Orientador: Carolina Pacheco Bertozzi / Abstract: The Franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blanvillei) is a small odontocete impacted by anthropic activities (bycatch, habitat degradation). The hormonal measurement in biological matrices (feces, urine, blubber, milk, saliva, blow) has been increasingly used in aquatic mammals for certain reproductive parameters. The present study validated the method of extraction and measurement of testosterone and progesterone in blubber kept in two different temperatures (-20°C and -196°C), besides correlating the hormone concentration with gender, sexual maturity, age, stage of development, body length and occurrence of pregnancy. The carcasses were collected from stranded and bycatch dolphins of the coast of São Paulo. Blubber samples were collected and frozen at -20°C (n=101) and -196°C (liquid nitrogen) (n=28). The extraction was performed with a method described in literature and the hormonal analyses were done by enzyme immunoassay for the two hormones. An analysis was performed on two units of hormone concentration (ng/g and ng/mg). The inter-assay coefficient of variation was 6.89% for progesterone and 1.67% for testosterone, the intra-assay coefficient of variation was 7.82% for progesterone and 3.29% for testosterone. The progesterone assay presented parallelism F1.5= 0.87, p= 0.45 and testosterone presented F1.5= 3.79, p= 0.11. The mean extraction efficiency was 66% for progesterone and 70% for testosterone. The method of extraction and hormonal analysis was feasible for Pontoporia ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Resumo: A toninha (Pontoporia blanvillei) é um pequeno odontoceto impactado pelas atividades antrópicas (capturas acidentais, degradação de habitat). A dosagem hormonal em diferentes matrizes (fezes, urina, tecido adiposo, leite, saliva, borrifo) tem sido cada vez mais utilizada em mamíferos aquáticos para determinar parâmetros reprodutivos. O objetivo deste estudo foi validar o método de extração e mensuração de testosterona e progesterona em camada de gordura subcutânea de carcaças de toninha armazenadas em duas temperaturas (-20°C e -196ºC), além de correlacionar as dosagens com parâmetros de sexo, maturidade gonadal, idade, estágio de desenvolvimento, comprimento total e ocorrência de prenhez. As amostras foram colhidas de carcaças provenientes de encalhe e captura acidental do litoral de São Paulo. Foram colhidos fragmentos de gordura, armazenados em freezer a -20°C (n=101) e em nitrogênio líquido (-196ºC) (n=28). A extração hormonal foi realizada com modificações a partir do método descrito em literatura e a dosagem foi feita por enzimaimunoensaio para os dois hormônios. Os resultados das análises estatísticas foram expressos em duas unidades de concentração de hormônio (ng/g e ng/mg). O coeficiente de variação inter-ensaio foi de 6,89% para progesterona e 1,67% para testosterona, o coeficiente de variação intra-ensaio foi de 7,82% para progesterona e 3,29% para testosterona. Os resultados do paralelismo para o ensaio de progesterona foi F1,5 =0,87 e p=0,45 e para testosterona ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Mestre

South Pacific humpback whales were devastated by commercial whaling in their Antarctic feeding areas during the 20th century. Understanding migratory connections and current abundance of these isolated breeding stocks is crucial for the allocation of historical Antarctic catches in population dynamic models used to assess current recovery. However, only a small number of migratory connections have been documented between Oceania breeding stocks within the South Pacific and feeding areas in the Antarctic. In addition, little is known about abundance of these stocks which encompass a vast oceanic region. For this thesis I first used mixed-stock analysis (MSA) to allocate migratory connections from four Antarctic feeding areas (n=142) to seven South Pacific breeding stocks (n=1,373), including four in Oceania, based on genetic marker frequencies. The use of this method was justified by the breeding stocks showing genetic differentiation at the haplotype level with an F[subscript ST] value of 0.027 (p-value <0.001). The results showed a relatively strong connection of Western Australia to Antarctic Area IV, Tonga to the border of Antarctic Area VI/I, Colombia to the Antarctic Peninsula, and a split allocation of Eastern Australia and New Caledonia to Antarctic Area V. This study provides the first population-level information supporting previous individual-based studies that humpback whale migration may not necessarily be direct north south. Next, utilizing capture-recapture methodology of unique humpback whale fluke photographs, I estimated abundance of one of the least studied Oceania breeding stocks, French Polynesia, a stock which also showed no significant migratory allocation using MSA. Taking into consideration the possible advantages of using Quality Control (QC) photographs to minimize bias in matching, estimates were generated using the complete photo catalogue and also using only photographs adhering to QC criteria. I found that the choice of using QC has an effect on the abundance generated and discuss the implications of this finding. Despite the photo catalogue used, the French Polynesia stock is estimated to number less than 1,900 individuals. Lastly, to provide additional information on the French Polynesia stock I used photo-identification to compare French Polynesia whales to whales in the Antarctic Peninsula and Strait of Magellan (Antarctic Area I), a possible migratory connection suggested by previous microsatellite genotyping. No conclusive matches were found. Although this does not discount the possibility of a few migrants traveling between these regions it does indicate the Antarctic Peninsula and the Strait of Magellan are not primary feeding areas of French Polynesia. This new information regarding abundance and migration of French Polynesia whales is important for the Comprehensive Assessment of Southern Hemisphere humpback whales. This document is currently being completed as the International Whaling Commission considers the next critical steps in recovery for Oceania humpback whales stocks. / Graduation date: 2010

published_or_final_version / Ecology and Biodiversity / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 208-255).

