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tions, influencing vital rates, leading to population scale effects (National Research
Council 2005). Aquatic mammals are slow breeding animals and the consequences
of any disturbance may take some time to be detected, once population level
responses are long-term effects (Tyack et al. 2003). Therefore, behavioral studies
enable the design of adequate management actions to ensure species’ protection
(Alcock 1998), addressing important conservation problems by monitoring the
health of the target population, showing unrecognized risks (Tyack et al. 2000).
In many places of the Earth, it is possible to observe from a remote place aquatic
mammals that inhabit near shore waters, occupy a certain coastal area during a
period of the year, migrate by the coastline or approach river banks. A little mountain by the sea, a sand dune by the shore, or a high place at an island, a rock, a tower,
a lighthouse, a tree, even a house’s roof, or an apartment building balcony, may be
a belvedere, an observatory for contemplating and admire the animals. Advantages
places like these may also serve a touristic purpose, allowing the development of
land-based whalewatching activities, for example. In the other hand, if the objective
is to study these animals, these look-outs points can serve as a land-based station
(LBS), for scientifical purposes (Fig. 4.1).
Studies from LBS have the great advantage of not interfere in animal natural
behavior (e.g., Würsig et al. 1991) being not invasive. LBS enables for a broad view
of animals in their habitat, allowing to address different and relevant studies as: indepth description of behavior, development of an ethogram, characterization of
habitat use and distribution, estimation of species density, assessment of the impact
of anthropogenic activities, evaluation of the impact of climate changes, etc.
Therefore forming the core information for many conservation measures, as baseline information from species and areas, development of management plan and creation of protected areas (i.e., State and National Parks), establishment of tourism
and whale/dolphin watching guidelines, artisanal and/or industrial fisheries legislation, vessel and ships traffic, improvement of coastal management, etc.
4.2 Land-Based Studies Overview
Land-based station studies can be a “simple natural history” behavioral pattern
study of a species within a certain area. The study area may encompass a core region
for the species, or a small part of its distribution, or even just a passage area. These
observations can be performed on daily basis, or monthly, seasonally and annually,
becoming a short, middle or long term research. Details about the way one individual animal behave, and how it behaves in relation to the group, or how several
groups behave within a time frame. How individuals behave according to age, or
social status, time of the day, or period of the season. How social aspects change
throughout the day, or even during a season. Do they have a typical movement pattern? What speed can they reach? Does calf behavior differ if the mother is accompanied by another individual? Is there a preferred habitat area among different
group categories? Do bathymetric features, water and air temperature, tide
4 Land-Based Station Studies of Aquatic Mammals in Latin America: Understanding…
tions, influencing vital rates, leading to population scale effects (National Research
Council 2005). Aquatic mammals are slow breeding animals and the consequences
of any disturbance may take some time to be detected, once population level
responses are long-term effects (Tyack et al. 2003). Therefore, behavioral studies
enable the design of adequate management actions to ensure species’ protection
(Alcock 1998), addressing important conservation problems by monitoring the
health of the target population, showing unrecognized risks (Tyack et al. 2000).
In many places of the Earth, it is possible to observe from a remote place aquatic
mammals that inhabit near shore waters, occupy a certain coastal area during a
period of the year, migrate by the coastline or approach river banks. A little mountain by the sea, a sand dune by the shore, or a high place at an island, a rock, a tower,
a lighthouse, a tree, even a house’s roof, or an apartment building balcony, may be
a belvedere, an observatory for contemplating and admire the animals. Advantages
places like these may also serve a touristic purpose, allowing the development of
land-based whalewatching activities, for example. In the other hand, if the objective
is to study these animals, these look-outs points can serve as a land-based station
(LBS), for scientifical purposes (Fig. 4.1).
Studies from LBS have the great advantage of not interfere in animal natural
behavior (e.g., Würsig et al. 1991) being not invasive. LBS enables for a broad view
of animals in their habitat, allowing to address different and relevant studies as: indepth description of behavior, development of an ethogram, characterization of
habitat use and distribution, estimation of species density, assessment of the impact
of anthropogenic activities, evaluation of the impact of climate changes, etc.
Therefore forming the core information for many conservation measures, as baseline information from species and areas, development of management plan and creation of protected areas (i.e., State and National Parks), establishment of tourism
and whale/dolphin watching guidelines, artisanal and/or industrial fisheries legislation, vessel and ships traffic, improvement of coastal management, etc.
4.2 Land-Based Studies Overview
Land-based station studies can be a “simple natural history” behavioral pattern
study of a species within a certain area. The study area may encompass a core region
for the species, or a small part of its distribution, or even just a passage area. These
observations can be performed on daily basis, or monthly, seasonally and annually,
becoming a short, middle or long term research. Details about the way one individual animal behave, and how it behaves in relation to the group, or how several
groups behave within a time frame. How individuals behave according to age, or
social status, time of the day, or period of the season. How social aspects change
throughout the day, or even during a season. Do they have a typical movement pattern? What speed can they reach? Does calf behavior differ if the mother is accompanied by another individual? Is there a preferred habitat area among different
group categories? Do bathymetric features, water and air temperature, tide
4 Land-Based Station Studies of Aquatic Mammals in Latin America: Understanding…