INHS Events

INHS Seminar - River Otters: Flagship or Battleship for Conservation

Event Type

Seminar/Symposium

Sponsor

Illinois Natural History Survey Seminar Committee

Virtual

Date

Feb 9, 2021   4:00 pm  

Speaker

Dr. Kelly Pearce, Allegheny College

Contact

Sara Ashcraft

E-Mail

sa28@illinois.edu

Views

851

Join Zoom Meeting: https://illinois.zoom.us/j/83249591847?pwd=SDB1S014THRXajlHU2FrTHBrb0pwUT09
Meeting ID: 832 4959 1847
Password: 725421

Governmental and private conservation organizations often use flagship species to achieve conservation goals. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) has many physical, behavioral and ecological attributes indicative of a flagship species. For example, the river otter has been popularized through media portrayals as being charismatic, cute, and playful. However, because the river otter is a fish-eating predator, it can sometimes elicit negative attitudes among certain stakeholders involved in commercial rearing of fish or angling, potentially diminishing its positive impact as a flagship species. This presentation will focus on using socio-ecological data as part of the basis for assessing the virtues and liabilities of using the river otter as a flagship species to promote aquatic conservation in the United States.