Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Estudos ecológicos em meio urbano servem de subsídios à estratégias de conservação, propostas de manejo e/ou adequações dos planejamentos urbanos. No presente estudo analisei a ecologia do jacaré de papo amarelo em meio urbano no muncípio do Rio de Janeiro. O estudo foi realizado em um complexo de lagoas inseridos em meio a cidade do RJ. O complexo lagunar de Jacarepaguá está situado entre os principais bairros que mais cresceram nos últimos dez anos, tais como: Barra da Tijuca, Recreio dos Bandeirantes e a região de Jacarepaguá. Estudei o crescimento corpóreo do jacaré de papo amarelo e o seu desenvolvimento até a idade da primeira reprodução. O processo de crescimento individual é fundamental para todos os organismos, e seus respectivos estudos têm sido um assunto de preocupação ao manejo e conservação de espécies. Os dados para análise da taxa de crescimento individual compreenderam de recapturas de diferentes animais após intervalos conhecidos (data da recaptura - data da captura). Realizei um total de 20 recapturas de jacarés dentre 352 capturas. A maioria dos estudos de crescimento de jacarés foram realizadas em regiões mais frias, de latitudes mais baixas, logo os efeitos climáticos podem ser um fator importante no desenvolvimento desses animais. Após determinar a idade dos jacarés procurei analisar a distribuição de classes etárias utilizando a idade dos animais, e a razão sexual para entender a dinâmica da população através de sua estrutura etária e sexo. Foi feito uma distribuição por classes etárias e razão sexual dos indivíduos da população e a distribuição dos estágios de idade subsidiaram uma tabela de vida para C. latirostris em meio urbano. Foram capturados 68 (19,3%) jacarés juvenis, 180 (51,1%) sub adultos, e 104 (29,6%) adultos. A razão sexual para os jacarés capturados no Complexo Lagunar de Jacarepaguá foi de 3,3:1 (macho:fêmea), onde capturei 213 (78,7%) machos para 65 (21,3%) fêmeas e 90 jacarés juvenis onde não é possível identificar o sexo devido a idade. A taxa líquida de crescimento da população apresentou um valor negativo, o que corrobora a hipótese alternativa que a população estaria diminuindo. Conclui que a população de jacarés no complexo lagunar de Jacarepaguá não está crescendo. Devido a interação com o meio urbano ser cada vez mais intensificada realizei uma pesquisa sócio ambiental para entender qual é a relação da população humana em relação ao convívio com os jacarés em seu dia a dia na cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Desta forma, foi realizado um estudo com o objetivo de identificar as percepções ambientais e concepções das pessoas em relação ao convívio com jacarés nos bairros do Recreio dos Bandeirantes e Barra da Tijuca, no Rio de Janeiro. Os dados coletados representaram conceituações negativo-positivas que os entrevistados apresentaram sobre a relação com os jacarés em áreas urbanas no município do Rio de Janeiro. Por meio deste estudo, conclui-se que há uma carência de elaboração de propostas de desenvolvimento, de estratégias de educação ambiental e melhor divulgação sobre noções ecológicas para a preservação de jacarés e seus ambientes, tanto para a população como para os responsáveis técnicos dos programas sócioambientais do município. / The knowledge about of crocodilians' natural history in urban enviroments is scarce and is becoming more necessary due to the urban advancement over the natural habitats in lagunar environments near urban areas in Brazil. Ecological studies in urban areas serve as subsidies to conservation strategies, management motions, and/or adaptations of urban planning. In this study, I analyzed Broad-snouted Caiman's ecology in Rio de Janeiro's urban environent. This study was conducted in a lagoon complex inserted in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The Jacarepaguá Lagoon Complex is located amongst the neighborhoods that most developed in the last ten years, such as: Barra da Tijuca, recreio dos Bandeirantes and all the region of Jacarepaguá. I reseached Broad-snouted Caiman's body growth and its development until sexual maturation age. The process of individual growth is fundamental for all organisms and its respective researches have been a matter of concern to the management and conservation of species. Data for individual growth rate is comprised of recaptures of different animals after known intervals (date of recapture - date of capture). I realized 20 recaptures among 352 captures. The majority of caiman growth studies were accomplished in colder, lower latitude regions, therefore the climatic effects