Cetaceans observed in Suriname and adjacent waters
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5597/lajam00189Keywords:
Cetaceans, Guianas, Suriname, Platform of Opportunity, Wider Caribbean RegionAbstract
Very little information exists about the cetaceans in the Guianas: Suriname and its neighboring countries Guyana and French Guiana. During a dedicated cetacean survey carried out from a geophysical seismic survey vessel in the offshore waters of Suriname (May-September 2012), the occurrence of 13 cetacean species was documented and of those, 11 were newly documented for this area. The species observed by the author included sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni), false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens), melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra), roughtoothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis), long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus capensis), Fraser’s dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei), pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) and spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris). During transit to the survey area (Trinidad to Suriname) incidental sightings were recorded which included common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) off Trinidad, Stenella sp. off Guyana and Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) at the entrance of the Suriname River. Opportunistic records originating from the periods December 2008-March 2009 and August-October 2012 were forwarded to the author. These records included common bottlenose dolphin, Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) and short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus). There is a growing need to identify critical areas for marine biodiversity conservation, both locally and regionally. This paper describes the general occurrence of the cetacean community encountered in Suriname waters in summer. The study revealed that the offshore cetacean community in Suriname is best described as primarily a tropical community, dominated by odontocetes (dolphins and sperm whales). Although the species diversity was relatively high, the overall cetacean relative abundance index (number of animals per 100km effort) was low, which is consistent for tropical equatorial offshore waters. Apart from the sperm whale and the Guiana dolphin, all the other species recorded represent new species records for Suriname. It is recommended that more continuous monitoring in different seasons be carried out in order to gain a better understanding of the occurrence, distribution and status of the different cetacean species within the region.
References
Acevedo-Galindo, R. (2007) Potential geographical distribution of seven species of marine cetaceans reported in Venezuela, Southeast Caribbean. Acta Zoologica Sinica 53(5): 853-864.
Alberico, M., Cadena, A., Hernandez-Camacho, J. and Muńoz-Saba, Y.(2000) Mamíferos (Synapsida: Theria) de Colombia. Biota Colombiana 1: 43-75.
Bermúdez-Villapol, L. and Boher, S. (2003) Lista actualizada de las especies de cetáceos de Venezuela. Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales 153(XLVI): 113-118.
Bolaños-Jiménez, J. and Villarroel-Marín, A.J. (2003) Three new records of cetacean species for Venezuelan waters. Caribbean Journal of Science 39: 230-232.
Bolaños-Jiménez, J. and Villarroel-Marín, A.J. (2008a) Cachalote Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus 1758. Page 114 in Rodríguez, J.P. and Rojas-Suárez, F. (Eds) Libro rojo de la fauna venezolana. Provita and Shell Venezuela S.A., Caracas, Venezuela.
Bolaños-Jiménez, J. and Villarroel-Marín, A.J. (2008b) Rorcual común Balaenoptera physalus Linnaeus 1758. Page 110 in Rodríguez, J.P. and Rojas-Suárez, F. (Eds) Libro rojo de la fauna venezolana. Provita and Shell Venezuela S.A., Caracas, Venezuela.
Bolaños-Jiménez, J., Villarroel-Marín, A.J., Parsons, E. C.M. and Rose, N.(2007) Origin and development of whalewatching in the state of Aragua, Venezuela: Laying the groundwork for sustainability. Pages 16-27 in Lück, M., Gräupl, A., Auyong, J., Miller, M. and Orams, M. (Eds) Balancing marine tourism, development and sustainability. Proceedings of the V International Coastal and Marine Tourism Congress, 11-15 September 2007. School of Hospitality and Tourism, AUT University, the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute (NZTRI), and the School of Marine Affairs, University of Washington. Auckland, New Zealand.
Bolaños-Jiménez, J., Pirela, D., Rojas, J. and León, T. (2008) Bufeo negro, Sotalia guianensis Van Beneden 1863. Page 12 in Rodríguez, J.P. and Rojas-Suárez, F. (Eds) Libro rojo de la fauna de Venezuela. 3.ed. Provita and Shell Venezuela S.A., Caracas, Venezuela.
Buckland, S.T., Anderson, D.R., Burnham, K.P., Laake, J.L., Borcher, D.L. and Thomas, L. (2001) Introduction to distance sampling. Oxford University Press, New York, USA.
Caldwell, D.K., Caldwell, M.C. and Walker, R.V. (1976) First records for Fraser’s dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei) in the Atlantic and the melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra) in the western Atlantic. Cetology 25: 1-4.
