105
4.3.7 Uruguay
The land-based studies conducted in Uruguay focus on Pinnipeds: South American
sea lion and South American fur seal (research details in the Box 4.2) and Southern
Right Whale. The Pinnipeds studies were conducted at the Marine Protected area
Isla de Lobos. South American sea lion breeding success was quantified according
to their breeding location within the colony (tide line vs. internal pool) and genetic
samples. Two daily scan samplings were conducted using 10 × 50 binoculars to
count the number of males and assign their spatial positions in a grid of 2 × 2 m. It
was shown for the first time the coexistence of two distinct mating systems: males
of tide line have a female-defence polygyny into floating territories, while males at
the internal pools defended fixed territories establishing a resource-defence polygyny (Franco-Trecu et al. 2015).
Southern right whale presence was assessed with binoculars during simultaneous
scans, from 9 land-based stations selected because of their appropriated height
(from 10 m to 50 m asl) covering about 220 km occurrence area along the coast. The
number of individuals, presence of calves and group size were recorded. The study
suggested that the Uruguayan coast is not intensively used as calving area, when
compared to other areas of occurrence as in Santa Catarina in Brazil and Valdes
Peninsula in Argentina (Costa et al. 2005).
4.3.8 Venezuela
Combined land-based and boat-based surveys, aiming to establish the sighting frequency and relative abundance of Bottlenose dolphins, along the northeast coast of
Margarita Island and Los Frailes Archipelago were developed (Oviedo and Silva
2005). The land-based observations were conducted from the Punta Ballenas lighthouse, and allowed to characterize it as the dominant species in the area.
4.4 Conclusions
Behavioral investigation of wild animals should form the baseline of ecological and
conservation studies. Observing animals from Land-based stations in their natural
habitat, year-round, during different seasons, in distinct activities, under diverse
weather conditions is essential, in order to allow scientists to characterize the species, gathering information needed to the design and development of any further
study project, for developing action plans for target species and management plans
for protected areas. In fact, land-based station studies allowed the pioneers in the
field to build baseline knowledge, for many species, but much more are still to be
studied.
4 Land-Based Station Studies of Aquatic Mammals in Latin America: Understanding…
4.3.7 Uruguay
The land-based studies conducted in Uruguay focus on Pinnipeds: South American
sea lion and South American fur seal (research details in the Box 4.2) and Southern
Right Whale. The Pinnipeds studies were conducted at the Marine Protected area
Isla de Lobos. South American sea lion breeding success was quantified according
to their breeding location within the colony (tide line vs. internal pool) and genetic
samples. Two daily scan samplings were conducted using 10 × 50 binoculars to
count the number of males and assign their spatial positions in a grid of 2 × 2 m. It
was shown for the first time the coexistence of two distinct mating systems: males
of tide line have a female-defence polygyny into floating territories, while males at
the internal pools defended fixed territories establishing a resource-defence polygyny (Franco-Trecu et al. 2015).
Southern right whale presence was assessed with binoculars during simultaneous
scans, from 9 land-based stations selected because of their appropriated height
(from 10 m to 50 m asl) covering about 220 km occurrence area along the coast. The
number of individuals, presence of calves and group size were recorded. The study
suggested that the Uruguayan coast is not intensively used as calving area, when
compared to other areas of occurrence as in Santa Catarina in Brazil and Valdes
Peninsula in Argentina (Costa et al. 2005).
4.3.8 Venezuela
Combined land-based and boat-based surveys, aiming to establish the sighting frequency and relative abundance of Bottlenose dolphins, along the northeast coast of
Margarita Island and Los Frailes Archipelago were developed (Oviedo and Silva
2005). The land-based observations were conducted from the Punta Ballenas lighthouse, and allowed to characterize it as the dominant species in the area.
4.4 Conclusions
Behavioral investigation of wild animals should form the baseline of ecological and
conservation studies. Observing animals from Land-based stations in their natural
habitat, year-round, during different seasons, in distinct activities, under diverse
weather conditions is essential, in order to allow scientists to characterize the species, gathering information needed to the design and development of any further
study project, for developing action plans for target species and management plans
for protected areas. In fact, land-based station studies allowed the pioneers in the
field to build baseline knowledge, for many species, but much more are still to be
studied.
4 Land-Based Station Studies of Aquatic Mammals in Latin America: Understanding…