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Abundance, distribution and behaviour of common dolphins, Delphinus spp., off north-eastern Venezuela: implications for conservation and management

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2009

Lenin Oviedo ,
María Alejandra Esteves ,
Romina Acevedo ,
Noemi Silva ,
Jaime Bolaños-Jiménez ,
Ana María Quevedo  and
Marc Fernández
Lenin Oviedo*
Affiliation:
Proyecto Delphinus, Margarita Island, Venezuela Proyecto Golfo de la Ballena—Biotrópica, Caracas, Venezuela
María Alejandra Esteves
Affiliation:
Proyecto Delphinus, Margarita Island, Venezuela
Romina Acevedo
Affiliation:
Proyecto Golfo de la Ballena—Biotrópica, Caracas, Venezuela
Noemi Silva
Affiliation:
Proyecto Golfo de la Ballena—Biotrópica, Caracas, Venezuela
Jaime Bolaños-Jiménez
Affiliation:
Sociedad Ecológica Venezolana Vida Marina (Sea Vida, AP 162, Cagua, Estado Aragua, Venezuela
Ana María Quevedo
Affiliation:
Postgrado Ecología, Instituto de Zoología tropical, UCV
Marc Fernández
Affiliation:
CIRN/FCT and Departamento de Biologia, Universidade dos Açores (UAC), Portugal
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: L. Oviedo, Proyecto Delphinus, Margarita Island, Venezuela email: [email protected]
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Abstract

The north-eastern coast of Venezuela hosts a high diversity of megafauna, particularly related with high productivity due to coastal upwelling. This area is mainly characterized by the existence of the primary fisheries in Venezuela, mostly supported by a great abundance of small pelagic species. This would explain why the area supports a wide range of marine top predators, including cetaceans. The current status of cetacean populations off north-eastern Venezuela is uncertain, mainly because research efforts have been very sparse. There are still many gaps of information in cetacean biology to establish a solid baseline that can be used for management decisions. Common dolphins (Delphinus spp.) are widely dispersed over the whole north-east basin, including waters off Araya and Paria Peninsula and around Margarita, Coche and Cubagua Islands. Areas of higher densities for Delphinus spp. coincide with the focal location of sardine fisheries and the most-active upwelling on the north-eastern coast. Therefore, a scheme of management should consider the areas of major productivity along the coast as potential critical habitat for the species. Further data collection is recommended, increasing aspects such as trophic ecology and the continuity of behavioural sampling, paired with systematic line transect estimation.

Keywords

common dolphinDelphinus spp.critical habitatupwellingCariaco Basinnorth-eastern Venezuela
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 90 , Special Issue 8: Marine Mammals , December 2010 , pp. 1623 - 1631
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2009

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