Clark, R.A., Johnson, C.M., Johnson, G., Payne, R., Kerr, I., Anderson, R.C., Sattar, S.A., Godard, C.J. and Madsen, P.T. (2012) Cetacean sightings and acoustic detections in the offshore waters of the Maldives during the northeast monsoon seasons of 2003 and 2004. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 12(2): 227-234.
Condie, S.A. (1991) Separation and recirculation of the north Brazil current. Journal of Marine Research 49: 1-19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1357/002224091784968620
De Boer, M.N. (2010) Cetacean distribution and relative abundance in offshore Gabonese waters. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 90(8): 1613-1621. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315410001165
Debrot, A.O., De Meyer, J.A. and Dezentjé, P.J.E. (1998) An overview of the cetacean fauna of the Leeward Dutch Antilles. Caribbean Journal of Science 34: 204-210.
Dulau-Drouot, V., Boucaud, V. and Rota, B. (2008) Cetacean diversity off La Réunion Island (France). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 88: 1263-1272. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315408001069
Gannier, A. (2009) Comparison of odontocete populations of the Marquesas and Society Islands (French Polynesia). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 89: 931-941. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315408002713
Gómez-Salazar, C., Portocarrero-Aya, M., Trujillo, F., Caballero, S., Bolańos-Jiménez, J., Utreras, V., McGuire, F., Ferrer-Pérez, A., Pool, M. and Aliaga-Rossel, E. (2010) Update on the freshwater distribution of Sotalia in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and Suriname. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals 8(1-2): 171-178. http://dx.doi.org/10.5597/lajam00166
Heinemann, D.(1981) A range finder for pelagic birds censusing. Journal of Wildlife Management 45(2): 489-493. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3807930
Hersh, S.L. and Odell, D.K. (1986) Mass strandings of Fraser’s dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei, in the western north Atlantic. Marine Mammal Science 2: 73-76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.1986.tb00029.x
Hoyt, E. (2011) Marine protected areas for whales, dolphins and porpoises: a world handbook for cetacean habitat conservation. 2.ed. Earthscan, London, UK.
Husson, A.M. (1978) The mammals of Suriname. Zoölogische Monographieën van het Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie 2: 1-569.
Jefferson, T.A. and Lynn, S.K. (1994) Marine mammal sightings in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, summer 1991. Caribbean Journal of Science30: 83-89.
Jefferson, T.A. and Schiro, A.J. (1997) Distribution of cetaceans in the offshore Gulf of Mexico. Mammal Review 27: 27-50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2907.1997.tb00371.x
Jefferson, T.A., Fertl, D., Bolaños-Jiménez, J. and Zerbini, A.N. (2009) Distribution of common dolphins (Delphinus spp.) in the western Atlantic Ocean: a critical re-examination. Marine Biology 156: 1109-1124. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1152-y
Kizka, J., Ersts, P.J. and Ridoux, V. (2010) Structure of a toothed cetacean community around a tropical island (Mayotte, Mozambique Channel). African Journal of Marine Science 32: 543-551. http://dx.doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2010.538145
Luksenburg, J.A. (2011) Three new records of cetacean species for Aruba, Leeward Antilles, southern Caribbean. Marine Biodiversity Records 4: 1-4. http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1017/S1755267210001193
Luksenburg, J.A.(2013). The cetaceans of Aruba, southern Caribbean. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK 94: 1161-1174. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315413000337
Mannocci, L., Monestiez, R., Bolaños, J., Doremus, G., Jérémie, S., Laran, S., Rinaldi, R., Van Canneyt, O. and Ridoux, V. (2013) Megavertebrate communities from two contrasting ecosystems in the western tropical Atlantic. Journal of Marine Systems 111: 208-222. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2012.11.002
Mignucci-Giannoni, A.A. (1998) Zoogeography of cetaceans off Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Caribbean Journal of Science 34(3-4): 173-190.
Mignucci-Giannoni, A., Montoya-Ospina, A.R., Pérez-Zayas, J.J., Rodriguez-Lopez, M.A. and Williams, E.H. (1999) New records of Fraser’s dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei) for the Caribbean. Aquatic Mammals 25(1): 15-19.
