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Stranding pattern of Bryde's whales along the south-eastern coast of Brazil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 August 2012

Jailson Fulgencio de Moura  and
Salvatore Siciliano
Jailson Fulgencio de Moura*
Affiliation:
Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública (ENSP), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Departamento de Endemias Samuel Pessoa (DENSP), Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Marinhos da Região dos Lagos (GEMM-Lagos), Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480–6° andar, sala 620, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21041-210Brazil Programa de Pós Graduação em Saúde Pública e Meio Ambiente, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (ENSP/FIOCRUZ)
Salvatore Siciliano
Affiliation:
Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública (ENSP), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Departamento de Endemias Samuel Pessoa (DENSP), Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Marinhos da Região dos Lagos (GEMM-Lagos), Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480–6° andar, sala 620, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21041-210Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: J.F. Moura, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública (ENSP), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Departamento de Endemias Samuel Pessoa (DENSP), Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Marinhos da Região dos Lagos (GEMM-Lagos), Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480–6° andar, sala 620, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21041-210Brazil email: jailsonfm@gmail.com
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Abstract

In this study we present data on 46 strandings of Bryde's whales along the coast of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro States, south-eastern Brazil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the stranding pattern of Bryde's whales in south-eastern Brazil. The results show a relationship with annual increasing of strandings in a 20 year period of data collection (1990–2010). No significant seasonal trend was observed among four seasonal categories, but most whales stranded during winter (July–September). Males stranded more frequently than females. There was a significant trend in strandings of sexually mature whales (>11.12 m; 53.6%), but juveniles (≤8 m; 21.9%) were also relatively common. The present work confirms that Bryde's whales are common on the south-eastern Brazilian coast. Some discrepancy in published results from sightings and our results on strandings (e.g. seasonal pattern) was observed and may be related to environmental condition and the presence of inshore and offshore populations with differences in life history and behaviour. No whales showed signals of impact caused by human interactions, despite the potential threats in the study area. Future studies comparing morphology with genetics are suggested to be carried out to elucidate the taxonomic status of the Bryde's whales in Brazil.

Keywords

strandingsBrazilBryde's whalestomach contentsBalaenoptera edeni
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 5 , August 2012 , e73
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2012

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