100
size and abundance were related to sea surface temperature, suggesting a preference
for lower temperatures (Coscarella et al. 2010). The species was also studied from
another LBS (11 m asl) at Punta Quilla, Santa Cruz Estuary (Castro et al. 2013). The
area was systematically scanned every 30 min during the austral summer in 2004
and 2005. This study was conducted in a pristine coastal area and allowed to identify a strong influence of the tide on Commerson’s dolphin behavior, providing tools
for management and conservation purposes (Castro, et al. 2013).
The Dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) was also studied by Würsig and
Würsig (1980) at Golfo San Jose using a theodolite. The study provided baseline
information on the species behavior and aspects of its habitat use.
The Southern Right whale (Eubalaena australis) was studied from different
LBS. One of the first studies from land in LA was designed to investigate this
species in Valdes Peninsula in 1970’s (Payne 1986). Together with aerial surveys, it
was possible to define the whales’ preferred depth during the breeding season (5 m
bathymetric contour). The effect of swim-with-dolphin tourism was studied by
Lundquist et al. (2013) from two cliffs within the El Doradillo Municipal Protected
Area, an area where boat traffic is forbidden. From a land station 20 m asl equipped
with theodolite authors followed a method of before/during/after comparison (e.g.,
Martin and Bateson 1993), with behavior and movement of whales before an interaction with boat and swimmers serving as control data for behavior and movement
during and after the interaction. Based on gathered results, the authors recommended not permit any activity of swim-with-whale in Chubut Province until further investigations are done. The study of Vermeulen and collaborators (2012) at
Baia San Antonio, was conducted from a cliff 20 m asl equipped with binoculars
and spotting scope. Instead of using movement parameter as a proxy for whale disturbance, the behavioral data were analyzed as a series of time-discrete Markov
chains. Whales reduced significantly their social interactions when confronted with
human short-range presence. Whales did not appear to respond (e.g., avoid or
approach the boat actively) until the boat entered a 500 m zone from the animal,
which was defined as the “impact-zone” (quotes from the author). Maybe the use of
a more precise positioning device would result in a more refined impact-zone.
4.3.2 Brazil
Land-based studies of 14 different species have been carried out in Brazil: ten
Odontocetes, three Mysticetes and the West Indian manatee (Box 4.1). The Guiana
dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) was studied from land-based station in several places
along its distribution range. At Cananéia Estuary, São Paulo State, land-based stations were used to obtain photo-identifications of the animals allowing to characterize site fidelity (Santos et al. 2001) and influence of time of the day on their behavior
(Santos et al. 2010). At Pontal Bay, Ilhéus, Bahia State, scan sampling was applied
from four land station throughout the year of 2006, aiming to verify the influence of
tide and water depth on dolphins’ activity and spatial distribution. Another study
M.E. Morete et al.
size and abundance were related to sea surface temperature, suggesting a preference
for lower temperatures (Coscarella et al. 2010). The species was also studied from
another LBS (11 m asl) at Punta Quilla, Santa Cruz Estuary (Castro et al. 2013). The
area was systematically scanned every 30 min during the austral summer in 2004
and 2005. This study was conducted in a pristine coastal area and allowed to identify a strong influence of the tide on Commerson’s dolphin behavior, providing tools
for management and conservation purposes (Castro, et al. 2013).
The Dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) was also studied by Würsig and
Würsig (1980) at Golfo San Jose using a theodolite. The study provided baseline
information on the species behavior and aspects of its habitat use.
The Southern Right whale (Eubalaena australis) was studied from different
LBS. One of the first studies from land in LA was designed to investigate this
species in Valdes Peninsula in 1970’s (Payne 1986). Together with aerial surveys, it
was possible to define the whales’ preferred depth during the breeding season (5 m
bathymetric contour). The effect of swim-with-dolphin tourism was studied by
Lundquist et al. (2013) from two cliffs within the El Doradillo Municipal Protected
Area, an area where boat traffic is forbidden. From a land station 20 m asl equipped
with theodolite authors followed a method of before/during/after comparison (e.g.,
Martin and Bateson 1993), with behavior and movement of whales before an interaction with boat and swimmers serving as control data for behavior and movement
during and after the interaction. Based on gathered results, the authors recommended not permit any activity of swim-with-whale in Chubut Province until further investigations are done. The study of Vermeulen and collaborators (2012) at
Baia San Antonio, was conducted from a cliff 20 m asl equipped with binoculars
and spotting scope. Instead of using movement parameter as a proxy for whale disturbance, the behavioral data were analyzed as a series of time-discrete Markov
chains. Whales reduced significantly their social interactions when confronted with
human short-range presence. Whales did not appear to respond (e.g., avoid or
approach the boat actively) until the boat entered a 500 m zone from the animal,
which was defined as the “impact-zone” (quotes from the author). Maybe the use of
a more precise positioning device would result in a more refined impact-zone.
4.3.2 Brazil
Land-based studies of 14 different species have been carried out in Brazil: ten
Odontocetes, three Mysticetes and the West Indian manatee (Box 4.1). The Guiana
dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) was studied from land-based station in several places
along its distribution range. At Cananéia Estuary, São Paulo State, land-based stations were used to obtain photo-identifications of the animals allowing to characterize site fidelity (Santos et al. 2001) and influence of time of the day on their behavior
(Santos et al. 2010). At Pontal Bay, Ilhéus, Bahia State, scan sampling was applied
from four land station throughout the year of 2006, aiming to verify the influence of
tide and water depth on dolphins’ activity and spatial distribution. Another study
M.E. Morete et al.