may be an important factor to the development of these animals, demonstrating an adaptive plasticity of the species in responding their development according to environmental factors. After determining caiman's age, I used it to analyze age class distribution, and sexual ratio to understand population dynamics through it's age and sexual structure. It was made a distribution by age group and sex ratio of the individuals of the population and the age stage distribution provided support for a life table for C. latirostris in urban environment. Captured animals totaled 68 (19,3%) juvenile caimans, 180 (51,1%) sub-adults, and 104 (29,6%) adults. Sexual ratio for the captured caimans at the Jacarepaguá Lagoon Complex was 3,3:1 (male:female), where I captured 213 (78,7) males, 65 (21,3%) females, and 90 juvenile caimans whose gender ins not possible to identify. Liquid growth rate of the population resulted in a negative value, which corroborates the alternative hypothesis that the population is diminishing. I concluded that in accordance to sampled data, the population of Broad-snouted caimans in Jacarepaguá Lagoon Complex is not growing, presenting few reproduction and/or survival of juveniles. Due to interaction with the urban environment being increasingly intensified, I realized a socio-environmental research to comprehend what is the relation of human population to the coexistence with caimans in their everyday life in the city of Rio de Janeiro. So, a study was conducted with the intent to identify environmental perceptions and people's (inhabitants and visitors) conceptions of different socio-cultural realities related to the familiarity with caimans in the aforementioned neighborhoods. The approach methodology consisted of the elaboration of open and closed questions. Collected data represented negative-positive conceptions showed by the interviewees about their relation with caimans in Rio's urban environments. throug this study it can be concluded that there is a lack of elaboration proposals of development, environmental education strategies, and better disclosure on ecological notions for the conservation of caimans and their environments. This failure to prepare proposals extends both to the population as to technicians responsible for socio-environmental programs of the city.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Estudos ecológicos em meio urbano servem de subsídios à estratégias de conservação, propostas de manejo e/ou adequações dos planejamentos urbanos. No presente estudo analisei a ecologia do jacaré de papo amarelo em meio urbano no muncípio do Rio de Janeiro. O estudo foi realizado em um complexo de lagoas inseridos em meio a cidade do RJ. O complexo lagunar de Jacarepaguá está situado entre os principais bairros que mais cresceram nos últimos dez anos, tais como: Barra da Tijuca, Recreio dos Bandeirantes e a região de Jacarepaguá. Estudei o crescimento corpóreo do jacaré de papo amarelo e o seu desenvolvimento até a idade da primeira reprodução. O processo de crescimento individual é fundamental para todos os organismos, e seus respectivos estudos têm sido um assunto de preocupação ao manejo e conservação de espécies. Os dados para análise da taxa de crescimento individual compreenderam de recapturas de diferentes animais após intervalos conhecidos (data da recaptura - data da captura). Realizei um total de 20 recapturas de jacarés dentre 352 capturas. A maioria dos estudos de crescimento de jacarés foram realizadas em regiões mais frias, de latitudes mais baixas, logo os efeitos climáticos podem ser um fator importante no desenvolvimento desses animais. Após determinar a idade dos jacarés procurei analisar a distribuição de classes etárias utilizando a idade dos animais, e a razão sexual para entender a dinâmica da população através de sua estrutura etária e sexo. Foi feito uma distribuição por classes etárias e razão sexual dos indivíduos da população e a distribuição dos estágios de idade subsidiaram uma tabela de vida para C. latirostris em meio urbano. Foram capturados 68 (19,3%) jacarés juvenis, 180 (51,1%) sub adultos, e 104 (29,6%) adultos. A razão sexual para os jacarés capturados no Complexo Lagunar de Jacarepaguá foi de 3,3:1 (macho:fêmea), onde capturei 213 (78,7%) machos para 65 (21,3%) fêmeas e 90 jacarés juvenis onde não é possível identificar o sexo devido a idade. A taxa líquida de crescimento da população apresentou um valor negativo, o que corrobora a hipótese alternativa que a população estaria diminuindo. Conclui que a população de jacarés no complexo lagunar de Jacarepaguá não está crescendo. Devido a interação com