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GS*OD independent when associated to H (df = 32; G = 29.05; P = 0.61), but dependent
when associated to B (GR*C; df = 8; G = 16.4; P = 0.03).
H*C was dependent when associated to A (df = 54; G = 86.9; P = 0.003) and B (df = 12;
G = 26.1; P =0.01) and independent when associated to GS (df = 30; G = 31.7; P = 0.38).
GS*B was dependent when associated to H (df = 16; G = 31.03; P = 0.01) and
independent when associated to A (df = 36; G = 49.5; P = 0.06).
GS*C dependent when associated to H (df =32; G=70.3; P = 0.0001).
A*GS dependent associated to B (df = 64; G = 109.5; P = 0.0003).
A*H dependent when associated to C (df = 72; G = 192.7; P = 0.8x10
-13
).
C*B dependent when associated to H (df = 8; G = 42.1; P = 1.3x10
-6
).
A*C was independent to any kind of habitat (df = 64; G = 82.4; P = 0.06).
A*B was independent to any group size (df = 40; G = 46.4; P = 0.22).
Table 5. Percent observations of different group sizes (I = one animal, II = 2-3 animals,
III = 4-10 animals, IV = 11-30 animals, V = > 30 animals) of
Sotalia guianensis
in the
Amazon estuary between 1999 and 2001 by degree of occurrence in each habitat.
Habitat
Occurrence
I
II
III
IV
V
Open waters
Common
100
75
80
66.7
66.7
Rare
-
8.3
4
9.5
11.1
Seasonal
-
16.7
16
23.8
22.2
Igarapés and/or Bays
Common
54.5
78.9
85.7
100
66.6
Rare
18.2
2.6
-
-
16.7
Seasonal
27.3
18.5
14.3
-
16.7
Ports and Communities
Common
6.7
18.7
-
-
-
Rare
53.3
37.5
-
-
-
Seasonal
40
43.8
-
-
-
Beach and/or Coast
Common
33.3
66
71.2
60
66.7
Rare
-
17
1.9
13.3
33.3
Seasonal
66.7
17
26.9
26.7
-
D
ISCUSSION
The ecology of
Sotalia guianensis
is thoroughly described in the scientific literature.
Along its geographical distribution, where an ethnoecological approach is used to garner
information, any collected observational data must first be verified and quantified because
one of the greatest problems with obtaining information from human communities is the
subjectivity and the truthfulness of their answers. In general, dolphin studies are always
accompanied by the consideration of the communities' traditional information, but, these are
almost always used as support elements for conservation and environmental education works.
Sotalia guianensis
of the Amazonian estuary frequent coastal water habitats like bays,
mangrove areas and even other estuaries, as has been documented for other points along its
geographical distribution (Borobia et al., 1991; Edwards & Schnell, 2001). The Amazonian
estuary offers a great variety of habitats as a consequence of the tide action and the discharge
of the Amazon River causing this area to possess both marine and fluvial characteristics. The
depth is determined by the tide effect and the sea-river interface which presents a width of
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