. The vegetal coverage of riparian forests and the occurrence of ravines along Espírito Santo Creek offer greater protection to the shelters, hindering the access of predators to the interior of the shelter. Studies integrating biological and ecological knowledge with social participation in areas of occurrence of the giant otter are fundamental to the conservation of the species and its habitat in the Pantanal wetlands of Mato Grosso, Brazil.info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessMuseu de Zoologia da Universidade de São PauloPapéis Avulsos de Zoologia v.61 20212021-01-01info:eu-repo/semantics/articletext/htmlhttp://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0031-10492021000100262en10.11606/1807-0205/2021.61.62
institution SCIELO
collection OJS
country Brasil
countrycode BR
component Revista
access En linea
databasecode rev-scielo-br
tag revista
region America del Sur
libraryname SciELO
language English
format Digital
author Damasceno,Júnio de Souza
Shiraiwa,Marília Couto Silva
Dalponte,Júlio César
spellingShingle Damasceno,Júnio de Souza
Shiraiwa,Marília Couto Silva
Dalponte,Júlio César
Characterization of shelters of the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis, Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) in the pantanal wetlands, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil
author_facet Damasceno,Júnio de Souza
Shiraiwa,Marília Couto Silva
Dalponte,Júlio César
author_sort Damasceno,Júnio de Souza
title Characterization of shelters of the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis, Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) in the pantanal wetlands, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil
title_short Characterization of shelters of the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis, Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) in the pantanal wetlands, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil
title_full Characterization of shelters of the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis, Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) in the pantanal wetlands, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil
title_fullStr Characterization of shelters of the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis, Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) in the pantanal wetlands, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of shelters of the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis, Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) in the pantanal wetlands, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil
title_sort characterization of shelters of the giant otter (pteronura brasiliensis, mammalia, carnivora, mustelidae) in the pantanal wetlands, state of mato grosso, brazil
description Abstract The giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is an endangered mammal that occupies aquatic environments, especially in the Amazon Rainforest and Pantanal wetlands in South America. The species uses shelters (dens and campsites), such as burrowed tunnels and tangles of branches and roots along watercourses, where it feeds mainly on fishes. In Espírito Santo Creek (northern portion of the Pantanal wetlands in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil), 60 shelters (45 dens and 15 campsites) were identified and georeferenced during 12 fieldtrips between 2002 and 2003. The density was 1.8 dens/km. The shelters were significantly found in locations with partial (35%) or complete (55%) plant cover. The dens were dug mainly in soil associated with roots located, on average, 4.4 m in distance and 2.4 m in height in relation to the waterline. The campsites had a significantly smaller distance and height compared to the dens. The greater density of dens in the study area underscores the need for conserved environments with little human interference for the protection of giant otter populations. The vegetal coverage of riparian forests and the occurrence of ravines along Espírito Santo Creek offer greater protection to the shelters, hindering the access of predators to the interior of the shelter. Studies integrating biological and ecological knowledge with social participation in areas of occurrence of the giant otter are fundamental to the conservation of the species and its habitat in the Pantanal wetlands of Mato Grosso, Brazil.
publisher Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo
publishDate 2021
url http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0031-10492021000100262
work_keys_str_mv AT damascenojuniodesouza characterizationofsheltersofthegiantotterpteronurabrasiliensismammaliacarnivoramustelidaeinthepantanalwetlandsstateofmatogrossobrazil
AT shiraiwamariliacoutosilva characterizationofsheltersofthegiantotterpteronurabrasiliensismammaliacarnivoramustelidaeinthepantanalwetlandsstateofmatogrossobrazil
AT dalpontejuliocesar characterizationofsheltersofthegiantotterpteronurabrasiliensismammaliacarnivoramustelidaeinthepantanalwetlandsstateofmatogrossobrazil
_version_ 1756376125737533440