o meio urbano ser cada vez mais intensificada realizei uma pesquisa sócio ambiental para entender qual é a relação da população humana em relação ao convívio com os jacarés em seu dia a dia na cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Desta forma, foi realizado um estudo com o objetivo de identificar as percepções ambientais e concepções das pessoas em relação ao convívio com jacarés nos bairros do Recreio dos Bandeirantes e Barra da Tijuca, no Rio de Janeiro. Os dados coletados representaram conceituações negativo-positivas que os entrevistados apresentaram sobre a relação com os jacarés em áreas urbanas no município do Rio de Janeiro. Por meio deste estudo, conclui-se que há uma carência de elaboração de propostas de desenvolvimento, de estratégias de educação ambiental e melhor divulgação sobre noções ecológicas para a preservação de jacarés e seus ambientes, tanto para a população como para os responsáveis técnicos dos programas sócioambientais do município. / The knowledge about of crocodilians' natural history in urban enviroments is scarce and is becoming more necessary due to the urban advancement over the natural habitats in lagunar environments near urban areas in Brazil. Ecological studies in urban areas serve as subsidies to conservation strategies, management motions, and/or adaptations of urban planning. In this study, I analyzed Broad-snouted Caiman's ecology in Rio de Janeiro's urban environent. This study was conducted in a lagoon complex inserted in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The Jacarepaguá Lagoon Complex is located amongst the neighborhoods that most developed in the last ten years, such as: Barra da Tijuca, recreio dos Bandeirantes and all the region of Jacarepaguá. I reseached Broad-snouted Caiman's body growth and its development until sexual maturation age. The process of individual growth is fundamental for all organisms and its respective researches have been a matter of concern to the management and conservation of species. Data for individual growth rate is comprised of recaptures of different animals after known intervals (date of recapture - date of capture). I realized 20 recaptures among 352 captures. The majority of caiman growth studies were accomplished in colder, lower latitude regions, therefore the climatic effects may be an important factor to the development of these animals, demonstrating an adaptive plasticity of the species in responding their development according to environmental factors. After determining caiman's age, I used it to analyze age class distribution, and sexual ratio to understand population dynamics through it's age and sexual structure. It was made a distribution by age group and sex ratio of the individuals of the population and the age stage distribution provided support for a life table for C. latirostris in urban environment. Captured animals totaled 68 (19,3%) juvenile caimans, 180 (51,1%) sub-adults, and 104 (29,6%) adults. Sexual ratio for the captured caimans at the Jacarepaguá Lagoon Complex was 3,3:1 (male:female), where I captured 213 (78,7) males, 65 (21,3%) females, and 90 juvenile caimans whose gender ins not possible to identify. Liquid growth rate of the population resulted in a negative value, which corroborates the alternative hypothesis that the population is diminishing. I concluded that in accordance to sampled data, the population of Broad-snouted caimans in Jacarepaguá Lagoon Complex is not growing, presenting few reproduction and/or survival of juveniles. Due to interaction with the urban environment being increasingly intensified, I realized a socio-environmental research to comprehend what is the relation of human population to the coexistence with caimans in their everyday life in the city of Rio de Janeiro. So, a study was conducted with the intent to identify environmental perceptions and people's (inhabitants and visitors) conceptions of different socio-cultural realities related to the familiarity with caimans in the aforementioned neighborhoods. The approach methodology consisted of the elaboration of open and closed questions. Collected data represented negative-positive conceptions showed by the interviewees about their relation with caimans in Rio's urban environments. throug this study it can be concluded that there is a lack of elaboration proposals of development, environmental education strategies, and better disclosure on ecological notions for the conservation of caimans and their environments. This failure to prepare proposals extends both to the population as to technicians responsible for socio-environmental programs of the city.

