Southern right whale on the coast of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil: conflict between conservation and human activity

Author(s):  
Liliane Lodi ◽  
Marcelo Tardelli Rodrigues

Between 1993 and 2005, 68 sightings of southern right whales were recorded along 400 km of coastline between Paraty Bay (23°13'S 44°42'W) and Macaé (22°22'S 41°47'W), Rio de Janeiro State, south-eastern Brazilian coast. Mother/calf pairs represented 66.1% of sightings. Only solitary individuals showed a distinct pattern of occurrence. Females with calf did not show a distinct pattern of occurrence suggesting their widespread distribution in the area. Analysis of the records and detailed accounts of the sightings of southern right whales reveal that there exist conflicts between the animals and human activities such as harassment and collision with boats during attempted rescues, accidental entanglement in fishing nets and intentional mortality, which may have a bearing in the conservation of the species in Brazilian waters.

2020 ◽  
pp. 157-160
Author(s):  
Antonio B. Greig ◽  
Eduardo R. Secchi ◽  
Alexandre N. Zerbini ◽  
Luciano Dalla Rosa

Although international protection has been granted since 1935, southern right whales have only recently shown signs of recovery, possiblydue to anthropogenic factors. Off Brazil, illegal hunting of right whales occurred until 1973. This paper reports on surveys conducted alongthe southern Brazilian coast and the information recovered on right whale strandings for this area from 1977-1995. In the first 10 years ofthis period only four cases were registered. However, in contrast, 20 cases were counted during the last nine years. These results arediscussed in relation to marine traffic and the fisheries in the area that produce risks of collision and entanglement. Further, the possibilityof storm surges being a preponderant factor in the mortalities in this area is presented. These yearly rates are compared with neighbouringareas that are also inhabited by the right whales. Both possibilities fit the hypothesis that the right whales using the Brazilian coast forbreeding may finally be showing signs of recovery.


2012 ◽  
Vol 433 ◽  
pp. 123-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Lailson-Brito ◽  
Paulo R. Dorneles ◽  
Cláudio E. Azevedo-Silva ◽  
Tatiana L. Bisi ◽  
Lara G. Vidal ◽  
...  

Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4226 (3) ◽  
pp. 359 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUIZ F. ANDRADE ◽  
ANDRÉ R. SENNA

Four new species of the genus Cymadusa are described from Brazil (states of Ceará, Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro). Cymadusa icapui is described from Ceará state, C. trindadensis is described from Espírito Santo state, C. rasae and C. tartarugae are described from Rio de Janeiro state. Two identification keys are presented: one to all known species of the family Ampithoidae from Brazil, and another one to world species of Cymadusa. Based on literary review and analysis of collection material, we extend the distribution of Cymadusa filosa Savigny, 1816 along the Brazilian coast by finding new location records of the species based on analysis of stored collection material. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 179-183
Author(s):  
F.A.P. Tuna ◽  
F.A.A. Calixto ◽  
M.C. Salomão ◽  
C.E.R. Coutinho ◽  
K.R. Estanek ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The occurrence of hyperostotic bones is common in marine fish, especially in the Carangidae family, despite few records of this condition in fishes from Brazilian waters. The present study describes the occurrence of hyperostosis in Atlantic moonfish (Selene setapinnis) in, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Radiographs of the fish specimens were taken and all of them presented hyperostosis in at least three different regions: cleithrum, pterygiophores and pleural ribs. The observed pattern is different from previously described for other species of the same genus. It is the first record for the species and a valuable contribution to the study of bone diseases in fishes from the Brazilian coast.


2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (5) ◽  
pp. 1003-1007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larissa Rosa de Oliveira ◽  
Paulo Henrique Ott ◽  
Paulo A.C. Flores ◽  
Salvatore Siciliano ◽  
Raquel Santos de Almeida ◽  
...  

The southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) was one of the most intensively hunted whales between the 17th and 20th centuries in the southern hemisphere. Recent estimates indicate that today there are around 7000 whales, representing 5 to 10% of its original population. On the other hand, recent studies estimated that the population that migrates to the Brazilian coast grew by 14% from 1987 to 2003. However, there is no information about sex-ratio for adults or for calves in this region, which is an important parameter for understanding the biology of the species. We present here the first estimate of calves' sex-ratio of southern right whales found along the southern Brazilian coast, one of the most important wintering grounds for the species. Sex was molecularly indentified for 21 biopsies collected from calves between 1998 and 2002, along the coast of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina States, in southern Brazil. The sex-ratio was two females for one male, however, it was not statistically different (χ2 test, α = 0.05; df = 1) from the expected ratio of 1:1. This result is in accordance with the sex-ratio estimated for the species of all ages using external morphology (and behaviour information), as well as for most species of baleen whales.


