Identifying otter conservation hotspots in human-dominated coastal wetlands of peninsular Thailand
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Author list: Tantipisanuh N.; Chutipong W.; Kamjing A.; Ngoprasert D.
Publication year: 2025
Volume number: 14
Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)
Abstract
Species conservation in human-dominated landscapes poses more challenges because not only species ecology needs to be understood but also humans' dimension needs to be accounted for. This study aimed to identify conservation hotspots for Asian Small-clawed Otter and Smooth-coated Otter in coastal wetlands of southern Thailand. Camera trap surveys were conducted between 2016 and 2020. Occupancy model was applied to estimate probability of occupancy of two otters in relation to landscape characteristics and human factors. Then Bayesian Belief Network was applied to generated anthropogenic threat levels which was then related with occupancy probabilities to derive conservation hotspots. In total, 1137 camera-trap locations were set up for 26,387 trap-days. Smooth-coated Otter has higher occupancy probabilities on the Andaman where less disturbed wetlands still remain in larger proportion compared to the Gulf. Small-clawed Otter, in contrast, has higher occupancy on the Gulf. Smooth-coated Otter showed strong association with natural habitats, while Asian Small-clawed Otter better adapted with small isolated habitats. A majority of conservation hotspots was located along the Andaman coast and were not protected. In conclusion, otters can adapt and survive in human-dominated modified landscape; however, maintaining good quality of natural habitats and mitigating conflicts still be the main priority for successful otter conservation. © 2025 The Authors
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