106
The knowledge of animals’ natural behavior, habitat use, distribution and threats
should be mandatory before the introduction of anthropogenic activities on their
habitat. Aquatic mammals are suffering the consequences of human societies that
are concentrated at the coastal zone, which is amongst the most modified areas on
Earth (Bollmann 2010), with mega-cities, population concentration causing pollution, habitat degradation, overfishing and hunting. In fact, there are aquatic mammals species that have already been extinct, as the Sea Cow (Hydrodamalis gigas),
Baiji Dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer), and others that are nearly extinct, like the Vaquita
(Phocoena sinus) and the subspecies Maui’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori
maui), species that humans poorly knew. Meanwhile, there are new ones being
recently discovered and described as Omura’s Whale (Balenoptera omurai – Wada
et al. 2003), as Araguaian dolphin (Hrbek et al. 2014). Thus, while we are discovering new species, others are being extinct, a fact already known for many taxa but
surprisingly for marine mammals. How many species poorly known or even different ones, are out there? Some, perhaps along the coast, in places that could be easy
and inexpensive to observe from a land-based station.
From our present taxonomical knowledge, in Latin America there are at least 67
species of aquatic mammals, amongst Mysticetes, Odontocetes, Pinnipeds, Sirenians
and Mustelids inhabiting marine offshore areas, coastal regions, estuaries and rivers. From our survey, only 27 species are being studied from land-based station, in
only 11 countries out of 48. Most parts of South Atlantic and South Pacific shoreline, as well as inner rivers systems are yet to be unveiled, lack knowledge and
proper management. As LBS studies requires relatively low-budget to be implemented, it should be encouraged in all areas where aquatic mammals are present
and observations from land are feasible, enabling diverse possibilities of research.
Together with the important findings and conservation achievements of those LBS
studies already in progress in Latin America, it would enhance our knowledge of
aquatic mammals’ ecology and of some anthropogenic impacts, providing valuable
support to the development of effective conservation measures and to the proper
management of their habitats.
Acknowledgments The authors would like to thanks to all respondents that participated of the
web survey allowing to improve the coverage of the workpresented: Amandine Bordin, Ana
Carolina Oliveira de Meirelles, Ana Maria Garcia Cegarra, André Silva Barreto, Bruna Rafaela
Passos Araújo, Camila Morais, Claudia Brigagão Petta, Daniel Danilewicz, Eduardo Morteo,
Flávio Lima, Héctor Barrios-Garrido, Isabel Cristina Avila, João Carlos Gomes Borges, Joëlle De
Weerdt, José Martins da Silva Júnior, Karina Groch, Katherina Audley, Luiza Beirão Campos,
Marcos Rossi-Santos, Maria Isabel C. Golçalves, Maritza Sepúlveda, Milene Novais, Paola
Hernandez Alvear, Rita Carli, Rodrigo H. Tardin, Salvatore Siciliano, Silvana Bottini, Valentina
Franco-Trecu and Yvonick Le Pendu. Ana Carolina Oliveira de Meirelles (Collection Aquasis),
Ana Maria Garcia Cegarra, Bernd Würsig, Eduardo Morteo, Flavio Lima, João Carlos Gomes
Borges (Collection Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos), Joëlle De Weerdt, José Martins da Silva
Júnior, Isabel Cristina Avila, Karina Groch, Melany Würsig, Samuel Turgeon, Tatiana Bisi,
Valentina Franco-Trecu, provided images to illustrate the chapter. Julia Dombroski provided valuable comments. The authors would like to thanks David S. Janiger for his meaningful contribution
to the study of aquatic mammals through his online library.
M.E. Morete et al.
The knowledge of animals’ natural behavior, habitat use, distribution and threats
should be mandatory before the introduction of anthropogenic activities on their
habitat. Aquatic mammals are suffering the consequences of human societies that
are concentrated at the coastal zone, which is amongst the most modified areas on
Earth (Bollmann 2010), with mega-cities, population concentration causing pollution, habitat degradation, overfishing and hunting. In fact, there are aquatic mammals species that have already been extinct, as the Sea Cow (Hydrodamalis gigas),
Baiji Dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer), and others that are nearly extinct, like the Vaquita
(Phocoena sinus) and the subspecies Maui’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori
maui), species that humans poorly knew. Meanwhile, there are new ones being
recently discovered and described as Omura’s Whale (Balenoptera omurai – Wada
et al. 2003), as Araguaian dolphin (Hrbek et al. 2014). Thus, while we are discovering new species, others are being extinct, a fact already known for many taxa but
surprisingly for marine mammals. How many species poorly known or even different ones, are out there? Some, perhaps along the coast, in places that could be easy
and inexpensive to observe from a land-based station.
From our present taxonomical knowledge, in Latin America there are at least 67
species of aquatic mammals, amongst Mysticetes, Odontocetes, Pinnipeds, Sirenians
and Mustelids inhabiting marine offshore areas, coastal regions, estuaries and rivers. From our survey, only 27 species are being studied from land-based station, in
only 11 countries out of 48. Most parts of South Atlantic and South Pacific shoreline, as well as inner rivers systems are yet to be unveiled, lack knowledge and
proper management. As LBS studies requires relatively low-budget to be implemented, it should be encouraged in all areas where aquatic mammals are present
and observations from land are feasible, enabling diverse possibilities of research.
Together with the important findings and conservation achievements of those LBS
studies already in progress in Latin America, it would enhance our knowledge of
aquatic mammals’ ecology and of some anthropogenic impacts, providing valuable
support to the development of effective conservation measures and to the proper
management of their habitats.
Acknowledgments The authors would like to thanks to all respondents that participated of the
web survey allowing to improve the coverage of the workpresented: Amandine Bordin, Ana
Carolina Oliveira de Meirelles, Ana Maria Garcia Cegarra, André Silva Barreto, Bruna Rafaela
Passos Araújo, Camila Morais, Claudia Brigagão Petta, Daniel Danilewicz, Eduardo Morteo,
Flávio Lima, Héctor Barrios-Garrido, Isabel Cristina Avila, João Carlos Gomes Borges, Joëlle De
Weerdt, José Martins da Silva Júnior, Karina Groch, Katherina Audley, Luiza Beirão Campos,
Marcos Rossi-Santos, Maria Isabel C. Golçalves, Maritza Sepúlveda, Milene Novais, Paola
Hernandez Alvear, Rita Carli, Rodrigo H. Tardin, Salvatore Siciliano, Silvana Bottini, Valentina
Franco-Trecu and Yvonick Le Pendu. Ana Carolina Oliveira de Meirelles (Collection Aquasis),
Ana Maria Garcia Cegarra, Bernd Würsig, Eduardo Morteo, Flavio Lima, João Carlos Gomes
Borges (Collection Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos), Joëlle De Weerdt, José Martins da Silva
Júnior, Isabel Cristina Avila, Karina Groch, Melany Würsig, Samuel Turgeon, Tatiana Bisi,
Valentina Franco-Trecu, provided images to illustrate the chapter. Julia Dombroski provided valuable comments. The authors would like to thanks David S. Janiger for his meaningful contribution
to the study of aquatic mammals through his online library.
M.E. Morete et al.