CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

The Neotropical river otter Lontra longicaudis is a top predator from many South and Central American aquatic freshwater systems. Its current category in the International Union for Conservation of Nature is ?data deficient?, which makes imperative to determine the appropriate conservation status. We applied species distribution models to build a map of habitat suitabilities, and to identify possible anthropogenic factors that impact on the presence of L. longicaudis in the Lower Delta of Paraná River in the Southern Cone of South America. In the study area (i) presence/absence of L. longicaudis was obtained using three methodologies: sign surveys, camera traps and interviews, and (ii) 15 environmental predictors were measured: topography, river length, river width, settlement density, polder cover, boat traffic, tree cover, forestry, floodplain area, protected area, and suspended solids, nitrates, fosfates, coliphorms, and dissolved oxygen in the water. Habitat suitability was higher in areas with polders built for forestry and lower in areas with human settlements and boat traffic. At present, geographic isolation and control on private land and reserves appear to be effective at protecting wildlife in the Paraná Delta. This study shows that species distribution models can be used for rapidly evaluating potential threats to wildlife.