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Movement patterns and home range of Cape clawless otters (Aonyx capensis), affected by high food density patches

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 December 2003

M. J. Somers  and
J. A. J. Nel
M. J. Somers
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
J. A. J. Nel
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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Abstract

To determine the effects of their movement patterns, seven Cape clawless otters Aonyx capensis were caught in two rivers and radio-tracked between 1993 and 1995. Total range length varied from 4.9 to 54.1 km and core length from 0.2 to 9.8 km. Total area of water used varied between 4.9 and 1062.5 ha, and core areas from 1.1 to 138.9 ha. As predicted using the resource dispersion hypothesis, total home-range length was correlated with mean reed bed (high food density patch) nearest neighbour distance. The pattern of home-range use by females was suggestive of territoriality. Male Cape clawless otters had overlapping home ranges, both with other males and with females.

Keywords

Aonyx capensishome rangeradio-trackingresource dispersion hypothesisCape clawless otters
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Zoology , Volume 262 , Issue 1 , January 2004 , pp. 91 - 98
Copyright
© 2004 The Zoological Society of London

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