Abundance and distribution of cetaceans in the state of Aragua, Venezuela

Gaby Silva Hernández

doi:10.15468/a5n4pa

Abundance and distribution of cetaceans in the state of Aragua, Venezuela

Citation

Silva Hernández, G. 2008. Abundance and distribution of cetaceans in the state of Aragua, Venezuela. Data downloaded from OBIS-SEAMAP (http://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/482) on yyyy-mm-dd. https://doi.org/10.15468/a5n4pa accessed via GBIF.org on 2023-05-31.

Description

Original provider: María Gabriela Silva-Hernández, Universidad Central de Venezuela Dataset credits: María Gabriela Silva-Hernández, Universidad Central de Venezuela Abstract: There is updated information on abundance and distribution of cetaceans in the central coast of Venezuela, where is needed baseline information in order to manage dolphin-watching activities. Between March 2006-January 2007, 28 surveys were made aboard small boats, powered with outboard engines, totaling 71.5 h of effort. The presence of Atlantic spotted (Stenella frontalis), bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) dolphins and Bryde´s whales (Balaenoptera edeni) was confirmed. Cetaceans were found on 71.4% of the surveys. Relative abundance, expressed as number of individuals found per Km of transect line and hour of survey effort were 6 (± S.D. 12) and 26 (±S.D. 42), respectively, for S. frontalis and 1 (± S.D. 1) and 3 (±S.D. 2), respectively, for T. truncatus. Group size ranged from 6-400 individuals (mean 120 ± S.D. 119) and from 1-20 individuals (mean 8 ±S.D 7) for S. frontalis and, T. truncatus respectively. Some level of differentiation in habitat preference for these two species was found, with bottlenose dolphins preferring coastal waters over the 100m isobath, and Atlantic spotted dolphins preferring deeper waters around the 200m contour. Balaenopterid whales were found in March 2006, probably a cow-calf pair, Balaenoptera sp., and in October 2006, adult B. edeni. Purpose: This data is the result of a study carried out between March 2006 and January 2007 in response of the inclusion of whale watching (WW) activities into the priorities of three national programs of the Ministry of Science and Technology and Fundacite Aragua. We expect that WW activities will soon be successful at a commercial level, so we decided to generate data on the biological and ecological aspects of the three cetacean species presents in the coast of Aragua (Stenella frontalis, Tursiops truncatus and Balaenoptera edeni). This information will provide a basis for future comparisons about population aspects as well as responsible management of this activity in the region as well as in the country. Supplemental information: Total effort for the whole reasearch: 4294 min

Purpose

This data is the result of a study carried out between March 2006 and January 2007 in response of the inclusion of whale watching (WW) activities into the priorities of three national programs of the Ministry of Science and Technology and Fundacite Aragua. We expect that WW activities will soon be successful at a commercial level, so we decided to generate data on the biological and ecological aspects of the three cetacean species presents in the coast of Aragua (Stenella frontalis, Tursiops truncatus and Balaenoptera edeni). This information will provide a basis for future comparisons about population aspects as well as responsible management of this activity in the region as well as in the country.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

NA

Sampling

NA

Method steps

NA

Additional info

marine, harvested by iOBIS

Taxonomic Coverages

Scientific names are based on the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).

Balaenoptera edeni
common name: Eden's whale rank: species
Delphinidae
common name: dolphins rank: family
Delphinidae
common name: dolphins rank: family
Stenella frontalis
common name: Atlantic Spotted Dolphin rank: species
Tursiops truncatus
common name: Common Bottlenose Dolphin rank: species

Geographic Coverages

Oceans

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Gaby Silva Hernández
originator
position: Primary contact
Universidad Central de Venezuela
email: mgsilvah@gmail.com

OBIS-SEAMAP
metadata author
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: http://seamap.env.duke.edu

OBIS-SEAMAP
distributor
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: http://seamap.env.duke.edu

Gaby Silva Hernández
owner
position: Primary contact
Universidad Central de Venezuela
email: mgsilvah@gmail.com

Gaby Silva Hernández
administrative point of contact
position: Primary contact
Universidad Central de Venezuela
email: mgsilvah@gmail.com