Abstract
The marine manatee Trichechus manatus manatus Linnaeus, 1758 is endangered in the Brazilian Atlantic coast due to indiscriminate hunting practiced in the past, and to the low reproductive rate of the species. This work studies its use of space and temporal occurrence in the coastal area of Sagi, Northeastern Brazil. Daily observations from the beach of the animals in the sea were made during daytime from 1990 through 1993. The presence of reefs covered with marine algae is a determinant factor in the occurrence of the manatee. They were sighted feeding on algae that grow over the reefs close to beaches that were of high energy during high tide. The range used by manatees shifted according to tide. They occur in depths of 0.4 to 3.8 m; the distance from the beach varies according to the tide level. They show marked seasonality of occurrence, with higher frequencies in December - January and lowest in June - July. Two possible causes of the seasonal occurrence are discussed. Sagi is important for the conservation of the species in Northeastern Brazil as feeding and reproductive grounds.
Sirenia; Trichechus manatus manatus; manatee; temporal distribution; Northeastern Brazil; ecology
Use of space and temporal distribution of Trichechus manatus manatus Linnaeus in the region of Sagi, Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil (Sirenia, Trichechidae)
Danielle PaludoI; Alfredo LangguthII
ICentro Nacional de Conservação e Manejo de Sirenios, IBAMA. Estrada do Forte Orange, Caixa Postal 01, 53900-000 Ilha de Itamaracá, Pernambuco, Brasil
IIDepartamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Campus Universitário, 58059 900 João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil. E-mail: alfredo@dse.ufpb.br
ABSTRACT
The marine manatee Trichechus manatus manatus Linnaeus, 1758 is endangered in the Brazilian Atlantic coast due to indiscriminate hunting practiced in the past, and to the low reproductive rate of the species. This work studies its use of space and temporal occurrence in the coastal area of Sagi, Northeastern Brazil. Daily observations from the beach of the animals in the sea were made during daytime from 1990 through 1993. The presence of reefs covered with marine algae is a determinant factor in the occurrence of the manatee. They were sighted feeding on algae that grow over the reefs close to beaches that were of high energy during high tide. The range used by manatees shifted according to tide. They occur in depths of 0.4 to 3.8 m; the distance from the beach varies according to the tide level. They show marked seasonality of occurrence, with higher frequencies in December - January and lowest in June - July. Two possible causes of the seasonal occurrence are discussed. Sagi is important for the conservation of the species in Northeastern Brazil as feeding and reproductive grounds.
Key words: Sirenia, Trichechus manatus manatus, manatee, temporal distribution, Northeastern Brazil, ecology
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. We thank all the workers of the Projeto Peixe-Boi, particularly José Carlos Leôncio, for providing field observations, and Eunice Maria Oliveira, Ricardo Soavinski and Régis Pinto de Lima from Centro Peixe-Boi/IBAMA for their kind support. We also thank Virginia Fernandes Fonseca for translation of the manuscript. This research was funded by Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis - IB AMA and is part of a Master Dissertation on Zoology at the Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Financial support was also provided by RIB (Rutilo e Ilmenita do Brasil).
Recebido em 12.IV.2001; aceito em 21.II.2002.
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Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
19 May 2009 -
Date of issue
Mar 2002
History
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Accepted
21 Feb 2002 -
Received
12 Apr 2001