Philodryas olfersii é a espécie que apresenta a mais ampla distribuição dentro do gênero na América do Sul, ocorrendo desde Colômbia, Venezuela e as Guianas até o Uruguai e o norte de Argentina. Nos últimos 35 anos, esta espécie tem sido considerada como politípica, estando constituída por um complexo formado por três subespécies, Philodryas olfersii olfersii, Philodryas olfersii herbeus e Philodryas olfersii latirostris. A realização deste estudo teve como objetivo avaliar se as subespécies de P. olfersii são diferenciáveis morfologicamente e as implicações taxonômicas que estas diferenças têm sobre o complexo. A revisão taxonômica do complexo foi realizada com uma amostra de 676 exemplares, provenientes de 341 localidades selecionadas ao longo de toda a distribuição conhecida para P. olfersii. Estes indivíduos foram agrupados empregando-se dois critérios; o primeiro foi baseado na distribuição geográfica proposta na literatura para as três subespécies e o segundo foi com base na análise da variação dos padrões de coloração. A variação entre os agrupamentos de cada critério foi analisada mediante comparações da anatomia craniana e hemipeniana, análises de padrões de coloração e análises estatísticos univariados e multivariados de matizes de variáveis morfométricas e merísticas. Com base nos resultados da variação morfológica, a classificação em três subespécies não é sustentada, já que a variação entre os indivíduos do complexo é consistente com dois agrupamentos que podem ser definidos pelo seu padrão de coloração. O primeiro destes agrupamentos é caracterizado pela presença de uma listra marrom na região vertebral do dorso e é exibido pelas populações do sudeste da distribuição do complexo; e o segundo agrupamento apresenta o dorso completamente verde e está presente nas populações do oeste e norte da distribuição do complexo. A classificação ao nível hierárquico de subespécie não é mantida e os agrupamentos reconhecidos são elevados ao nível especifico, empregando os nomes disponíveis que não apresentam conflitos. Desta forma, as populações do sudeste da distribuição dos indivíduos do complexo são designadas como Philodryas olfersii (Lichtenstein 1823) e se caracterizam pela presença de uma listra marrom na região vertebral do dorso. As populações do oeste e o norte da distribuição são designadas como Philodryas latirostris Cope 1862 e são reconhecidas por apresentar o dorso completamente verde. / Philodryas olfersii is the most widely distributed species within the genus in South America, occurring from Colombia, Venezuela and Guyana\'s to Uruguay and north of Argentina. In the last 35 years this species have been considered as polytypic, being composed of a complex consisting of three subspecies, Philodryas olfersii olfersii, Philodryas olfersii herbeus and Philodryas olfersii latirostris. This study aimed to assess whether the subspecies of P. olfersii are morphologically distinguished and the taxonomic implications that these differences have on the complex. A taxonomic revision of the complex was performed with a sample of 676 specimens, selected from 341 localities throughout the known distribution of P. olfersii. These individuals were grouped using two criteria: the first was based on the geographical distribution proposed in the literature for the three subspecies and the second was based on the analysis of the variation of color patterns. The variation between groups of each criteria was analyzed by comparisons of cranial and hemipenial anatomy, color patterns analysis and univariate and multivariate statistical analysis of morphometric and meristic matrixes. Based on the results of morphological variation, the classification into three subspecies is not supported, since the variation between individuals of the complex is consistent with two groups that can be defined by their color pattern. The first of these groups is characterized by the presence of a brown stripe on the vertebral region of the dorsum which is displayed by the populations of southeast distribution of the complex, and the second group presents the dorsum completely green and is present in populations of west and north of the complex distribution. The hierarchical classification of subspecies level is not maintained and the recognized groups are raised to specific level, using the available names that do not have conflicts. Thus, the populations of Southeast distribution of individuals in the complex are designated as Philodryas olfersii (Lichtenstein 1823) and are characterized by the presence of a brown stripe on the vertebral region of the dorsum. The populations of western and northern distribution are designated as Philodryas latirostris Cope 1862 and are distinguished by have the dorsum completely green.