Miloslavich, P., Klein, E., Díaz, J.M., Hernandez, C.E., Bigatti, G., Campos, L., Artigas, F., Castillo, J., Penchaszadeh, P.E., Neill, P.E., Carranza, A., Retana, M.V., Díaz de Astarloa, J.M., Lewis, M., Yorio, P., Piriz, M.L., Rodríguez, D., Yoneshigue-Valentin, Y., Gamboa, L. and Martín, A. (2011) Marine biodiversity in the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of South America: knowledge and gaps. PLOS One6(1): e14631. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0014631
Oleson, E.M., Barlow, J., Gordon, J., Rankin, S. and Hildebrand, J.A. (2003) Low frequency calls of Bryde’s whales. Marine Mammal Science 19(2): 407-419. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2003.tb01119.x
Oviedo, L., Esteves, M.A., Acevedo, R., Silva, N., Bolaños Jiménez, J., Quevedo, A.M. and Fernández, M. (2010) Abundance, distribution and behaviour of common dolphins, Delphinus sp., off north-eastern Venezuela: implications for conservation and management. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 90: 1623-1631. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S002531540999097X
Palacios, D.M., Herrera, J.C., Gerrodette, T., Garcia, C., Soler, G.A., Avila, I.C., Bessudo, S., Hernandez, E., Trujillo, F., Flórez-González, L. and Kerr, I. (2012) Cetacean distribution and relative abundance in Colombia’s Pacific EEZ from survey cruises and platforms of opportunity. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 12(1): 45-60.
Pardo, M.A. and Palacios, D.M. (2006) Cetacean occurrence in the Santa Marta region, Colombian Caribbean, 2004-2005. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals5: 129-134. http://dx.doi.org/10.5597/lajam00105
Pardo, M.A., Jiménez-Pinedo, C. and Palacios, D.M. (2009) The false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) in the southwestern Caribbean: first stranding record in Colombian waters. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals 7(1-2): 63-67. http://dx.doi.org/10.5597/lajam00136
Pool, M.(2012). River seismic survey in manatee habitat in Suriname. Sirenews-newsletter of the IUCN Sirenia Specialist Group 58: 14-17.
Prieto Rodríguez, M.(1988) Reporte de algunos cetáceos del Caribe Colombiano. Boletin de la Facultad de Biologia Marina, Universidad de Bogota Jorge Tadeo Lozano 8: 30-40.
Rice, D.W. (1998) Marine mammals of the world: Systematics and distribution. Special Publication No. 4. The Society for Marine Mammalogy, Lawrence, USA. 234 pp.
Ricklefs,R.E. (2007) The economy of nature. 5.ed. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York, USA.
Romero, A., Agudo, A., Green, S.M. and Notarbartolo di Sciara, G.N. (2001) Cetaceans of Venezuela: their distribution and conservation status. NOAA Technical Report NMFS, no. 151.
Slijper, E.J., Van Utrecht, W.L., and Naaktgeboren, C. (1964) Remarks on the distribution and migration of whales, based on observations from Netherlands ships. Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde 34:1-93.
Swartz, S.L. and Burks, C. (2000) Cruise results: windward humpback Megaptera novaeangliae survey. NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter, Cruise GU-00-01, 9 February to 3 April 2002. NOAA-NMFS-SEFSC Technical Memorandum 438. 31 pp.
Van Bénéden, P.J. (1864) Sur un dauphin nouveau (Delphinus guianensis) et un ziphoide rare. Mémoires de l’Académie Royale de Sciences de Belgique 16(1): 1-21.
Van Waerebeek, K. (1990) Preliminary notes on the existence of a dolphin by-catch off French Guiana. Aquatic Mammals 16:71-72.
Vidal, O. (1990) Lista de los mamíferos acuáticos de Colombia. Informe del Museo del Mar (Universidad Tadeo Lozano, Bogotá, Colombia) 37:1-18.
Vidal, O., Van Waerebeek, K. and Findley, L.T. (1994) Cetaceans and gillnet fisheries in Mexico, Central America and the Wider Caribbean: a preliminary review. Reports of the International Whaling Commission (Special Issue) 15: 221-233.
Weir, C.R. (2008a) Overt responses of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), and Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) to seismic exploration off Angola. Aquatic Mammals 34: 71-83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1578/AM.34.1.2008.71
Weir, C.R. (2008b) Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) respond to an airgun ramp-up procedure off Gabon. Aquatic Mammals 34: 349-354. http://dx.doi.org/10.1578/AM.34.3.2008.349
Weir, C.R., Calderan, S., Unwin, M. and Paulatto, M. (2011) Cetacean encounters around the island of Montserrat (Caribbean Sea) during 2007 and 2010, including new species state records. Marine Biodiversity Records 4: e42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1755267211000480
Weir, C.R., Gonçalves, L. and May, D. (2013) New Gulf of Guinea (Africa) range state records for pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata) and Fraser’s dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei). Marine Biodiversity Records 6: e35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1755267212001303
Witte, R.H., Van Buurt, G., Debrot, D.A., BermúdezVillapol, L.A. and Simal, F. (2012) First record of Fraser’s dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei for the Dutch Caribbean. Marine Biodiversity Records 5: e46 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1755267212000279
Würsig, B., Jefferson, T.A. and Schmidly, D.J. (2000) The marine mammals of the Gulf of Mexico. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas, USA.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
