Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 13
E
THNOECOLOGY OF
S
OTALIA
G
UIANENSIS
(GERVAIS,
1853)
IN THE
A
MAZON
E
STUARY
Sandra Beltrán-Pedreros
1
, Miguel Petrere
2
and Ligia Amaral Filgueiras-Henriques
3
+
1
Projeto PIATAM. Área de Mamíferos Aquáticos. INPA (CPBA)-UFAM,
Rua Ajuricaba, Aleixo, Manaus, Brasil
2
Universidade Estadual de São Paulo (UNESP),
Departamento de Ecologia, Rio Claro, Brasil
3
Universidade Estadual do Pará (UEPA), Departamento de Ciências Naturais,
Rua do Uma, Belém, PA
A
BSTRACT
This chapter describes a study conducted on the ecology of
Sotalia guianensis
in the
Amazon estuary from 1999 to 2001, using participatory research with methodology.
Interviews of 150 fishermen across 11 towns as well as surveys of the estuary by boat
were completed to obtain information regarding
S. guianensis
in relation to their group
size, habitat fidelity and calf-dynamics. Interactions between the ecological variables
were tested using a log linear analysis of frequency tables for three factors. The results
indicate that the
S. guianensis
is a gregarious species, forming groups of two or three
individuals. However, groups with more than 10 individuals and herds of up to 150 were
not rare. Group size was related to the behavior and kind of habitat used. In this study
dolphins were commonly observed in large groups, feeding and swimming in open water
habitats, however they were rarely observed in ports and near human communities.
Habitats such as "igarapés", lagoons and exposed coastal beaches were visited by the
dolphins in the last hours of rising tide, high tide and the beginning of receding tide,
when depth facilitated the exploration of the habitat.
Keywords:
Sotalia guianensis,
ethnoecology, Amazon estuary.
beltranpedreros@hotmail.com.
+ ligiafilgueiras@gmail.com.
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