Philodryas olfersii é a espécie que apresenta a mais ampla distribuição dentro do gênero na América do Sul, ocorrendo desde Colômbia, Venezuela e as Guianas até o Uruguai e o norte de Argentina. Nos últimos 35 anos, esta espécie tem sido considerada como politípica, estando constituída por um complexo formado por três subespécies, Philodryas olfersii olfersii, Philodryas olfersii herbeus e Philodryas olfersii latirostris. A realização deste estudo teve como objetivo avaliar se as subespécies de P. olfersii são diferenciáveis morfologicamente e as implicações taxonômicas que estas diferenças têm sobre o complexo. A revisão taxonômica do complexo foi realizada com uma amostra de 676 exemplares, provenientes de 341 localidades selecionadas ao longo de toda a distribuição conhecida para P. olfersii. Estes indivíduos foram agrupados empregando-se dois critérios; o primeiro foi baseado na distribuição geográfica proposta na literatura para as três subespécies e o segundo foi com base na análise da variação dos padrões de coloração. A variação entre os agrupamentos de cada critério foi analisada mediante comparações da anatomia craniana e hemipeniana, análises de padrões de coloração e análises estatísticos univariados e multivariados de matizes de variáveis morfométricas e merísticas. Com base nos resultados da variação morfológica, a classificação em três subespécies não é sustentada, já que a variação entre os indivíduos do complexo é consistente com dois agrupamentos que podem ser definidos pelo seu padrão de coloração. O primeiro destes agrupamentos é caracterizado pela presença de uma listra marrom na região vertebral do dorso e é exibido pelas populações do sudeste da distribuição do complexo; e o segundo agrupamento apresenta o dorso completamente verde e está presente nas populações do oeste e norte da distribuição do complexo. A classificação ao nível hierárquico de subespécie não é mantida e os agrupamentos reconhecidos são elevados ao nível especifico, empregando os nomes disponíveis que não apresentam conflitos. Desta forma, as populações do sudeste da distribuição dos indivíduos do complexo são designadas como Philodryas olfersii (Lichtenstein 1823) e se caracterizam pela presença de uma listra marrom na região vertebral do dorso. As populações do oeste e o norte da distribuição são designadas como Philodryas latirostris Cope 1862 e são reconhecidas por apresentar o dorso completamente verde. / Philodryas olfersii is the most widely distributed species within the genus in South America, occurring from Colombia, Venezuela and Guyana\'s to Uruguay and north of Argentina. In the last 35 years this species have been considered as polytypic, being composed of a complex consisting of three subspecies, Philodryas olfersii olfersii, Philodryas olfersii herbeus and Philodryas olfersii latirostris. This study aimed to assess whether the subspecies of P. olfersii are morphologically distinguished and the taxonomic implications that these differences have on the complex. A taxonomic revision of the complex was performed with a sample of 676 specimens, selected from 341 localities throughout the known distribution of P. olfersii. These individuals were grouped using two criteria: the first was based on the geographical distribution proposed in the literature for the three subspecies and the second was based on the analysis of the variation of color patterns. The variation between groups of each criteria was analyzed by comparisons of cranial and hemipenial anatomy, color patterns analysis and univariate and multivariate statistical analysis of morphometric and meristic matrixes. Based on the results of morphological variation, the classification into three subspecies is not supported, since the variation between individuals of the complex is consistent with two groups that can be defined by their color pattern. The first of these groups is characterized by the presence of a brown stripe on the vertebral region of the dorsum which is displayed by the populations of southeast distribution of the complex, and the second group presents the dorsum completely green and is present in populations of west and north of the complex distribution. The hierarchical classification of subspecies level is not maintained and the recognized groups are raised to specific level, using the available names that do not have conflicts. Thus, the populations of Southeast distribution of individuals in the complex are designated as Philodryas olfersii (Lichtenstein 1823) and are characterized by the presence of a brown stripe on the vertebral region of the dorsum. The populations of western and northern distribution are designated as Philodryas latirostris Cope 1862 and are distinguished by have the dorsum completely green.