Riparian habitat quality and seasonality drives spatiotemporal habitat ecology of sympatric Asian otters in southern Western Ghats
IntroductionRiparian habitats in the Western Ghats are vital semi-terrestrial zones playing multi-functional roles in the conservation of freshwater species. In dynamic ecosystems, we have scant knowledge on the interactive role of season and local riparian habitat conditions in driving spatiotempor...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Mammal Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmamm.2024.1504722/full |
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| author | Ankit Moun Tharmalingam Ramesh Tharmalingam Ramesh Riddhika Kalle Riddhika Kalle |
| author_facet | Ankit Moun Tharmalingam Ramesh Tharmalingam Ramesh Riddhika Kalle Riddhika Kalle |
| author_sort | Ankit Moun |
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| description | IntroductionRiparian habitats in the Western Ghats are vital semi-terrestrial zones playing multi-functional roles in the conservation of freshwater species. In dynamic ecosystems, we have scant knowledge on the interactive role of season and local riparian habitat conditions in driving spatiotemporal habitat use of sympatric semi-aquatic mustelids.MethodologyWe conducted seasonal monitoring of 169-196 riverine segments (250 m) in 2020 and 2021 to measure the sign encounter rates of Asian small-clawed otter (SCL) and smooth-coated otter (SCO) and recorded 29 riparian habitat variables.ResultsOur self-organizing map algorithm characterized alarge multivariate habitat data into six habitat clusters representing a gradient of riparian habitat conditions. The random forest (RF) algorithm identified forest cover, water quality, and substratum as influential factors in high quality habitat. The low-quality habitat with low sign encounter rates or no evidence of otters had anthropized stream buffers, with high proportion of agriculture, weed cover and anthropogenic disturbance as influential factors predicted by the RF algorithm. SCO distribution was restricted to the higher-order streams in close proximity to hydro-power dams. SCL had a comparatively larger spatial distribution in the lower-order streams. Our study shows that rainfall plays a significant role in enhancing the hydrological flow in non-perennial streams and also improves the water quality parameters and the riparian habitat conditions. We found highly variable encounter rates of both species across seasons and habitat quality gradients, however, overall, their mean encounter rates increased with the habitat quality gradient.DiscussionOur findings showed that relating otter sign encounter rates with fine-scale riparian habitat quality was a useful and practical approach to monitor the sensitivity of sympatric semi-aquatic mustelids towards habitat conditions and simultaneously monitor the riparian ecosystem health, across seasons and years. The long-term persistence of sympatric Asian otters in the Bhavani-Noyyal river basin would depend on the availability of high-quality riparian habitat patches. Our findings emphasize the need to develop comprehensive riparian habitat management plans in the southern Western Ghats which involves restoration of fragmented riparian zones and maintenance of riparian habitat heterogeneity to facilitate freshwater connectivity and movements of sympatric otters. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e2f74fa863d044ecaa17dc7a92b3e4a1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2813-4699 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-e2f74fa863d044ecaa17dc7a92b3e4a12024-12-06T06:50:22ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Mammal Science2813-46992024-12-01310.3389/fmamm.2024.15047221504722Riparian habitat quality and seasonality drives spatiotemporal habitat ecology of sympatric Asian otters in southern Western GhatsAnkit Moun0Tharmalingam Ramesh1Tharmalingam Ramesh2Riddhika Kalle3Riddhika Kalle4Division of Environmental Impact Assessment, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, IndiaDivision of Conservation Ecology, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, IndiaCentre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South AfricaDivision of Environmental Impact Assessment, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, IndiaCentre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South AfricaIntroductionRiparian habitats in the Western Ghats are vital semi-terrestrial zones playing multi-functional roles in the conservation of freshwater species. In dynamic ecosystems, we have scant knowledge on the interactive role of season and local riparian habitat conditions in driving spatiotemporal habitat use of sympatric semi-aquatic mustelids.MethodologyWe conducted seasonal monitoring of 169-196 riverine segments (250 m) in 2020 and 2021 to measure the sign encounter rates of Asian small-clawed otter (SCL) and smooth-coated otter (SCO) and recorded 29 riparian habitat variables.ResultsOur self-organizing map algorithm characterized alarge multivariate habitat data into six habitat clusters representing a gradient of riparian habitat conditions. The random forest (RF) algorithm identified forest cover, water quality, and substratum as influential factors in high quality habitat. The low-quality habitat with low sign encounter rates or no evidence of otters had anthropized stream buffers, with high proportion of agriculture, weed cover and anthropogenic disturbance as influential factors predicted by the RF algorithm. SCO distribution was restricted to the higher-order streams in close proximity to hydro-power dams. SCL had a comparatively larger spatial distribution in the lower-order streams. Our study shows that rainfall plays a significant role in enhancing the hydrological flow in non-perennial streams and also improves the water quality parameters and the riparian habitat conditions. We found highly variable encounter rates of both species across seasons and habitat quality gradients, however, overall, their mean encounter rates increased with the habitat quality gradient.DiscussionOur findings showed that relating otter sign encounter rates with fine-scale riparian habitat quality was a useful and practical approach to monitor the sensitivity of sympatric semi-aquatic mustelids towards habitat conditions and simultaneously monitor the riparian ecosystem health, across seasons and years. The long-term persistence of sympatric Asian otters in the Bhavani-Noyyal river basin would depend on the availability of high-quality riparian habitat patches. Our findings emphasize the need to develop comprehensive riparian habitat management plans in the southern Western Ghats which involves restoration of fragmented riparian zones and maintenance of riparian habitat heterogeneity to facilitate freshwater connectivity and movements of sympatric otters.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmamm.2024.1504722/fullfreshwater conservationhabitat characterizationrandom forestself-organizing mapsign encounter ratesemi-aquatic mammal |
| spellingShingle | Ankit Moun Tharmalingam Ramesh Tharmalingam Ramesh Riddhika Kalle Riddhika Kalle Riparian habitat quality and seasonality drives spatiotemporal habitat ecology of sympatric Asian otters in southern Western Ghats Frontiers in Mammal Science freshwater conservation habitat characterization random forest self-organizing map sign encounter rate semi-aquatic mammal |
| title | Riparian habitat quality and seasonality drives spatiotemporal habitat ecology of sympatric Asian otters in southern Western Ghats |
| title_full | Riparian habitat quality and seasonality drives spatiotemporal habitat ecology of sympatric Asian otters in southern Western Ghats |
| title_fullStr | Riparian habitat quality and seasonality drives spatiotemporal habitat ecology of sympatric Asian otters in southern Western Ghats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Riparian habitat quality and seasonality drives spatiotemporal habitat ecology of sympatric Asian otters in southern Western Ghats |
| title_short | Riparian habitat quality and seasonality drives spatiotemporal habitat ecology of sympatric Asian otters in southern Western Ghats |
| title_sort | riparian habitat quality and seasonality drives spatiotemporal habitat ecology of sympatric asian otters in southern western ghats |
| topic | freshwater conservation habitat characterization random forest self-organizing map sign encounter rate semi-aquatic mammal |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmamm.2024.1504722/full |
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