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Reintroduction of the Northern Bald Ibis
22/07/2020
Reintroduction European Pond Turtle
22/07/2020

Conservation of the La Plata Dolphin



Ambassador for Species and Habitat Conservation


The La Plata dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) is found exclusively in the coastal waters of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay and is considered the most endangered cetacean species in South America. Five management areas are known, home to an estimated few hundred to around 15,000 dolphins in each area. Since La Plata dolphins mainly live along the coast, they are particularly sensitive to anthropogenic influences. The increasing pollution of waters by toxic chemicals and the regional fishing industry have greatly reduced their population in recent decades. Coastal fishing and the resulting high number of bycatch victims, which make up 6% of the population in some areas, is particularly concerning. By overfishing its prey fish, the La Plata dolphin has already been driven out of some parts of their original distribution area.

fhe_La_Plata_Delphin_beitragsbild

Our Contribution



In order to be able to effectively protect animal species, general data on the biology of the species must first be available. For YAQU PACHA e.V. , research into the La Plata dolphin, which is not well known compared to other animal species, was therefore a top priority. For this reason, the society has been working on projects since 1996, aimed at obtaining knowledge about this species. YAQU PACHA's e.V. research projects related to the La Plata Dolphin have primarily focused on three different areas.

1. Population estimation:

How many animals live in the entire distribution area? To answer this question, YAQU PACHA e.V. has helped to finance aerial surveys over the years. La Plata dolphins living in a certain area are counted from a special airplane. An extrapolation has shown that approx. 50,000 animals live in the South Atlantic. Since this method is extremely expensive, new technologies have been developed and used in recent years to determine both the use of the habitat by the animals and to record the number of individuals. The so-called CPODs are used to record and analyse the click sounds that dolphins use for echolocation. Special programs can then calculate how many individuals are living in an area.

2. Identify bycatch:

Since fishing poses the greatest threat to the La Plata dolphin, it has been important to determine how many dolphins actually die per area, and year, in fishing nets. YAQU PACHA e.V. has financed several projects in which these figures were obtained by observers on board ships. Depending on the area, the bycatch rate has been found to be between 3 - 6% of the total population, which put in danger the long-term survival of the species.

3. Environmental education:

La Plata dolphins share their ecosystem with many people whose livelihood depends on fishing. YAQU PACHA e.V. recognised early on that the protection of this species of dolphin could only be successful in the long term if locals were also involved. To achieve this, YAQU PACHA e.V. developed and implemented numerous environmental education programs aimed at bringing the animal species closer to humans.

Success:

Over 25 years of research have provided important insights into the overall population, threats, genetics and general biology of the La Plata dolphins. Environmental education programs in turn have made the dolphin species more well-known and made people aware of the protection of the species not only in South America but also in Europe. Science but also education and the dissemination of information ultimately led to the government of Brazil passing a new fisheries law in 2013. This law has re-regulated coastal fishing, which has helped not only the La Plata dolphin, but also the entire coastal ecosystem in Brazil. The La Plata dolphin has therefore fulfilled its function as an ambassador for species conservation.

Pictures




Scientific Publications



Bohrer do Amaral, K., Danilewicz, D., Zerbini, A., Di Beneditto, A. P., Andriolo, A., Janisch Alvares, D., Secchi, E., Ferreira, E., Sucunza, F., Borges-Martins, M., de Oliveira Santos, M. C., Cremer, M., Denuncio, P., Ott, P. H., and Benites Moreno, I.2018. Reassessment of the franciscana Pontoporia blainvillei (Gervais & d'Orbigny, 1844) distribution and niche characteristics in Brazil. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Volume 508, 2018, Pages 1-12.

Prado, J. H. F., Mattos, P. H., Silva, K. G., and Secchi, E. R. 2016. Long-Term Seasonal and Interannual Patterns of Marine Mammal Strandings in Subtropical Western South Atlantic. PLoS ONE 11(1): e0146339.

