Abhinav Tyagi
Otters, Fishes, and Genomes: Unveiling Population Connectivity and Diet to Mitigate Human-Wildlife Conflict
Abstract
North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) are keystone predators in freshwater ecosystems but were nearly extirpated from many parts of the U.S. by the mid-1900s due to habitat destruction and overharvesting. Over the past ~50 years, state wildlife agencies have reintroduced otters to their native habitats. For example, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (INDNR) translocated 303 otters from Louisiana to Midwestern waterways to restore otter population in Indiana. While these efforts have been demographically successful, the genetic consequences of these translocations and population connectivity remain unclear. INDNR biologists face two key management challenges: (a) a lack of information on otter genetic diversity, which may affect their resilience to future environmental changes, and (b) increasing human-otter conflicts, particularly concerns from stakeholders that otters preferentially consume larger, older sportfish.
To address these issues, this project will: (1) assess and restore population connectivity and genetic diversity across the Midwest and Eastern U.S. by analyzing historical and contemporary otter samples to quantify the genetic impact of past extirpation; and (2) address human-otter conflicts by providing DNA-based insights into otter diet, including the fish species consumed and their age distribution. We will conduct zoo-based feeding trials to validate non-invasive diet analysis methods for large-scale population monitoring. Additionally, we will develop epigenetic DNA markers to determine age of prey fish using methylation signatures, providing valuable tools for otter and fisheries management. The findings of this project will have applications beyond Indiana, contributing to otter conservation, fisheries management, and predator-prey dynamics at broad scales.
Mentors
Dr. James Andrew DeWoody at Purdue University and Ms. Geriann Albers with Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Undergraduate Education
B.Sc. Bio-Medical Sciences, AND college, Delhi University, India, 2011
M.Sc., Biodiversity and Conservation, GGS Indraprastha University, Delhi, India, 2013
Graduate Education
Ph.D., National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore & SASTRA University, Thanjavur, India, 2024
