understanding the health and population status of north ... megan...understanding the health and...
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Understanding the Health and Population Status of North American River Otters:
The other IRL “Marine Mammal”
Megan StolenDavid RotsteinConstance Silbernagel
Source: SJWMD
Indian River Lagoon
156 miles5 inlets5 counties
Site of long term research of bottlenose dolphins
multiple UMEs (2001, 2008, 2013)with systemic changes to the IRL
Sentinel species?
Indian River Lagoon
Indian River Lagoon
North American river otterLontra canadensis
Photo: Wendy Noke Durden
Photo: Bill Capie
Indian River Lagoon Otter Program
Live sightingsRoadkillanimals
Indian River Lagoon Otter Program
Otter Spottercitizen science sighting network
21 outreach events800 people275 trained spotters
Indian River Lagoon Otter Program
133 live sighting reports representing 243 individualotter sightings
133 reportsmean group size = 1.8
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Year and month
Live River Otter Sightings
Live otter sightings2016-to date
urban and non-developed area
no reports from oceanic beaches
Indian River Lagoon Otter Program
Locations of dead otters (Jan 2016- Mar 2018)
Indian River Lagoon Otter Program
43 reports
41 roadkill1 died in rehab1 unexplained
18 males15 females10 unknown
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2016
-1
2016
-2
2016
-3
2016
-4
2016
-5
2016
-6
2016
-7
2016
-8
2016
-9
2016
-10
2016
-11
2016
-12
2017
-1
2017
-2
2017
-3
2017
-4
2017
-5
2017
-6
2017
-7
2017
-8
2017
-9
2017
-10
2017
-11
2017
-12
2018
-1
2018
-2
2018
-3
Year and month
Dead River Otter Sightings
Indian River Lagoon Otter Program
Carcass recoverymodelled after mm stranding programs43 report / 32 necropsy
14 discussed today
Carcass recovery
• multi-organ rupture• fractured long bones, ribs, and skulls• proptosis • associated soft tissue hemorrhage
Histopathology results to date:
hepatitis (2/14)
pneumonia (5/14)
lymphadenitis (4/14)
myocarditis (1/14)
Carcass recovery sample size
lesions present
sample size
lesions present
Cardiovascular System 15 Hemato / Lymphoreticular System 15epicardial fibrosis 1 lymphadenitis 3myocarditis 1 edema 1myocardial fibrosis 1 dirofilariasis 1
Respiratory System & Sinuses 15 lymphadenitis 1peribronchiolitis 6 thymic involution 3pulmonary/tracheal hemorrhage (trauma-related) 7 macrocyst 1fibrinous pleuropneumonia 1 lymphatic cestodiasis 1pulmonary edema 2 Digestive System 15pulmonary dirofilariasis 1 glossal sarcocytosis 2alveolitis 1 glossal fibrosis 1tracheitis 1 esophageal sarcocystosis 5
verminous bronchopneumonia 2 Musculoskeletal/Integumentary System 15lipid pneumonia 1 sarcocytosis 5laryngeal sarcocystosis 1 dracunculiasis 2granulomatous and eosinophilic pneumonia 2 cestodiasis 2Nervous System 8 myositis 1
hemorrhage (Trauma-associated) 2 granulomatous diaphragmitis 1Hepatobiliary System 15 Endocrine System 15nodular hyperplasia 1 adrenalitis 1necrotizing hepatitis 2
Nematodes in fascia (c.f. Dracunculis)
Parasite results
Unidentified parasite(s) in body cavity
parasitic associated pathologies (10/14)
Protozoan cyst within myofibers
Lontra Case Cluster
Thank you