EAP - Estonian Journal of Ecology Publications

Estonian Journal of Ecology

2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 Vol. 58, Issue 4 Vol. 58, Issue 3 Vol. 58, Issue 2 Vol. 58, Issue 1 2008

Open Access Journal

Otter (Lutra lutra) population in northernmost Finland; pp. 225–231

PDF | doi: 10.3176/eco.2009.3.07

Authors

Risto Sulkava, Pekka Sulkava

Abstract

The otter population in northernmost Finland (total study area 95 000 km²) was studied by snow-tracking in 2004–2008. Data on otter tracks were mainly collected in winter using snow-mobiles. A more intensive one-visit census method was used in one area. A total of 792 tracks of otters were found all over Finnish Lapland. Otters were more common in the southern than in the northernmost, alpine, part of the study area. In the strict one-visit census area 15 otters were found, which corresponds to approximately 30 otters living in the area. Extrapolation of these results suggests that there are about 450–500 otters in Finnish Lapland.

References

Kranz, A., Polednik, L., Polednikova, K. & Toman, A. 2007. Otters in Central Europe – status, habitats and new conflicts. In Proceedings of the European Otter Conference “Return of the Otter in Europe – Where and How” (Conroy, J. W. H., Gutleb, A. C., Ruiz-Olmo, J. & Yoxon, G. M., eds). J. Int. Otter Survival Fund, No. 2 (CD-ROM).

Kruuk, H., Carss, D. N., Conroy, J. W. H. & Durbin, L. 1993. Otter (Lutra lutra L.) numbers and fish productivity in rivers in north-east Scotland. Symp. Zool. Soc. London, 65, 171–191.

Linden, H., Helle, E., Helle, P. & Wikman, M. 1996. Wildlife triangle scheme in Finland: methods and aims for monitoring wildlife populations. Finn. Game Res., 49, 4–11.

RKTL. 2008. http://www.rktl.fi/riista/riistavarat/lumijalkilaskenta_2008/saukko.html and http://riistaweb.riista.fi/riistatiedot/

Sulkava, R. 2006. Ecology of the otter (Lutra lutra) in central Finland, and methods for estimating the densities of populations. PhD Dissertation in Biology, No. 43, University of Joensuu.

Sulkava, R. 2007. Snow-tracking: a relevant method for estimating otter Lutra lutra populations. Wildlife Biol., 13, 208–218.
doi:10.2981/0909-6396(2007)13[208:STARMF]2.0.CO;2

Sulkava, R. & Liukko, U.-M. 2007a. The distribution and population trends of otters in Finland. In Proceedings of the European Otter Conference “Return of the Otter in Europe – Where and How” (Conroy, J. W. H., Gutleb, A. C., Ruiz-Olmo, J. & Yoxon, G. M., eds). J. Int. Otter Survival Fund, No. 2 (CD-ROM).

Sulkava, R. & Liukko, U.-M. 2007b. Use of snow-tracking methods to estimate the abundance of otter (Lutra lutra) in Finland with evaluation of one-visit census for monitoring purposes. Ann. Zool. Fenn., 44, 179–188.

Sulkava, R. T., Sulkava, P. O. & Sulkava, P. E. 2007. Source and sink dynamics of density-dependent otter (Lutra lutra) population in central Finland. Oecologia, 153, 579–588.
doi:10.1007/s00442-007-0774-3

Tumanov, I. L. 2002. Status and reproductive features of otter (Lutra lutra L.) in the North-West of Russia. In Proceedings VIIth International Otter Colloquium (Dulfer, R., Conroy, J. H., Nel, J. & Gutleb, A. C., eds), pp. 361–364. IUCN OSG Bull., 19A (spec. edition).

Back to Issue

→ Back issues