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:22:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 5716.pdf: 1902370 bytes, checksum: 9a5b25a55be97bb37553eeb1f8130b09 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-01-28 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / Phenomena as feeding and thermoregulation can challenge both the cardiac output and heart rate (fH). Postprandial changes in many physiological patterns are typically recorded for ectotherms, although predominantly studied in snakes. Furthermore, thermoregulation is a critical process to ensure different survival and reproduction strategies from reptiles. Ventricular preparations in vitro were used to investigate the inotropic plasticity at 30 ºC and 25 ºC and during fasting (30 days fasting group) and after feeding (2 days digesting group). No significant differences were verified in the relative ventricular mass (RVM) after feeding. The peak tension (Fc) was significantly higher and rates (dFc/dt) of contraction (TC) and relaxation (TR) were faster at 25° C than at 30° C for both experimental groups. However, feeding caused significant increase in peak tension (PT) at both temperatures (396.7 % at 30 ºC and 416.7 % at 25 ºC). A significant post-rest potentiation was recorded for digesting group at 25 ºC (121.0 ± 6.4 %), which was inhibited by ryanodine (86.0 ± 2.9 %). At 30 ºC, myocytes from fasting group were able to support higher frequencies (up to 1.6 Hz) than at 25 ºC (up to 1.0 Hz), even with the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) blocked by 10 μM ryanodine (RYA). Data from digestion group showed greater values of the Fc and reached higher frequencies than fasting group, at both temperatures. However, pre-treatment with RYA decreased PT in frequencies between 1.4 and 1.8 Hz for digesting group at 30 ºC. Sarcolemma mechanisms were more representative in the fasting group at 25 ºC, but the SR must contribute to increased speed of contractility under those conditions. During SDA, the SR seem representative at 25 ºC, however the positive inotropic effect caused by SDA enlarged sarcolemma mechanisms representativeness. The SR significance at 30 °C seems critical during high frequencies. At this temperature, the SDA increases the contractility efficiency, even with the RS blocked, despite the relaxation and Fc development at high frequencies been present impaired. Our results indicate that Caiman latirostris myocytes show large inotropic plasticity at different temperatures, frequencies and metabolic states. / A digestão e a termorregulação são processos que podem desafiar tanto o débito quanto a frequência cardíaca (fH). Alterações pós-prandiais em diferentes padrões fisiológicos são comumente identificadas para ectotérmicos, embora sejam predominantemente estudados em serpentes. Além disso, a termorregulação é um processo crítico para garantir diferentes estratégias de sobrevivência e reprodução nos répteis. Preparações ventriculares in vitro foram utilizadas para investigar a plasticidade inotrópica dos miócitos ventriculares do Caiman latirostris a 25 e 30 °C, durante o período pós- absortivo (30 dias - após a alimentação) e após a alimentação (2 dias - grupo digestão). A massa ventricular relativa (MVR) após 2 dias da alimentação não apresentou diferenças significativas em relação ao grupo pós-absortivo. A força de contração (Fc) foi significativamente maior e as taxas (dFc/dt) de contração (TC) e relaxamento (TR) foram mais rápidas a 25 °C do que a 30 °C, para ambos os grupos experimentais. No entanto, a alimentação causou aumento significativo na força de contração (Fc) em ambas as temperaturas (316.7% a 30 °C e a 296.7% 25 °C). Uma significativa potenciação pós-pausa foi identificada no grupo digestão a 25 °C (121.0 ± 6.4 %), que foi inibida pela rianodina (86.0 ± 2.9 %). No grupo pós-absortivo a 30 °C, os miócitos foram capazes de suportar frequências de estimulação superiores (até 1.6 Hz) às suportadas a 25 °C (até 1.0 Hz), mesmo com a função do retículo sarcoplasmático (RS) bloqueada pela adição de 10 μM de rianodina (RYA). As preparações ventriculares do grupo digestão apresentaram valores maiores de Fc e alcançaram frequências superiores do que o grupo pós-absortivo, em ambas as temperaturas. Contudo, o pré-tratamento com RYA reduziu a Fc em frequências entre 1,4 e 1,8Hz no grupo digestão a 30 °C. Os mecanismos sarcolemais são mais representativos no grupo pós-absortivo a 25 °C, porém o RS pode contribuir com o aumento da velocidade da contratilidade nessas condições. Durante a SDA, o RS parece representativo nessa condição de temperatura, porém a SDA causou efeito inotrópico positivo e ampliou a representatividade dos mecanismos sarcolemais. A importância do RS a 30 °C parece crítica apenas em altas frequências de estimulação. Nessa temperatura, a SDA garante a eficiência da contratilidade mesmo com o RS bloqueado, apesar do prejuízo significativo no desenvolvimento da Fc e do relaxamento em altas frequências. Nossos resultados indicam que os miócitos ventriculares do Caiman latirostris apresentam ampla plasticidade inotrópica, capaz de assegurar o débito cardíaco em diferentes temperaturas, frequências e estados metabólicos.