2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 725-730 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margarete M. S. Afonso ◽  
Wagner A. Costa ◽  
Alfredo C. R. Azevedo ◽  
Simone M. da Costa ◽  
Maurício L. Vilela ◽  
...  

The sand fly fauna in Itatiaia National Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was investigated in different habitats ranging from sylvatic areas to those altered by human activity related to ecotourism, specifically identifying species that have been suggested as potential leishmaniasis vectors. Sand flies were captured from June 2002 to March 2004, using CDC light traps and Shannon traps. A total of 1,256 sand fly specimens were captured, from species belonging to genera Lutzomyia and Brumptomyia: Brumptomyia guimaraesi, B. troglodytes, Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) amarali, L. lanei, L. migonei, L. sallesi, L. edwardsi, L. tupynambai, L. (Pintomyia) pessoai, L. (P.) bianchigalatie, L. rupicola, L. (Psathyromyia) shannoni, L. pascalei, L. (Psychodopygus) matosi, L. (P.) davisi, L. (P.) hirsuta hirsuta, L. (P.) ayrozai, L. peresi, L. monticola, and L. misionensis. Worthy of special attention were four species that are considered potential vectors for cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil: L. ayrozai, L. hirsuta hirsuta, L. migonei, and L. davisi, representing 19.19% of the specimens captured in this study.


Check List ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laís V. Ramalho ◽  
Paul D. Taylor ◽  
Guilherme Muricy

Although there are six species of Catenicellidae recorded in Brazil, the three Catenicella species described here are the first mention of the genus in the state of Rio de Janeiro, enlarging their distribution along the Brazilian coast. Previously, C. contei was recorded in Pernambuco and São Paulo, while C. elegans was recorded in the states of Alagoas and São Paulo. The recent identification of these species in the state of Rio de Janeiro suggests two possibilities: it is difficult to find them due to small size and cryptic habitat, and/or they represent introduced species.


Mammalia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Danilewicz ◽  
Ignacio B. Moreno ◽  
Maurício Tavares ◽  
Federico Sucunza

AbstractThe southern right whale (SRW),


Polar Record ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 24 (148) ◽  
pp. 15-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory S. Stone ◽  
William M. Hamner

AbstractDuring surveys conducted 2–20 April 1986 in Gerlache Strait, Antarctic Peninsula, 103 humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae and eight right whales Eubalaena australis were sighted. The right whale sightings extend the southern limit of known distribution for the species. Humpback and right whale densities were respectively 0.22 (sd 0.23) and 0.01 (sd 0.06) whales per survey mile. Highest densities for both species were recorded inside bays, rather than in the relatively open water of Gerlache Strait. Both species were feeding on Antarctic krill Euphausia superba. Twenty-three humpback and four right whales were identified individually using photographs of natural features. Also included are sighting records of 18 southern bottlenose whales Hyperoodon planifrons.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 181487 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. Webster ◽  
S. M. Van Parijs ◽  
W. J. Rayment ◽  
S. M. Dawson

Autonomous recorders are frequently used for examining vocal behaviour of animals, and are particularly effective in remote habitats. Southern right whales are known to have an extensive acoustic repertoire. A recorder was moored at the isolated sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands for a year to examine whether the acoustic behaviour of southern right whales differed seasonally and throughout the day at their main calving ground in New Zealand. Recordings were made in each month except June, and vocalizations were audible in all months with recordings except January. A total of 35 487 calls were detected, of which upcalls were the most common (11 623). Call rate peaked in August (288 ± 5.9 [s.e.] calls/hour) and July (194 ± 8.3). Vocal behaviour varied diurnally with highest call rates detected at dusk and night, consistent with the concept that upcalls function primarily as contact calls. Zero-inflated model results confirmed that seasonal variation was the most important factor for explaining differences in vocal behaviour. An automated detector designed to expedite the analysis process for North Atlantic right whales correctly identified 80% of upcalls, although false detections were frequent, particularly when call rates were low. This study is the first to attempt year-round monitoring of southern right whale presence in New Zealand.


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