A review on the distribution, abundance, residency, survival and population structure of coastal bottlenose dolphins in Argentina

Authors

  • Els Vermeulen Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit, University of Pretoria, South Africa Whalefish, Glasgow, UK
  • Ricardo Bastida Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (CONICET - UNMdP), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires
  • Leonardo G. Berninsone Fundación Aqua Marina (CECIM), Del Besugo 1525, Pinamar, 7167 Buenos Aires
  • Pablo Bordino Fundación Aqua Marina (CECIM), Del Besugo 1525, Pinamar, 7167 Buenos Aires
  • Mauricio Failla Fundacion Cethus, Monteverde 3695, Olivos, B1636AEM Buenos Aires
  • Pedro Fruet Museu Oceanográfico “Prof. Eliézer de C. Rios” - FURG, Rua Heitor Perdigão 10, 96200-970 Rio Grande, RS
  • Guillermo Harris Wildlife Conservation Society. 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, 10460 New York
  • Miguel Iñíguez Fundación Cethus. Monteverde 3695, Olivos, B1636AEM Buenos Aires
  • Maria C. Marchesi Museo Acatushún de Aves y Mamíferos Marinos Australes, Sarmiento 44, 9410 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego
  • Pablo Petracci Gekko-Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo, Universidad Nacional del Sur. Av. Alem 1253, 8000 Bahía Blanca
  • Laura Reyes Universidad Nacional de La Patagonia San Juan Bosco. Bv. Almirante Brown 3700, 9120 Puerto Madryn
  • Mariano Sironi Instituto de Conservación de Ballenas. O’Higgins 4380, CP 1429, Buenos Aires
  • Stefan Bräger International Seabed Authority, 14-20 Port Royal Street, Kingston

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5597/00233

Keywords:

Abundance, Argentina, bottlenose dolphin, distribution, population structure, population decline.

Abstract

Although bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus are among the most common delphinid species, global population trends remain poorly understood. To improve the knowledge of the species in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean, this
paper reviews all available data related to the distribution and occurrence, abundance, residency and ranging patterns, group size and composition, survival and reproduction and population structure of the coastal bottlenose dolphin in Argentina. Most information proved to be scattered in time and space. Based on the available data, total abundance of coastal bottlenose dolphins in Argentina appears to be low. Data show sightings decreased notably since the 1990s in the northern province of Buenos Aires and the province of Chubut, with the species having disappeared completely from the former region. Data also indicated that two genetically and morphologically distinct coastal populations occur in Argentinean coastal waters, with a sympatric distribution in the provinces of Río Negro and Chubut. One is an isolated ‘Evolutionary Signifcant Unit’ within the larger Southwest Atlantic, whereas the other population appears to be genetically related to the Southwest Atlantic offshore ecotype. In the absence of more substantial data, the present information is pertinent to our scientifc knowledge of the species in the country, collating all published information as well as information from grey literature and previously unpublished data. However, the available information appears to remain insufcient to explain the apparent decline in sightings and to assess the remaining abundance nationwide accurately. Therefore, we strongly recommend increased research efforts for an in-depth assessment of the species’ population status in Argentina.

Author Biography

Els Vermeulen, Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit, University of Pretoria, South Africa Whalefish, Glasgow, UK

Post-doctoral research fellow, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Co-founding director, Whalefish, Glasgow, UK

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2018-03-02

How to Cite

Vermeulen, E., Bastida, R., Berninsone, L. G., Bordino, P., Failla, M., Fruet, P., Harris, G., Iñíguez, M., Marchesi, M. C., Petracci, P., Reyes, L., Sironi, M., & Bräger, S. (2018). A review on the distribution, abundance, residency, survival and population structure of coastal bottlenose dolphins in Argentina. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals, 12(1-2), 2-16. https://doi.org/10.5597/00233

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