Florida manatees are semisocial marine mammals that vocalize when interacting with conspecifics and to maintain contact with offspring. While many aspects of their biology have been studied, there is a dearth of information on the diversity and complexity of vocal behavior during social, nonsocial, and stressful situations. Investigations of vocal communication repertoires which define, categorize, and correlate varied call types with behavior are needed in order to understand the behavioral and social function of associated calls. Arguably the most important social bond in manatees is the period of cow/calf dependency and empirical evidence indicates cows recognize the vocalizations of offspring. Exploration of individually distinctive vocal features can provide insight on which parameters might be salient to facilitate recognition between cows/calves. This study is focused on vocal communication in Florida manatees, how calls are structured, utilized and function while animals are distressed and during social interactions in their shallow water habitats. Hydrophones recorded vocalizations from individual calves and manatees in different behavioral contexts and varying size aggregations. Analysis of the vocal repertoire indicated manatee vocalizations can be parsed into five broadly defined call types which include the hill-shaped high squeak, tonal squeak, noisy squeal, two toned chirp, and the combinatorial squeak-squeal. Furthermore, the high squeak is likely a discrete call whereas the others are graded and do not have strict boundaries between call types (Chapter 2). Broadly defined call types were used to explore call usage with variations in behavior, group size, and group composition (Chapter 3). Manatees vocalized using few call types and altered structural parameters depending on behavioral state. Calls were longer and more frequency modulated when stressed. Vocalizations produced while cavorting were higher in entropy and more frequency modulated than when manatees were resting or feeding. Vocalizations obtained from individual calves suggest that the high squeak is a stereotypical call that is produced by smaller calves. All calves had individually distinctive acoustic features that could potentially be used in recognition (Chapter 4). Lower fundamental frequencies and higher emphasized frequencies from smaller calves suggest that the fundamental frequency may not be a reliable indicator of body size in calves. This research increases our knowledge of the vocal behavior and call characteristics of the Florida manatee. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2020. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The feeding behavior of an animal is based on adaptations to the environment and the animal’s body condition. The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is an example of a marine mammal that may alter its feeding pattern based on diel and tidal cycles. The increased presence of boats during the day could potentially cause manatees to alter their feeding rates, or the time spent feeding per hour, over the diel cycle. Tide levels may cause manatees to be restricted from areas of preferred vegetation. In addition, the differential reproductive investment between males and females may cause differential time dedicated to feeding between the sexes. This study analyzed sound recordings (lasting up to 24 hr) from manatees tagged in southwest Florida with a digital acoustic recording tag (DTAG) between April and September. Distinctive chewing sounds were indicative of feeding activity. Variation in time spent feeding was analyzed in relation to time of day, sex, female reproductive status, and water level as affected by tides. Manatees dedicated 26% of the time (6 hours) to feeding, on average. During the first year of the study, manatees spent 39% of the time feeding (9 hours), on average, over the course of a 24-hour period; during the second year they spent 15% (2 hours) over the course of a 13-hour daytime period. Adult females fed significantly more, on average, than adult males. Females in late-term pregnancy appeared to spend more time foraging than other non-lactating females, but the sample size was too small to be definitive. Manatee time spent feeding was not correlated with time of day. Increases in feeding activity occurred at mid to high tide levels. This may indicate that manatees had greater access to preferred food sources at this time. An understanding of when manatees 5 are most likely to be feeding and which environmental factors influence this activity may suggest ways to reduce impacts on the endangered population.

