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Diurnal and tidal pattern influencing the behaviour of Sotalia guianensis on the north-eastern coast of Brazil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2009

F.R. Guilherme-Silveira  and
F.J.L. Silva
F.R. Guilherme-Silveira*
Affiliation:
Postgraduate Programme in Psychobiology, Department of Physiology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
F.J.L. Silva
Affiliation:
Department of Biology Science, Universidade Estadual do Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró, RN, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: F.R. Guilherme-Silveira, Postgraduate Programme in Psychobiology, Department of Physiology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil email: [email protected]
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Abstract

The present study demonstrates the influence of the time of the day and tide on the frequency of individuals and on the social and foraging behaviour of an equatorial population of Sotalia guianensis. A population of S. guianensis from enseada do Curral (6°13′00″S 35°3′36″W), north-eastern Brazil, was investigated from October 1999 to September 2003. Social and foraging activities oscillated significantly, being less intense at high tide in comparison to other analysed tides. Socialization was more intense between 1000 and 1300 hours and foraging was more intense in between tides, than at high tide. No diurnal or tidal fluctuation was found on the frequency of individuals, which remained constant throughout the day. These results demonstrate the influence of circadian factors on an equatorial population which is highly impacted by human activities and highlights a need for protective measures.

Keywords

Delphinidaeestuarine dolphinSotalia guianensisbehaviourdiurnalcircatidaltidalinletequatorialnorth-eastern
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 2 , January 2009 , e122
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2009

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