274
patterns of habitat selection and use, and understand population dynamics aspects,
all crucial information to support conservation actions and protected area design. In
most cases, logistics, financial and personnel resources impose limitations to the use
of sophisticated methodologies, but this has been changing over the last decade,
both by the introduction of new technologies and collaborative research initiatives.
The West Indian manatee occurs along almost 15,000 km of coastal area of six
countries in South America (Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela
and Colombia), where no more than 2,000 individuals are believed to exist (SelfSullivan and Mignucci-Giannoni 2012; Alves et al. 2016). So far, only Colombia
and Brazil have implemented captures and/or releases of wild-ranging or captiveraised West Indian manatees, to use telemetry monitoring.
The first release of a captive-raised West Indian manatee in Brazil took place in
1994, and by August 2011 30 animals had been released along the coasts of the
Brazilian northeastern states (Normande et al. 2015). Prior to release animals are
adapted with a belt around the caudal peduncle, where one or more transmitter types
are attached: a VHF-only, a platform-type (PTT) that uses an ARGOS link, and a
global positioning system (GPS) that also has an ARGOS link (Normande et al.
2015). All satellite transmitters have built-in VHF transmitters, making it possible
to track the target manatee in the field. Satellite data are obtained through the
ARGOS service. Twenty-one (eight females and 13 males) were telemetrymonitored between November 2008 and June 2013, with a mean tracking period
per animal of 107.48 +− SD 73 days (Normande et al. 2016).
Tracking data of released and reintroduced animals documented a wide manatee
distribution in the region, from Rio Grande do Norte to Sergipe states and use
coastal corridors for exploratory movements (Lima et al. 2012). Manatees may
engage in long movements up to hundreds of kilometers for feeding and reproduction (Lima 2008; Lima et al. 2012; Normande et al. 2016).
Movement pattern was described as dichotomous. Some individuals present sedentary habits, with low rates of daily travel, strong site fidelity and reduced home
range size. Wide-ranging manatees have higher daily travel rates and larger home
ranges. Home range size (kernel 95%) of 21 (13 males and eight females) manatees
released in Alagoas or Paraíba after rehabilitation varied from 4.24 to 30.96 km
2
,
lower than home ranges reported for other areas (Normande et al. 2016). Homerange size was not significantly influenced by gender, age at release or release site.
Centers of activity were strongly associated with freshwater and feeding sites and
reefs and estuaries as shelters (Normande et al. 2016).
In Colombia, manatees maintained in semi-captivity in the Sinú river were
recaptured and had belt-mounted VHF and floating satellite transmitters adapted to
their caudal peduncle. Researchers documented rapid movements towards and
between river mouths during the dry season, in search of plants, a behavior similar
to wild manatees in the area (Góngora-Correa 2009). In 2009, a female manatee was
rescued in the Colombian department of Córdoba, and after a successful rehabilitation process, was released in Ciénaga Grande de Lorica. As of 2015 more than three
years passed since her release and she is monitored with VHF technology with the
help of the community (Caicedo-Herrera et al. 2015).
A.C.O. de Meirelles et al.
patterns of habitat selection and use, and understand population dynamics aspects,
all crucial information to support conservation actions and protected area design. In
most cases, logistics, financial and personnel resources impose limitations to the use
of sophisticated methodologies, but this has been changing over the last decade,
both by the introduction of new technologies and collaborative research initiatives.
The West Indian manatee occurs along almost 15,000 km of coastal area of six
countries in South America (Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela
and Colombia), where no more than 2,000 individuals are believed to exist (SelfSullivan and Mignucci-Giannoni 2012; Alves et al. 2016). So far, only Colombia
and Brazil have implemented captures and/or releases of wild-ranging or captiveraised West Indian manatees, to use telemetry monitoring.
The first release of a captive-raised West Indian manatee in Brazil took place in
1994, and by August 2011 30 animals had been released along the coasts of the
Brazilian northeastern states (Normande et al. 2015). Prior to release animals are
adapted with a belt around the caudal peduncle, where one or more transmitter types
are attached: a VHF-only, a platform-type (PTT) that uses an ARGOS link, and a
global positioning system (GPS) that also has an ARGOS link (Normande et al.
2015). All satellite transmitters have built-in VHF transmitters, making it possible
to track the target manatee in the field. Satellite data are obtained through the
ARGOS service. Twenty-one (eight females and 13 males) were telemetrymonitored between November 2008 and June 2013, with a mean tracking period
per animal of 107.48 +− SD 73 days (Normande et al. 2016).
Tracking data of released and reintroduced animals documented a wide manatee
distribution in the region, from Rio Grande do Norte to Sergipe states and use
coastal corridors for exploratory movements (Lima et al. 2012). Manatees may
engage in long movements up to hundreds of kilometers for feeding and reproduction (Lima 2008; Lima et al. 2012; Normande et al. 2016).
Movement pattern was described as dichotomous. Some individuals present sedentary habits, with low rates of daily travel, strong site fidelity and reduced home
range size. Wide-ranging manatees have higher daily travel rates and larger home
ranges. Home range size (kernel 95%) of 21 (13 males and eight females) manatees
released in Alagoas or Paraíba after rehabilitation varied from 4.24 to 30.96 km
2
,
lower than home ranges reported for other areas (Normande et al. 2016). Homerange size was not significantly influenced by gender, age at release or release site.
Centers of activity were strongly associated with freshwater and feeding sites and
reefs and estuaries as shelters (Normande et al. 2016).
In Colombia, manatees maintained in semi-captivity in the Sinú river were
recaptured and had belt-mounted VHF and floating satellite transmitters adapted to
their caudal peduncle. Researchers documented rapid movements towards and
between river mouths during the dry season, in search of plants, a behavior similar
to wild manatees in the area (Góngora-Correa 2009). In 2009, a female manatee was
rescued in the Colombian department of Córdoba, and after a successful rehabilitation process, was released in Ciénaga Grande de Lorica. As of 2015 more than three
years passed since her release and she is monitored with VHF technology with the
help of the community (Caicedo-Herrera et al. 2015).
A.C.O. de Meirelles et al.