Troina, G., Botta, S., Secchi, E.R., and Dehairs, F. 2016. Ontogenetic and sexual characterization of the feeding habits of franciscanas, Pontoporia blainvillei, based on tooth dentin carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes. Marine Mammal Science, 32: 1115-1137.

Botta, S., Albuquerque, C., Hohn, A. A., da Silva, V. M. F., Santos, M. C. O., Meirelles, C., Barbosa, L., Di Beneditto, A. P. M., Ramos, R. M. A., Bertozzi, C., Cremer, M. J., Franco-Trecu, V., Miekeley, N., and Secchi, E. R. 2015. Ba/Ca ratios in teeth reveal habitat use patterns of dolphins. Marine Ecology Progress Series 521:249-263.

Prado, J.H.F., Secchi, E.R., and Kinas, P. G. Mark-recapture of the endangered franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) killed in gillnet fisheries to estimate past bycatch from time series of stranded carcasses in southern Brazil. Ecological Indicators, Volume 32, 2013, Pages 35-41.

Barbato, B. H. A., Secchi, E. R., Di Beneditto, A. P. M., Ramos, R., Bertozzi, C., Marigo, J., Bordino, P., and Kinas, P. G. 2012. Geographical variation in franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) external morphology. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 92(8), 1645-1656.

Alonso, M. B., Feo, M. L., Corcellas, C., Vidal, L. G., Bertozzi, C. P., Marigo, J., Secchi, E. R., Bassoi, M., Azevedo, A. F., Dorneles, P. R., Torres, J. P., Lailson-Brito, J., Malm, O., Eljarrat, E., and Barceló, D. 2012. Pyrethroids: A new threat to marine mammals? Environment International, Volume 47, 2012, Pages 99-106.

Costa-Urrutia, P., Abud, C., Secchi, E. R., and Lessa, E. P. 2012. Population Genetic Structure and Social Kin Associations of Franciscana Dolphin, Pontoporia blainvillei. Journal of Heredity, Volume 103, Issue 1, January-February 2012, Pages 92–102.

Botta S., Secchi E. R., Muelbert M. M. C., Danilewicz D., Negri M. F., Cappozzo H. L., and Hohn A. A. 2010. Age and growth of franciscana dolphins, Pontoporia blainvillei (Cetacea: Pontoporiidae) incidentally caught off southern Brazil and northern Argentina. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 90(8), 1493-1500.

Danilewicz, D., Moreno, I., Ott, P., Tavares, M., Azevedo, A., Secchi, E., and Andriolo, A. 2010. Abundance estimate for a threatened population of franciscana dolphins in southern coastal Brazil: Uncertainties and management implications. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 90(8), 1649-1657.

Danilewicz, D., Secchi, E., Ott, P., Moreno, I., Bassoi, M., and Borges-Martins, M. 2009. Habitat use patterns of franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) off southern Brazil in relation to water depth. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 89(5), 943-949.

Botta S., Muelbert M. M. C., and Secchi E. R. 2006. Morphometric relationships of franciscana dolphin, Pontoporia blainvillei (Cetacea), off Rio Grande do Sul coast, southern Brazil. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals 5(2): 117-123, December 2006.

Danilewicz, D., Claver, J. A., Pérez Carrera, A. L., Secchi, E. R., and Fontoura, N. F. 2004. Reproductive biology of male franciscanas (Pontoporia blainvillei) (Mammalia: Cetacea) from Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Fishery Bulletin, 102(4), pp. 581-592.

Secchi, E. R., Kinas, P. G., and Muelbert, M. 2004. Incidental catches of franciscana in coastal gillnet fisheries in the Franciscana Management Area III: period 1999-2000. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals 3(1):61-68, January/June 2004.

Scientific reports



Report to Yaqu Pacha – Toninhas Project

Partner



Laboratorio Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha – EcoMega, Univ. Federal do Rio Grande, Brazil

Projeto Toninha

Fundacion Mundo Marino, Argentina


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