Uso do hábitat pelo boto-cinza Sotalia guianensis (Van Benédén, 1864) (Cetacea: Delphinidae) na Baía de Benevente, ES, Brasil

Abstract

Habitat use by organisms is directly influenced by resources availability. This availability is affected by physical parameters varying through space and time. Thus, home range, social organization and behavior of the species in the environment are usually determined by the mosaic distribution of resources. Given this, this study aimed to investigate the biotic and abiotic descriptors that can be explanatory of habitat use by Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) in Benevente Bay, Espirito Santo State, Brazil, also to identify possible areas of preferential occupation (key habitats). From January to December, 2012 we carried out 34 surveys using 4 or 14 meters boats, and measured environmental variables along parallel transects. From the systematic (n = 17) and opportunistic surveys (n = 17) we sighted 33 groups of dolphins. The survey effort was of 142 hours and 3 minutes, comprising 7 hours and 8 minutes (5.02%) of direct observation of the animals. For each sighting, it was recorded the group’s geographical position, size, composition and behavior. The average number of individuals and infants per group were 5.24 (± 3.25) and 1.03 (± 1.29), respectively. Spatial analysis revealed that encounters occurred in 30 (23.44%) out of the 128 cells of the grid created using ArcGIS 9.3.1. to represent the sampled area, evidencing that habitat occupation by dolphins is not uniform (χ2 = 22.97, p<0.001). The area used by groups (estimated through Minimum Convex Polygon) was 48.14 km2, which represents 39.40% of the studied area (122.18 km2) and demonstrated the significant concentration of dolphins in certain regions (χ2 = 22.43, p<0.001). Generalized linear models applied to the data showed that Guiana dolphin’s spatial distribution can be explained by latitude (GLM regression, z = 2.57, p<0.02), depth (GLM regression, z = 2.18, p<0.03) and flood tide (GLM regression, z = 2.39, p<0.02). Regarding to the group characterization, we observed that its size increases as a function both of dissolved oxygen in the water (GLM regression, z = 2.08, p<0.04) and infants presence (GLM regression, z = 4.27, p<0.001), unlike it tends to decrease during displacement activities by the dolphins (GLM regression, z = -2.86, p <0.005). From 6 hours and 26 minutes of behaviors counted, 46.37% were spent by animals on foraging/feeding, 34.20% in travelling, 10.62% in resting and 8.81% in socializing. The latitude in the study area has influence on the occurrence of foraging/feeding (GLM regression, z = 2.74, p = 0.006) and all records of this behavior (n = 15) occurred at bay’s northern/northeastern sectors. The spatial use was heterogeneous and the occurrence of groups concentrated in the north of the area. Some variables as latitude, tide, dissolved oxygen, infants presence and behavior are likely to influence the habitat use of the Guiana dolphin in this environment. The presence of infants throughout the year, coupled with the proportion of time spent by the groups in foraging/feeding observed in this study indicate that Benevente Bay has been used by Guiana dolphin for breeding and feeding, and demonstrate the importance of this habitat for the species.