Identifying the riparian type affecting habitat selection of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) (Carnivora: Mustelidae) in Daecheong Dam reservoir area

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify the habitat selection by the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) depending on the type of waterfront in the Geumgang River region near the Daecheong Dam. As a result of the habitat suitability analysis, the suitable region (very suitable and suitable) was found to be 48.8%, accounting for 217.9km of the total of 446.3 km, and 17.2% or 76.5km of the total region was found to be unsuitable (unsuitable and very unsuitable). As a result of analyzing the types of waterfront area, it was found in the order of wetland> forest> grassland> bare land and the number of traces of otters per kilometer of each type of the waterfront areas was found to be rockface (36.0), bare land (0.92)> forest (0.8), grassland (0.76)>, and wetland (0.75). The result shows a relatively high number of otter traces for rockface compared with other waterfront types, though the composition ratio of rockface takes only a small part of the overall waterfront areas. It is because rockfaces are safer from man-made disturbance, while providing homes and shelters, as well as locating nearby open water which has abundant amount of food resources, compared with other types of waterfront.