101
conducted at Ilhéus (Izidoro and Le Pendu 2012) aimed to characterize the species
play behavior. “Ad libitum” observation and scans were carried out to establish the
ethogram and frequency of play behavior. At Canavieiras, Bahia State, from a landbased station located in a pier (5.5 m asl) near the mouth of Pardo River. The study
compared ethnoecological knowledge of local artisanal fishermen, to behavioral
data collected using binoculars and focal group sampling (Costa et al. 2012). A
novel leap behavior called pirouette (one complete rotation around its own axis) first
observed by a local fisherman was confirmed by researchers during land-based
observations. The study emphasizes the importance of traditional knowledge in
complementing scientific data. Authors mentioned researches safety as an important aspect of the land-based station location. Up North, at Enseada do Curral, Rio
Grande do Norte State, the influence of time of the day and tide on the species
behavior was assessed (Guilherme-Silveira and Silva 2009) and highlighted the
need for regulating dolphinwatching activities that are increasing locally and might
threat the population.
An ethnoecological study of the Sotalia genus and the Amazon River dolphin
was conducted from land-based station located at Universidade Federal do Para
campus in Belém, Para State, Northern Brazil, at the mouth of Igarapé do Tucunduba
(Santos et al. 2012). The study used binoculars and applied scan sampling method
allowing characterizing both species groups size and habitat use, and highlighted
the need to conduct further studies to understand the species ecology in the area.
The Araguaian River dolphin at Tocantins River was studied combining different
methods (Araújo and Wang 2012
1
). The species’ behavior and habitat use in the
proximity of dams were described, as well as the species feeding activity and
unusual behaviors such as object carrying.
A study conducted from a LBS at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago in Brazil
investigated circadian and seasonal fluctuations in the daytime activities of the
Spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) over a 4 years period (Silva and Silva Jr.
2009). The species is a major tourist attraction in the Archipelago, and although
boat excursions were already regulated in the area (number of boats, speed and
proximity of dolphins gathered results supported a time limitation to ongoing excursions (i.e. avoiding excursion from 7 to 11 am).
The Southern Right Whale was studied from land-based stations in Santa
Catarina (e.g. Seyboth et al. 2015) and Rio Grande do Sul (Danilewicz et al. 2016).
In order to investigate the relationship between southern right whale distribution off
Santa Catarina State and environmental and temporal variables, observations from
14 land-based stations (20–90 m asl) were carried out between 2002 and 2008.
Observation usually took place simultaneously in some land-based stations.
Preferred calving areas were identified, supporting measures to enhance coastal
management (Seyboth et al. 2015). In Torres (Rio Grande do Sul State), from a
land-based station at Morro do Farol (45 m asl), 15 min scans with the naked eye
followed by 5 min scans with 7 × 50 reticulated binoculars were conducted. The
study characterized the area as part of the species breeding site along the Brazilian
coast, as birth, nursing and mating were observed (Danilewicz et al. 2016).
4 Land-Based Station Studies of Aquatic Mammals in Latin America: Understanding…
conducted at Ilhéus (Izidoro and Le Pendu 2012) aimed to characterize the species
play behavior. “Ad libitum” observation and scans were carried out to establish the
ethogram and frequency of play behavior. At Canavieiras, Bahia State, from a landbased station located in a pier (5.5 m asl) near the mouth of Pardo River. The study
compared ethnoecological knowledge of local artisanal fishermen, to behavioral
data collected using binoculars and focal group sampling (Costa et al. 2012). A
novel leap behavior called pirouette (one complete rotation around its own axis) first
observed by a local fisherman was confirmed by researchers during land-based
observations. The study emphasizes the importance of traditional knowledge in
complementing scientific data. Authors mentioned researches safety as an important aspect of the land-based station location. Up North, at Enseada do Curral, Rio
Grande do Norte State, the influence of time of the day and tide on the species
behavior was assessed (Guilherme-Silveira and Silva 2009) and highlighted the
need for regulating dolphinwatching activities that are increasing locally and might
threat the population.
An ethnoecological study of the Sotalia genus and the Amazon River dolphin
was conducted from land-based station located at Universidade Federal do Para
campus in Belém, Para State, Northern Brazil, at the mouth of Igarapé do Tucunduba
(Santos et al. 2012). The study used binoculars and applied scan sampling method
allowing characterizing both species groups size and habitat use, and highlighted
the need to conduct further studies to understand the species ecology in the area.
The Araguaian River dolphin at Tocantins River was studied combining different
methods (Araújo and Wang 2012
1
). The species’ behavior and habitat use in the
proximity of dams were described, as well as the species feeding activity and
unusual behaviors such as object carrying.
A study conducted from a LBS at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago in Brazil
investigated circadian and seasonal fluctuations in the daytime activities of the
Spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) over a 4 years period (Silva and Silva Jr.
2009). The species is a major tourist attraction in the Archipelago, and although
boat excursions were already regulated in the area (number of boats, speed and
proximity of dolphins gathered results supported a time limitation to ongoing excursions (i.e. avoiding excursion from 7 to 11 am).
The Southern Right Whale was studied from land-based stations in Santa
Catarina (e.g. Seyboth et al. 2015) and Rio Grande do Sul (Danilewicz et al. 2016).
In order to investigate the relationship between southern right whale distribution off
Santa Catarina State and environmental and temporal variables, observations from
14 land-based stations (20–90 m asl) were carried out between 2002 and 2008.
Observation usually took place simultaneously in some land-based stations.
Preferred calving areas were identified, supporting measures to enhance coastal
management (Seyboth et al. 2015). In Torres (Rio Grande do Sul State), from a
land-based station at Morro do Farol (45 m asl), 15 min scans with the naked eye
followed by 5 min scans with 7 × 50 reticulated binoculars were conducted. The
study characterized the area as part of the species breeding site along the Brazilian
coast, as birth, nursing and mating were observed (Danilewicz et al. 2016).
4 Land-Based Station Studies of Aquatic Mammals in Latin America: Understanding…