Daytime behavior of Lontra felina in 2 locations: Puerto Matarani and La Ballenita Bay, Islay Province, Arequipa, Peru

Huamani Quico S.T.; Villasante Benavides J.F. · Ciencias Marinas (2022) · DOI: 10.7773/cm.y2022.3239

Resumen

Although various studies have described behavioral aspects of the marine otter, Lontra felina, on coastal shores with human pres-ence, both its behavior and its activity patterns have been scarcely studied on these types of habitats in Peru. We observed the diurnal behavior of marine otters in 2 locations with different anthropic impacts, Puerto Matarani and La Ballenita Bay, between 01 February and 31 May 2019. We carried out a total of 75 observation events, with 271 sightings and 12,405.4 s of observation. In Puerto Matarani marine otters were sighted more frequently in the water, while in La Ballenita, marine otters were sighted mostly on the rocks (χ2 = 43.8, d.f. = 1, P < 0.001). The frequency of observations for the different types of behavior showed significant differences between locations: they were more frequently observed moving and resting in La Ballenita and moving and diving in Matarani (χ2 = 52.6; d.f. = 5; P < 0.001). The behavioral categories did not differ significantly in the 4 months evaluated in Puerto Matarani, however, in La Ballenita we recorded temporal variations. In both locations, otters were frequently sighted near the coast, with peaks of high activity between 1:30 PM and 5:30 PM in Puerto Matarani and between 05:30 AM and 09:30 AM in La Ballenita. Our results suggest that the behavioral variations between locations could be related to the presence of fishing residues in Puerto Matarani and the presence of vacationers in La Ballenita. © Susan Thalia Huamani-Quico, Jose Francisco Villasante-Benavides.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa