Unusual aggressive behavior encountered by divers from Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) in Puerto Rico

Authors

  • Chelsea A. Harms-Tuohy Isla Mar Research Expeditions, PO Box 828, Rincón, Rincón, Puerto Rico, 00677
  • Evan A. Tuohy University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Department of Marine Sciences PO Box 9000, 00681 Mayagüez Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico. PO Box 9000, 00681 Mayagüez, Puerto Rico

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5597/00238

Keywords:

Human interactions, marine mammal behavior, marine mammal mating

Abstract

The reaction of a manatee mating herd to the presence of two SCUBA divers in Puerto Rico is presented.

Author Biographies

Chelsea A. Harms-Tuohy, Isla Mar Research Expeditions, PO Box 828, Rincón, Rincón, Puerto Rico, 00677

Ph.D. Candidate
Department of Marine Sciences

Evan A. Tuohy, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Department of Marine Sciences PO Box 9000, 00681 Mayagüez Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico. PO Box 9000, 00681 Mayagüez, Puerto Rico

Ph.D. Candidate
Department of Marine Sciences

References

Deutsch, C.J., Self-Sullivan, C. and Mignucci-Giannoni, A. (2008) Trichechus manatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T22103A9356917. https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.uk.2008.rlts.t22103a9356917.en

Garcia-Rodriguez, A.I., Bowen, B.W., Domning, D., Mignucci-Giannoni, A.A., Marmontel, M., MontoyaOspina, R.A., Morales-Vela, B., Rudin, M., Bonde, R.K. and McGuire, P.M. (1998) Phylogeography of the West Indian

manatee (Trichechus manatus): how many populations and how

many taxa? Molecular Ecology 7(9): 1137-1149. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-294x.1998.00430.x

Hartman, D.S. (1979) Ecology and behavior of the manatee (Trichechus manatus) in Florida. American Society of Mammalogists. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. https://doi.org/10.2307/1379863

Hunter, M.E., Mignucci-Giannoni, A.A., Tucker, K.P., King, T.L., Bonde, R.K., Gray, B.A. and McGuire, P.M. (2012) Puerto Rico and Florida manatees represent genetically distinct groups. Conservation Genetics 13(6): 1623-1635. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-012-0414-2

Lefebvre, L.W., Marmontel, M., Reid, J.P., Rathbun, G.B. and Domning, D.P. (2001) Status and biogeography of the West Indian manatee. Pages 425-463 in Woods, C.A. and Sergile, F.E. (Eds) Biogeography of the West Indies: patterns and perspectives. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781420039481.ch22

Mignucci-Giannoni, A.A., Montoya-Ospina, R.A., JimenezMarrero, N.M., Rodriguez-Lopez, M.A., Williams, E.H. and Bonde, R.K. (2000) Manatee mortality in Puerto Rico. Environmental Management 25: 189–198. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002679910015

Moore, J.C. (1956) Observations of manatees in aggregations. American Museum Novitates 1811: 1-24.

Powell, J.A., Belitsky, D.W. and Rathbun, G.B. (1981) Status of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) in Puerto Rico. Journal of Mammalogy 62(3): 642-646. https://doi.org/10.2307/1380417

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Published

2018-03-02

How to Cite

Harms-Tuohy, C. A., & Tuohy, E. A. (2018). Unusual aggressive behavior encountered by divers from Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) in Puerto Rico. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals, 12(1-2), 59-60. https://doi.org/10.5597/00238

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1-2 (2017)

Section

Short Communications

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