Please reply directly to: francaaustral@fcien.edu.uy Paula Franco Fraguas writes: Since 2001 we have been working systematically on the “Francaaustral project” in Uruguay. Our aim is to evaluate the presence of southern right whale in our Atlantic coast. We have been doing land and air surveys (including photo identification). Along this years we have found the presence of this whales in our coast is variable along the spring season including its peak period (August-October). We hypothesizes the whether conditions may be affecting their presence in our coast. Uruguay is situated on the subtropical region characterized by a hydrologic and meteorological complex system affected by the semi permanent anticyclone belt. Meteorological cycles occur by the movements and confluence of the cold air masses from the south and hot air masses from the north. This, together with our south exposed oceanic coast affects strongly the coastal conditions. My thesis objective is to evaluate the relation between the presence of southern right whale in our coast with the synoptic conditions of the region. By means of synoptic maps I will relate atmospheric pressure tendencies (which reflects the whether conditions) and wind intensity with the presence of this whales in our coast. I have found scarce references on this topic, this is why I will really appreciate your help locating relevant references. [see the bibliography below] Cheers, Paula Franco Fraguas PROYECTO FRANCAAUSTRAL http://francaaustral.fcien.edu.uy Maldonado 1463/401 CP:11200 Montevideo-Uruguay _Bibliografía_ /1/. Payne R.* *(1986). Long term behavioral studies of the southern right whales /(Eubalaena australis). /Rep. Int. Whal. Comm. (Special Issue 10): 161-167. /2/. Whitehead H., R. Payne & M. Payne. (1986). Populations estimate for the right whale off Península Valdés, Argentina, 1971 – 76. Rep. Int. Whal. Comm. (Special Issue 10): 169- 71. /3./ Payne R, V. Rowntree, J. S. Perkins, J. G. Cooke & K. Lankester. (1990). Populations size trends and reproductive parameters of right whales /(Eubalaena australis) /off Península Valdés. Rep. Int. Whal. Comm . (special issue 12): 271- 78. /4./ Costa, P.; Piedra, M.; Franco Fraguas, P., 2004. Presencia de la ballena franca austral (/Eubalaena australis/) en la costa atlántica uruguaya. 11*º *Reunión de Trabajo de Mamíferos Acuáticos de América del Sur y 5º Congreso de la Sociedad Latinoamericana de Especialistas en Mamíferos Acuáticos (SOLAMAC) Quito, Ecuador. /5./ Piedra, M.; Costa, P., Franco Fraguas, P.; E. Paez. 2005. Relevamiento de la ballena franca (/Eubalaena australis/) en la costa atlántica uruguaya : recomendaciones para su conservación. Terceras jornadas de Conservación y uso sustentable de la fauna marina. Montevideo, Uruguay Pag. 25. /6./ Guerrero, R.A., Lasta, C.A., Acha, E.M., Mignzan, H.W. y Framiñan, M.B. 1997. Atlas Hidrográfico del Río de la Plata, 1997. Comisión administradora del Río de la Plata. Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero. /7/. Balay, M., 1961. El Río de la Plata entre la atmósfera y el mar. Servicio de Hidrografía Naval, H621, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 153 pp. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com