Title
Abundance estimate of the Amazon River Dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) and the tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis) in southern Ucayali, Peru
Date Issued
01 November 2017
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Publisher(s)
Escuela de Ciencias del Mar
Abstract
We present results of the first simultaneous visual and acoustic surveys for Amazon River dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) and tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis), undertaken in Yarinacocha Lagoon, Ucayali, Peru (length = 20 km, area = 12 km2). A total of 324 Sotalia observations and 44 Inia observations were recorded in boat-based transects. Based upon total survey effort, we estimated Sotalia had a mean density ± SE of 1.98 ± 4.6 ind km-2and an overall abundance of 34 individuals (95% CI: 28 to 40). Average density for Inia was 0.2 ± 1.2 ind km-2with overall abundance estimated at 3 individuals (95% CI: 0 to 8). Visual surveys observed more Sotalia individuals during earlier hours of the day and during the dry season. Preliminary acoustic surveys undertaken with C-POD passive acoustic monitoring devices indicated a diel pattern in detections of cetacean vocalization with more diurnal activity and with detections ceasing from midnight until 10:00 AM. This work highlights the possibility of monitoring both river dolphin species through visual and acoustic surveys to generate baseline information on abundance trends and distribution patterns in the Ucayali region, an area with high levels of human disturbance.
Start page
957
End page
969
Volume
45
Issue
5
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Conservación de la Biodiversidad
Acuicultura
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85037736411
Source
Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research
Sponsor(s)
This work was supported by the Rufford Small Grants Foundation, Conservation Leadership Programme, World Wildlife Fund, ProDelphinus and University of Exeter. Many thanks to Nick Tregenza, Robert Palacios, Andrea Pasara, Luis Miguel Barron and all researchers that participated in the collection of data used in this study. We would like to thank the communities of Pucallpa, and Yarinacocha lagoon for their generous hospitality to the researchers that were involved in the study. We are also very appreciative of the three reviewers of this manuscript; we thank them for their detailed comments and suggestions.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus