Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx)
The types of food typically found in the Eurasian lynx diet were; red deer, domestic sheep, mountain hare, and reindeer (Odden et al., 2006; Molinari-Jobin et al., 2007; Sunde et al., 2000). Roe deer were consumed 34.2-61.3% in the diet, while domestic sheep were consumed 24-26.3%in the diet making them the top 2 foods consumed (Odden et al., 2006; Molinari-Jobin et al., 2007; Sunde et al., 2000). Reindeer were consumed 14-15.9% in the diet and mountain hare were consumed 10.5-27% in the diet (Odden et al., 2006; Molinari-Jobin et al., 2007; Sunde et al., 2000).
Roe Deer (Capreolous capreolous)
Component |
(%) |
Fat |
1.7 |
Crude Protein |
23.0 |
Ash |
1.12 |
Table 1. Nutritional value of Roe deer (Capreolous capreolous) for the Eurasian Lynx (Zomborszky et al., 1996). The energy value of a roe deer was found to be 1854.1 kcal (for 23kg deer) (Weiner, 1973).
Domestic Sheep (Ovis aries)
Component |
(%) |
Fat |
25.8 |
Crude Protein |
17 |
Ash |
0.81 |
Table 2. Nutritional value of Domestic sheep (Ovis aries) for the Eurasian lynx (Faird, 1991). The energy value of a domestic sheep was found to be 1952.68kcal (for 30kg sheep) (Wilkinson, 2011).
Seasonal Availability
Regardless of season or temperature, the roe deer remains the main source of food for the Eurasian lynx (Belotti et al., 2013; Odden et al., 2006). In the summer months (regarded as the 15 April – 14 October) Belotti et al. (2013) found that the Eurasian lynx ate more small mammals/birds compared to in the winter time (regarded as the 15 October – 14 April). The Eurasian lynx are considered opportunistic hunters in the summer, since that is when more small mammals/birds will be awake due to their reproductive cycles (Belotti et al., 2013; Odden et al., 2006; Sunde et al., 2000). Another factor influencing the Eurasian lynx diet is their ability to store their food better in the winter (Belotti et al., 2013; Odden et al., 2006). Eurasian lynx kill more roe deer in the winter since the temperature is lower (Belotti et al., 2013; Odden et al., 2006). The lower temperature allows the lynx to keep their deer carcasses longer (Belotti et al., 2013; Odden et al., 2006). Sunde et al. (2000) also found that in the winter time the Eurasian lynx diet contained more reindeer. The Eurasian lynx are also known to change their kill sites depending on the season and prey availability (Belotti et al., 2013).
Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra)
The types of food typically found in the Eurasian otter's diet were fish, amphibians, mammals, birds and insects (Kwarczyk et al., 2011; Heggberget and Moseid, 1994; Kwarczyk et al. 2016). Fish were consumed 91-98% of the diet, while amphibians were consumed 1.2-5% of the diet making them the top 2 foods consumed (Kwarczyk et al., 2011; Heggberget and Moseid, 1994; Kwarczyk et al. 2016). Mammals were consumed 0.5-1% of the diet, birds were consumed 0.2-0.8% of the diet, and insects had such a small biomass they contributed very little (Kwarczyk et al., 2011; Heggberget and Moseid, 1994; Kwarczyk et al. 2016).
(Common otter feeding on fish, Tom & Pat Leeson, www.arkive.org)
Cod (Gadus morhua callaries)
Component |
(%) |
Fat |
0.08 |
Crude Protein |
17.4 |
Ash |
1.1 |
Digestibility |
98.5 |
Table 3. Nutritional value of Cod (Gadus morhua callaries) for the Eurasian otter. The energy value of cod was found to be 353.5 kcal (for 500g fish) (Usydus et al., 2011).
Frog (Rana esculanta)
Component |
(%) |
Fat |
17.0 |
Crude Protein |
68.6 |
Ash |
13.2 |
Table 4. Nutritional value of Frog (Rana esculanta) for the Eurasian otter. The energy value of a frog was found to be 86.7kcal (for 22.7g frog) (Tokur et al., 2008).
Seasonal Availability
When the weather is warm the main source of food for the Eurasian otter is fish (Kwarczyk et al. 2016). The secondary choice of prey for the Eurasian otter is amphibians (Kwarczyk et al. 2016). Eurasian otters consume much less fish and much more amphibians in the winter while the amphibians are hibernating since they are easier to catch (Kwarczyk et al. 2016). Even though amphibians provide a lower energy value than fish for the Eurasian otter, the quantity of hibernating amphibians (and lower energy expended to catch prey) is high enough to meet their energy needs in bulk (Kwarczyk et al. 2016). Gorgadze (2013) observed that in the winter time, the Eurasian otter also consumed more mammals, while in the warm weather the Eurasian otter consumed more insects and molluscs. The wide range of Eurasian otter habitats across Eurasia has resulted in the otter’s profound ability to survive and thrive on a wide variety of prey species (Gorgadze, 2013).