Mark-recapture abundance estimate of tucuxi dolphins (Sotalia fluviatilis) in a lake system of the Central Amazon

作者：Coimbra Zulmira H^*; Assis Carlos A; da Silva Vera M F; dos Santos Manuel E

来源：Marine Mammal Science, 2016, 32(1): 241-251.

DOI：10.1111/mms.12254

• Brazilian Amazon
• conservation
• Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve
• mark-recapture analyses
• photo-identification
• tucuxi dolphins
• varzea forest

The tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis) is a small dolphin endemic to the Amazon River basin. Because the abundance and trends are currently unknown for the species, this study aimed to estimate its abundance in a lake system of the Central Amazon. A total of 10 two-day sampling periods were carried out from March to June of 2013 throughout a 13.5 km(2) area in the Mamiraua Reserve. In the 104 encounters with the species, a minimum number of 389 dolphins were sighted and photographed, which allowed the positive identification of 49 individuals. Mark-recapture models were used to estimate an abundance of 119 individuals (95% CI = 105-150) (corrected for the proportion of identifiable individuals). This is the first estimation of S. fluviatilis abundance using mark-recapture analyses and, together with the photo-id catalog made available, provides a useful reference for future studies regarding tucuxi dolphins.

• 出版日期2016-1