This work is mainly based on the collection of Neogene (Miocene-Pliocene) odontocetes (toothed whales) from the area of Antwerp (northern Belgium, southern margin of the North Sea Basin) preserved at the Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique (IRSNB). <p> The systematic revision of members of the long-snouted dolphin family Eurhinodelphinidae leads to the description/re-description of five species in the genera Eurhinodelphis (E. cocheteuxi and E. longirostris), Schizodelphis (S. morckhoviensis), and Xiphiacetus n. gen. (X. cristatus and X. bossi). Furthermore, the systematic status of several eurhinodelphinid species from other localities in the world is revised. A cladistic analysis with the parsimony criterion is undertaken to highlight the phylogenetic relationships of several eurhinodelphinid taxa with other fossil and extant odontocetes. Eurhinodelphinids are more closely related to the beaked whales; the latter are distinctly separated from the sperm whales. A second analysis, with a likelihood criterion, reaches nearly identical results. Then a separate parsimony analysis investigates the relationships within the family Eurhinodelphinidae; the results suggest sister-group relationships between Schizodelphis + Xiphiacetus and Ziphiodelphis + (Mycteriacetus + Argyrocetus) and a more stemward position for Eurhinodelphis. After that, anatomical, palaeogeographic, and phylogenetic data allow several suggestions about the ecological features of the eurhinodelphinids. The extinction of this family, before the end of the Miocene, is commented, related to the changes in the biodiversity of other odontocete groups and to a contemporary major sea level drop. <p>\ / Doctorat en sciences, Spécialisation biologie animale / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

The ranging behaviour, habitat preferences, genetic structure, and demographic parameters of bottlenose dolphins living in the Azores were studied using data collected from 1999 to 2004. Only 44 dolphins out of 966 identified were frequently sighted within and between years and showed strong site fidelity. The remaining individuals were either temporary migrants from within or outside the archipelago, or transients. Estimates of home range size were three times larger than previously reported for this species, possibly as a result of the lower availability of food resources. Mitochondrial DNA sequences showed very high gene and nucleotide diversity. There was no evidence of population structuring within the Azores. The Azorean population was not differentiated from the pelagic population of the Northwest Atlantic, suggesting the "unproductive" waters of the Atlantic do not constitute a barrier to dispersal. Population size, survival and temporary emigration rates were estimated using open-population models and Pollock's robust design. A few hundreds of dolphins occur in the area on a given year, though the majority should use it temporarily, as suggested by the high emigration rates. Bottlenose dolphins preferentially used shallow areas with high bottom relief. Temporal and spatial persistence of dolphin-habitat associations documented in this study further supports the idea of a close relationship between certain bathymetric features and important hydrographic processes and suggests the occurrence of prey aggregations over these areas may be, to some extent, predictable. Several results of this study suggest there are no reasons for concern about the status of this population. Yet, the resident group may be negatively affected by increasing pressure from the whale watching activity. Although the proposed Marine Park constitutes important habitat for resident dolphins, at present, the area is clearly insufficient to satisfy their spatial requirements and its conservation value may be limited.

Sotalia guianensis is listed as “Data Deficient” by the IUCN and as “Vulnerable” in Colombia. This study aimed to advance understanding of the ecology of this species and its habitats, and to provide information to conservation management in the southern Gulf of Morrosquillo, Colombia. Systematic boat-based surveys were conducted during 395 days in 2002-2006 and 2009-2010, following established routes. Total survey effort was 15,199 km in an area covering ~ 310km². Fine scale habitat use and behavioural modelling, photo-identification and mark-recapture techniques were used to analyze the ecological patterns for this species. The most recent abundance estimate of dolphins using the study area during dry and rainy seasons, varied from 225 (CV = 0.34; 95% CI: 118-426) to 232 (CV = 0.32; 95% CI: 127-246). Annual survival rate is estimated at 0.948 (95% CI = 0.876-0.980). Overall density was 0.74/km². Dolphins were present year-round in the whole study area. Results indicate that they do not use the study area uniformly and that the use of particular zones is related to eco-geographic variables. Dolphins showed a preference for waters greater than 3m in depth with a slightly increased preference for waters about 5m and 15-25m deep. The average group size was nine individuals. Some individuals show long-term high site fidelity to some zones within the study site boundaries. Even though the site fidelity to feeding areas varied individually, all the individuals focused primarily on one specific area. Foraging was among one of the most predominant behaviours observed. The individual movements show that some dolphins use both bay and gulf waters. Dolphins show a range of surface cooperative foraging and feeding strategies. These cooperative behaviours were influenced by zone, group size and prey type. Based on these results an area of special management for the species will be created in Colombia.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Aberdeen, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references. Available in PDF format via the World Wide Web.

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