Researchers have received new insights into the lives and losses of Eurasian otters in Hong Kong, as detailed in a paper printed within the magazine Oryx.
Hong Kong is likely one of the international’s busiest metropolises, and the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra is amongst its maximum threatened flora and fauna. Dependence on lowland wetlands makes it specifically at risk of human disturbance. Additionally, the low-lying area inside Hong Kong the place maximum otters can also be discovered has been earmarked for a government-led mega construction plan.
Through examining a 131-year longitudinal dataset, the find out about supplies the primary long-term longitudinal assessment of the distribution and abundance of the Eurasian otter in Hong Kong, revealing that the species used to be a lot more well-liked and not unusual in ancient instances.
The find out about’s findings display a drastic relief within the vary and abundance of Eurasian otters in Hong Kong between 1890 and 2020, and point out that Hong Kong’s Deep Bay wetlands have at all times been the crucial habitat for the native otter inhabitants—insights that experience important implications for conservation efforts.
Even supposing the Eurasian otter has the widest distribution of all extant otter species, with a spread stretching throughout Europe, Asia and North Africa, it’s normally regarded as uncommon in Asia, and the way forward for those jap populations isn’t protected. Additionally, in spite of the species’ threatened standing in Asia, little analysis has been carried out on its ecology and the threats it faces within the area.
The researchers discovered that the decline in otter populations started as early because the Nineteen Thirties, with their research suggesting that this decline used to be owed essentially to the otter’s dependence on lowland wetlands, making it specifically at risk of urbanization. Auxiliary infrastructures and water air pollution in Hong Kong have exacerbated wetland degradation, to the detriment of otters and their prey.
Some of the 70 information analyzed that contained particular places, 56 (80%) have been clustered within the Yuen Lengthy floodplain tired through the Deep Bay catchment. The information span the 1900s to 2019, suggesting this habitat is significant to the survival of Eurasian otters in Hong Kong.
To collect information at the Eurasian otter inhabitants in Hong Kong over the years, the researchers systematically reviewed and collated all otter information in medical publications, books, native newspapers and different common publications from 1890 to 2020. A complete of 14,231 otter-related newspaper articles have been tested. Historic information assets reminiscent of newspapers, archival paperwork and conventional and native ecological wisdom are an increasing number of used instead way for assessing species inhabitants tendencies and ecosystem adjustments when standard ecological information are missing.
Researcher Michael Ka Yiu Hui explains that this find out about gives treasured insights into the place and the way otters have traditionally passed off in Hong Kong.
“The otter is a resilient species and will are living in human-dominated landscapes, only if wholesome riverine or coastal ecosystems are to be had,” says Hui.
“Urbanization ends up in the direct lack of otter habitat, and the intensive river channelization scheme and air pollution downside seem to be the main drivers of native otter decline. The plight of the native Eurasian otter must be broadly publicized to garner public and authorities make stronger and provoke rapid conservation efforts throughout society.”
Co-author Bosco Pui Lok Chan emphasised that insights from this find out about are a very powerful for bettering the control of the small otter inhabitants and the aquatic ecosystems of Hong Kong.
“Conservation motion is especially a very powerful with the looming Northern City mega construction plan not too long ago launched through the Hong Kong authorities, which can enormously exchange the agricultural panorama of the ecologically helpful Yuen Lengthy floodplain. A holistic nature-positive land-use plan should be designed to steadiness financial construction and nature conservation, and ecologically delicate spaces should be preserved,” says Chan.
Citations:
Hui, M. Ok. Y. et al, Research of a 131-year longitudinal dataset of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in Hong Kong: implications for conservation, Oryx (2023). DOI: 10.1017/S0030605323001163
Magazine data: Oryx
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This article through Cambridge College Press used to be first printed through Phys.org on 16 October 2023. Lead Symbol: Credit score: Pixabay/CC0 Public Area.