My co-author and I are pleased to inform you about this recently published article in Frontiers on Marine Science. 

  

Abstract 

A long-term study of a common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) population 

inhabiting the Gulf of Guayaquil, Ecuador (2330 S, 79200W), has been carried out 

for almost 30 years. Similarly, as in other parts of the world, this population is structured 

socially and spatially in well-defined subunits or communities. Two of these communities, 

referred to as Posorja and El Morro, have been studied with major intensity in the 

last 10 years in the western inner estuary, among others to calculate population 

parameters that allow assessing their viability in time. Calculated parameters include 

annual abundance, age and sex composition, annual crude birth rate, calf survival, calf 

production interval, and average annual mortality/emigration.With these parameters and 

others derived from other better-studied populations, the trend of both subunits was 

modeled using the software Vortex. Results show that even under an optimistic scenery 

both communities will be extinct in the short (Posorja) and mid-term (El Morro), if current 

stressors continue. Most population parameters calculated in both communities show 

similar values as in populations elsewhere, but a very low calf survival in Posorja and 

high mortality/emigration ratios in adults, and probably in juveniles in both communities, 

contribute to this trend. Population deterioration seems to be the result of different 

human-induced threats such as fisheries, maritime traffic and others still not well 

assessed, as well as stochastic demographic events. We recommend taking actions 

in the short term to halt population decline addressing the major causes of mortality 

affecting these dolphin communities. 

  

The article is free available from the editorial site DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2020.537010.  

  

Regards 

Fernando Félix