Dear colleagues,
My co-authors and I are pleased to share our recent
publication in Marine Mammal Science:
Carvalho RR, Lailson-Brito J Jr., Kajin M, et al.
Shallow-water habitat use and population parameters of rough-toothed dolphins, Steno
bredanensis (G. Cuvier in Lesson, 1828) in southeastern Brazil. Mar Mam Sci.
2020;1–16.
The publication is available through the following
link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mms.12762
Abstract
The rough-toothed-dolphin (Steno bredanensis) is a poorly known species along its distribution
especially in the Southern hemisphere where data on habitat use and population
parameters are scarce. Boat-based surveys were conducted from 2009 to 2017 in a
shallow water environment in southeastern Brazil. During focal-group
observations, S. bredanensis was more
commonly found in mean depths of 22 m with varying group size and composition.
Generalized additive models showed that group size was influenced by
environmental variables such as sea surface and bottom temperatures, depth and
season. Photo-identification effort allowed us to catalogue 173 well distinct
marked individuals. Population parameters estimate showed high and constant
survival (Φ = 0.99) corroborating site fidelity but time varying
capture probabilities (p = 0.03 – 0.71). Open population model also indicated a
small abundance estimate (Nt = 218)
of S. bredanensis in the study area
improving knowledge for this species in shallow water environments of the
Southwestern Atlantic Ocean.