The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is an endangered species that migrates to warm water refuges such as natural springs or power plant effluents during the winter months to escape cold water. The Florida Power and Light (FPL) discharge canal in Port Everglades, Ft. Lauderdale, FL., is utilized as a refuge by overwintering manatees. Construction of a new bridge over the FPL effluent canal had a potential effect on manatee usage of the canal. Discharge is often 10-15° C warmer in the winter season than the surrounding waters of the Intracoastal Waterway. Previous data, including age class and cow/calf abundance from pre-bridge winters (2004-2009), were compared with data from winter 2010, during bridge construction and winter 2011, postbridge construction. No manatees were present at the survey sites during winter until surface water temperatures fell below 22° C. Although monthly mean surface water temperatures were not statistically different between 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011 (21.9±0.4° C, 21.8±1.8° C and 21.4±0.6° C respectively), manatee abundance did vary. 2008-2009 had higher monthly mean numbers of manatees per survey from December through March (29.7, 27.3, 48.1, 2 respectively) than 2009-2010 (0, 30, 10.7, 5 respectively) and 2010-2011 (18.7, 6.7, 0.1, 0 respectively). A Poisson distribution analysis showed a significant difference in adult manatee counts among the study years (α < 0.05). No significant differences were found for juveniles and calves. While I cannot decisively state that bridge construction reduced the number of overwintering adult manatees during 2010, there appears to be the potential for an effect.

The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is a protected species that is vulnerable to both anthropogenic and natural causes of mortality. The ability of wildlife managers to oversee regulation of this species is based on available abundance estimates and mortality data. Using existing manatee mortality data collected by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) from 1974-2012, this study focuses on identifying significant spatial clusters of high values or “hotspots” of manatee mortality and the temporal patterns of these hotspots using the novel “emerging hotspot analysis” ArcGIS tool. The categories of manatee mortality included in this analysis were watercraft-related, perinatal, cold-stress, and other natural (which includes red tide) and were classified into five hotspot pattern categories. Of interest were the locations where consecutive or new hotspot patterns were identified among the four categories of manatee mortality included in this analysis. Consecutive hotspot clusters were found near Tampa Bay (which includes parts of Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Manatee Counties) and in the counties of Hernando/Pasco, Monroe, Palm Beach/Broward/Miami-Dade, St. Johns/Flagler, and Citrus. New hotspot clusters were found in Tampa Bay (which includes parts of Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Manatee Counties) and in the counties of Nassau, Wakulla, Charlotte/Lee, St. Lucie/Martin, Levy, Duval, Dixie, Volusia/Seminole, and Citrus. These mortality hotspots frequently overlapped areas of higher manatee and human population densities. These hotspot clusters indicate emerging patterns that highlight areas to focus future research by wildlife managers; specifically, on the relationship between human population density and concentration of watercraft activities in coastal areas, as well as the influence coastal development has on the vital resources utilized by manatees.

The threatened Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) migrates seasonally to warm-water refugia throughout the state of Florida due to metabolic requirements from low thermal conductance. Broward County’s two power plant refugia, Port Everglades (PEP) and Lauderdale (LPP), are known heavily-utilized aggregation sites for the Atlantic sub-population. Broward County collected relative abundance counts via aerial surveys from 2004–2013 siting 31,418 manatees during 169 surveys within 18 defined waterway zones. Counts during manatee wintering seasons were significantly different from January 2005-March 2008 and November 2008-March 2013, likely related to flight path and frequency standardization. Mean percentage of adults (90.12%) to calves (9.88%) demonstrates a higher usage by cow-calf pairs than other aggregation sites. Counts of manatees traveling south to Miami-Dade County comprised only 0.83% of all aerial counts, contrary to the theory of the extensive usage of Biscayne Bay foraging grounds. The LPP zone had 57.21% of all manatees with Port Everglades Inlet zone accounting for 23.88% and the South Fork New River zone with 5.95%. This study provided a baseline for pre-construction distributions prior to Port Everglades plant reenergization. With PEP construction now finished and LPP planned for reenergization in the next 10 years, monitoring data studies be compared to these baseline data to better assess the impact of the disruption of Broward County’s main refugia sources.