scholarly journals Biopsy darting of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in southern Brazil: evaluating effectiveness, short-term responses and wound healing

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 121-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Friedrich Fruet ◽  
Luciano Dalla Rosa ◽  
Rodrigo C. Genoves ◽  
Victor H. Valiati ◽  
Thales R.O. De Freitas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wound Healing ◽  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Previous Attempt ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Patos Lagoon ◽  
Multiple Biopsy ◽  
Sampling Effectiveness

Cetacean biopsy sampling is a widely used technique with undisputable scientific value. Although it is generally considered as a harmless technique with no apparent long-lasting effects, studies have recommended examining behavioral responses to evaluate potential impacts on individuals, groups and sampled populations. In this study, we evaluated individual behavioral reactions and wound-healing in common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) during a biopsy sampling program carried out in southern Brazil from 2003 to 2012, and compared sampling effectiveness between dedicated and opportunistic sampling surveys. Two hundred and fiftytwo biopsy attempts were made, resulting in 118 hits (48% of attempts) and 134 samples (52% of attempts) collected successfully. Responses to biopsy sampling were low-level, of short-term duration, and elicited similar reactions on the dolphins, irrespective of shot distance, sex of individuals, dolphins’ group size and pre-behavioral state. Dolphins subjected to multiple biopsy attempts reacted in a similar manner as in previous attempt(s), with no evidence of increasing the intensity of the reaction. Wounds could be monitored in 18 animals and healed over 18 to 35 days. Generally, wounds appeared to be covered by epidermis in about three weeks with no observed signs of skin infection. Our results agree with previous studies suggesting that biopsy sampling does not cause significant disturbance to the behavior of dolphins. At a local level, this study demonstrates that biopsy sampling of bottlenose dolphins in the Patos Lagoon Estuary is more effective, less costly and less intrusive when conducted opportunistically, but that long-term sampling is required to achieve a relatively good sample size from photoidentified individuals in the population.

Individual movements between local coastal populations of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the northern and eastern Black Sea

2016 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Gladilina ◽  
Olga Shpak ◽  
Valentin Serbin ◽  
Anna Kryukova ◽  
Dmitry Glazov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Sea ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Small Range ◽  
Short Term ◽  
High Population Growth ◽  
Physical Barriers

The Black Sea subspecies of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus ponticus) is threatened and has a small range. Its population structure is little known: it possibly includes a few local coastal populations. We assessed connectivity between coastal groupings in six localities along 800 km of the coastline based on records of photo-identified animals between 2004 and 2014. Abundance of these groupings, as estimated, ranged between 76 and 174 individually distinctive dolphins. In total, there were 350 identified individuals, of which 91 (26%) were resighted within the same areas. However, only three cases of individual movements between local coastal populations were recorded at the distances between 135 and 325 km. Therefore, despite the absence of physical barriers, the coastal Black Sea population is fragmented into numerous resident or locally migrating groupings with site fidelity. These local populations are loosely connected to each other with rare movements between them. This fragmentation can be a factor contributing to short-term fluctuations in abundance of Black Sea bottlenose dolphins and their decline in some localities, despite the potentially high population growth rate.

Wound Healing in the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

1985 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 216-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
L J. Bruce-Allen ◽  
J. R. Geraci
Keyword(s):  
Wound Healing ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Epidermal Cells ◽  
Basal Cells ◽  
Epidermal Thickness ◽  
Mixed Cell ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
Sterile Seawater

Early stages of wound healing were characterized in three bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). A total of six 10-cm-long, 2-mm-deep incisions into the dermis were infused with sterile seawater for 30 min. Biopsies representing all surfaces of the cuts were taken at 2, 6, and 12 h and 1, 2, 3, 7, and 10 d. Histologically, wounds from 6 through 72 h were characterized by a mixed cell infiltrate predominated by neutrophils, and extensive areas of intraepidermal vesicles. Migrating epidermal cells bridged the incisional gap by 2 d, while elevated mitotic activity of basal cells restored full epidermal thickness by day 7. Notable was the absence of a traditional scab; its purpose was served by a transformed barrier layer of epidermal cells and vesicles. As well, an abnormal intracellular distribution of melanosomes typified new epidermal cells. The sequence and timing of healing in Tursiops are similar to those reported in terrestrial mammals; differences in the appearance of healing are most likely due to adaptations to an aquatic lifestyle.

scholarly journals Long-term site fidelity and residency patterns of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Tramandaí Estuary, southern Brazil

10.5597/00224 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 155-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Baron Di Giacomo ◽  
Paulo Henrique Ott
Keyword(s):  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Local Conservation ◽  
Entire Study ◽  
Photo Identification ◽  
Average Observation ◽  
Number Of Individuals

The occurrence of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Tramandaí Estuary, southern Brazil, is described based on a photo-identification study conducted between January 2009 and February 2010. A total of 128 survey days were conducted with an average observation effort of 2.6 hours per day (SD = 0.6). Approximately 2050 photographs were taken from a shore land location at the mouth of the estuary. A total of nine dolphins were identified, including three calves. The dolphins were observed during all seasons, with a greater frequency during fall (79.3% of the days) and winter (60.7% of the days). The summer presented the lowest occurrence (2.4% of the days) of dolphins. During the entire study period, the maximum number of individuals sighted in any given day ranged from one to seven (average = 2.8 dolphins; SD = 1.35; n = 51). The residence indices, based on the resighting frequency of dolphins during the study period, ranged from 0.02 to 0.24 (average = 0.13; SD = 0.08; n = 9). However, most of the animals (67%) were resighted in over five months during a year and could be classified as residents. Longterm site fidelity was detected by resightings of four dolphins for over 18 years. These data combined reinforce the importance of the Tramandaí Estuary for the common bottlenose dolphins in the region and highlight the need for local conservation efforts to guarantee the long-term persistence of these coastal populations.

scholarly journals effect of short-term meteorological disturbances on the submerged aquatic vegetation and associated fauna in the Patos Lagoon estuary, southern Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-71
Author(s):  
Dairana Misturini ◽  
Marianna Lanari ◽  
Valéria Lemos ◽  
Leonir André Colling
Keyword(s):  
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation ◽  
Aquatic Vegetation ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Vegetation Coverage ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Associated Fauna ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Patos Lagoon ◽  
Standard Format ◽  
Patos Lagoon Estuary

Occluded fronts are naturally cyclogenic areas that have been intensified by global warming. Studies evaluating the effects of occluded fronts in the submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and its associated fauna in shallow estuarine areas may provide insights on the impacts of climate change-induced extreme weather events on coastal ecosystems functioning. The present dataset describes data on benthic fauna and flora in the Patos Lagoon Estuary (PLE), in southern Brazil, seasonally obtained during intense occluded fronts. Using a hierarchical sample design, based on Beyond BACI protocols (Before/After and Control/Impact), fauna and flora were sampled before and after four occluded fronts passage throughout 2019.Three habitats were sampled: SAV Meadow, SAV Edge and adjacent Sandflat. A total of 432 macrozoobenthic samples (216 samples for stratum); 216 samples for bellow and aboveground biomass, vegetation coverage, canopy height and marine macrophytes morphology; 144 samples by sedimentology and organic matter; 72 water column depth measurements; and 8 temperature and salinity measurements were collected during the study period. The data is available at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), in Darwin Core standard format (DwC), organized according to the OBIS-ENV-DATA model, with CC-BY-NC-4-0 license for use. The present dataset adds to the comprehension of the temporal variability of estuarine benthic communities in subtropical systems, and how short-term meteorological process can affect zoo and fitobenthic communities in the context of climate changes.

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