Population status of small cetaceans off Aragua, Central Coast of Venezuela 2009

Jaime Bolaños-Jiménez

Dataset credit

Jaime Bolaños-Jiménez

Contacts

RoleNameOrganization 
Primary contact Jaime Bolanos Sea Vida
Data entry Ei Fujioka Duke University

Citation

Abstract

Since 2001, the non governmental organization Sea Vida has been promoting responsible dolphin watching in the State of Aragua, on the basis of previous research efforts by the Venezuelan Ministry of Environment and Sea Vida. Attempts have been made to gather baseline information on the bio-ecological and population aspects of cetaceans in the region. Opportunistic and systematic surveys have confirmed the presence of the Atlantic spotted (Stenella frontalis) and bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) dolphins. Encounter rate with dolphin groups is about 70%. Preliminary results indicate that at least a proportion of the population is resident to the area, with recaptures ranging from a few days to at least 12 years.

Purpose

This project is aimed to evaluate the population status of dolphins inhabiting the coast off the State of Aragua using photo-identification techniques, as part of the efforts to promote responsible dolphin watching in the region.


Similar surveys will be made during 2009 to cover different sampling seasons.

Supplemental information

N/A

References

Bolaños-Jiménez, J. and A. Villarroel-Marín. 2009. Population status of dolphin populations off the State of Aragua, Central Coast of Venezuela, Fall 2009. Final report, project RSG 08.07.07 funded by the Rufford Foundation, unpublished.

Attributes

Overview

This section explains attributes included in the original dataset. OBIS-SEAMAP restricts the attributes available to the public to date/time, lat/lon and species names/counts only. Should you need other attributes described here, you are encouraged to contact the data provider.

Attributes described below represent those in the original dataset provided by the provider.
Only minimum required attributes are visible and downloadable online. Other attributes may be obtained upon provider's permission.

Attributes in dataset

Attribute (table column)Description
row_idsighting index. sightings with duplicate ids were observed at the same time (different species).
obs_datedate of observation
obs_timetime of observation (start sighting)
obs_time_endEnd of sighting
obs_minutesDuration of sighting in minutes
latitudeLatitude in decimal degrees
longitudeLongitude in decimal degrees
sp_obsSpecies observed
sp_tsnITIS taxonomic serial number. This field added by OBIS-SEAMAP
obs_countNumber of animals
calf_youngPercentage of calf/young
behave_tInitial behavior: traveling
behave_sInitial behavior: socializing
behave_rInitial behavior: resting
behave_fInitial behavior: feeding
behave_mInitial behavior: milling
behave_uInitial behavior: unknown
react_apReaction: approach
react_avReaction: avoidance
react_neReaction: neutral
react_bwrReaction: bowriding
geomdefinition not provided
oidUnique ID number (generated by SEAMAP)
OBIS-SEAMAP ID499
Seabirds0
Marine mammals39
Sea turtles0
Rays and sharks0
Other species0
Non spatial0
Non species0
Total39
Date, Begin2009-01-22
Date, End2009-03-03
Temporal prec.111111
Latitude10.50 - 10.70
Longitude-67.80 - -67.63
Coord. prec.6 decimal digits
PlatformBoat
Data typeAnimal sighting
EffortN/A
Traveled (km)0
0
Contr. through
Registered2009-04-02
Updated2009-04-03
StatusPublished
Sharing policy Permission required
Shared with None
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