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variation, moon phase play a role in their distribution? What is the density of the
species within an area? Does it fluctuate through time? Perhaps the presence of the
animals is related to environmental variations… Can an animal react to a playback
of a social sound? Or the sound of a predator? What are the consequences of the
approach of a vessel? How the behavior of a mother and calf change in the presence
of a tourism boat? Does the presence of a boat alter animal activity leading to energetic costs? Does a biopsy sampling procedure causes behavioral change? What
about powerful noises as those used in seismic surveys? Well, these are some examples of questions that have been addressed from LBS studies conducted around the
world (e.g., Tyack 1981; Smultea 1994, Mobley et al. 1988; Bejder et al. 1999;
Frankel and Clark 2000; Williams et al. 2002, 2006; Morete et al. 2003a, b, 2007a,
b, 2008; Oviedo and Silva 2005; Coscarella et al. 2010, 2011; Araújo and Wang
2012; Sepúlveda et al. 2012; Dunlop et al. 2015, Danilewicz et al. 2016).
As shown, from a LBS it is possible to develop those “natural history” behavioral
studies which form the structural knowledge of a species, as well as habitat use studies which attempt to describe, explain, and predict the distribution and abundance of
organisms (Acevedo-Gutiérrez 2009), showing the way an animal uses physical and
biological components in a habitat (Morrison 2002). Also, behavioral- response study
(BRS), to determine the function and/or behavioral effects of conspecifcs, heterospecifics and anthropogenic stimuli (Dunlop et al. 2012). Likewise, studies of the impact
of anthropogenic activities (as vessels traffic, dolphin/whalewatching, noise pollution caused by seismic activities, sonar signals) by means of short-term, punctual
behavioral observation, and long-term behavioral and distribution changes.
Many studies around the world merge land-based observation with acoustics
methods, as passive acoustic monitoring (PAM), in order to describe the animal’s
songs and sounds together with swimming speeds, direction and surface behavior
(e.g., Frankel et al. 1995; Noad and Cato 2001, 2007). At Queensland coast, in
Australia, there are sequences of LBS performing a combined visual and acoustic
survey of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) while it migrates along to
the coast. Observations of a whale or group of whale starts at one land-based station
until it is within visual range and the next station continue observing the same group
(Dunlop et al. 2015), making longer periods of focal follows (sampling method
describe later in this chapter). The use of land-based platforms combined with other
methods (e.g. acoustics, genetics) magnifies the scientific outcomes.
Fig. 4.1 (continued) (h) cetaceans at Ilha Vitoria, São Paulo (Brazil); (i) humpback whale at
Cumuruxatiba Bahia (Brazil); (j) Bottlenose and Dusky dolphin at Valdes Peninsula (Argentina);
(k) Humpback whale at Serra Grande, Bahia (Brazil); (l) Guiana dolphin at Caravelas Bahia
(Brazil); (m) cetaceans at Mejillones Bay (Chile); (n) Bottlenose dolphin at Veracruz (Mexico); (o)
Spotted dolphin at San Juan del Sur Nicaragua) (p) roof of a house at Praia do Forte Bahia (Brazil);
(q) Humpback whale at Cerro la Mesa (Peru); (r) Bryde’s Whale at Laje de Santos, São Paulo
(Brazil)
4 Land-Based Station Studies of Aquatic Mammals in Latin America: Understanding…
variation, moon phase play a role in their distribution? What is the density of the
species within an area? Does it fluctuate through time? Perhaps the presence of the
animals is related to environmental variations… Can an animal react to a playback
of a social sound? Or the sound of a predator? What are the consequences of the
approach of a vessel? How the behavior of a mother and calf change in the presence
of a tourism boat? Does the presence of a boat alter animal activity leading to energetic costs? Does a biopsy sampling procedure causes behavioral change? What
about powerful noises as those used in seismic surveys? Well, these are some examples of questions that have been addressed from LBS studies conducted around the
world (e.g., Tyack 1981; Smultea 1994, Mobley et al. 1988; Bejder et al. 1999;
Frankel and Clark 2000; Williams et al. 2002, 2006; Morete et al. 2003a, b, 2007a,
b, 2008; Oviedo and Silva 2005; Coscarella et al. 2010, 2011; Araújo and Wang
2012; Sepúlveda et al. 2012; Dunlop et al. 2015, Danilewicz et al. 2016).
As shown, from a LBS it is possible to develop those “natural history” behavioral
studies which form the structural knowledge of a species, as well as habitat use studies which attempt to describe, explain, and predict the distribution and abundance of
organisms (Acevedo-Gutiérrez 2009), showing the way an animal uses physical and
biological components in a habitat (Morrison 2002). Also, behavioral- response study
(BRS), to determine the function and/or behavioral effects of conspecifcs, heterospecifics and anthropogenic stimuli (Dunlop et al. 2012). Likewise, studies of the impact
of anthropogenic activities (as vessels traffic, dolphin/whalewatching, noise pollution caused by seismic activities, sonar signals) by means of short-term, punctual
behavioral observation, and long-term behavioral and distribution changes.
Many studies around the world merge land-based observation with acoustics
methods, as passive acoustic monitoring (PAM), in order to describe the animal’s
songs and sounds together with swimming speeds, direction and surface behavior
(e.g., Frankel et al. 1995; Noad and Cato 2001, 2007). At Queensland coast, in
Australia, there are sequences of LBS performing a combined visual and acoustic
survey of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) while it migrates along to
the coast. Observations of a whale or group of whale starts at one land-based station
until it is within visual range and the next station continue observing the same group
(Dunlop et al. 2015), making longer periods of focal follows (sampling method
describe later in this chapter). The use of land-based platforms combined with other
methods (e.g. acoustics, genetics) magnifies the scientific outcomes.
Fig. 4.1 (continued) (h) cetaceans at Ilha Vitoria, São Paulo (Brazil); (i) humpback whale at
Cumuruxatiba Bahia (Brazil); (j) Bottlenose and Dusky dolphin at Valdes Peninsula (Argentina);
(k) Humpback whale at Serra Grande, Bahia (Brazil); (l) Guiana dolphin at Caravelas Bahia
(Brazil); (m) cetaceans at Mejillones Bay (Chile); (n) Bottlenose dolphin at Veracruz (Mexico); (o)
Spotted dolphin at San Juan del Sur Nicaragua) (p) roof of a house at Praia do Forte Bahia (Brazil);
(q) Humpback whale at Cerro la Mesa (Peru); (r) Bryde’s Whale at Laje de Santos, São Paulo
(Brazil)
4 Land-Based Station Studies of Aquatic Mammals in Latin America: Understanding…