Environmental predictors of habitat suitability and biogeographical range of Franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei)
The aim of this study was to use species distribution models to estimate the effects of environmental variables on the habitat suitability of river dolphins Pontoporia blainvillei (franciscanas) along their overall biogeographical distribution. Based on the literature, we selected six environmental...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989414000766 |
| _version_ | 1819177063375962112 |
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| author | Jonatan J. Gomez Marcelo H. Cassini |
| author_facet | Jonatan J. Gomez Marcelo H. Cassini |
| author_sort | Jonatan J. Gomez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this study was to use species distribution models to estimate the effects of environmental variables on the habitat suitability of river dolphins Pontoporia blainvillei (franciscanas) along their overall biogeographical distribution. Based on the literature, we selected six environmental variables to be included in the models; four climatic factors (surface sea temperature, salinity, turbidity and productivity) and two biotic factors (prey availability and fishing effort). We determined that the biographic range is under the following limits: temperature less than 19°C, a salinity of 36 psu and a minimal probability of the occurrence of fish C. guatucupa of 0.297. In the discussion, we postulate hypotheses on the behavioural and physiological mechanisms that cause these associations between environmental predictors and Franciscanas distribution. There was a good fit between the distribution predicted by the species distribution model and the one proposed by the experts of the International Union for Conservation of Nature; however, our analysis failed to highlight the fundamental role of bycatch as the main threat to this dolphin species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T21:20:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c893357462ca4f01955e587e9e83364e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T21:20:42Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj.art-c893357462ca4f01955e587e9e83364e2022-12-21T18:12:13ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942015-01-013C909910.1016/j.gecco.2014.11.007Environmental predictors of habitat suitability and biogeographical range of Franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei)Jonatan J. GomezMarcelo H. CassiniThe aim of this study was to use species distribution models to estimate the effects of environmental variables on the habitat suitability of river dolphins Pontoporia blainvillei (franciscanas) along their overall biogeographical distribution. Based on the literature, we selected six environmental variables to be included in the models; four climatic factors (surface sea temperature, salinity, turbidity and productivity) and two biotic factors (prey availability and fishing effort). We determined that the biographic range is under the following limits: temperature less than 19°C, a salinity of 36 psu and a minimal probability of the occurrence of fish C. guatucupa of 0.297. In the discussion, we postulate hypotheses on the behavioural and physiological mechanisms that cause these associations between environmental predictors and Franciscanas distribution. There was a good fit between the distribution predicted by the species distribution model and the one proposed by the experts of the International Union for Conservation of Nature; however, our analysis failed to highlight the fundamental role of bycatch as the main threat to this dolphin species.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989414000766Species distribution modelMarine mammalTemperatureSalinityFood preference |
| spellingShingle | Jonatan J. Gomez Marcelo H. Cassini Environmental predictors of habitat suitability and biogeographical range of Franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) Global Ecology and Conservation Species distribution model Marine mammal Temperature Salinity Food preference |
| title | Environmental predictors of habitat suitability and biogeographical range of Franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) |
| title_full | Environmental predictors of habitat suitability and biogeographical range of Franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) |
| title_fullStr | Environmental predictors of habitat suitability and biogeographical range of Franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental predictors of habitat suitability and biogeographical range of Franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) |
| title_short | Environmental predictors of habitat suitability and biogeographical range of Franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) |
| title_sort | environmental predictors of habitat suitability and biogeographical range of franciscana dolphins pontoporia blainvillei |
| topic | Species distribution model Marine mammal Temperature Salinity Food preference |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989414000766 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jonatanjgomez environmentalpredictorsofhabitatsuitabilityandbiogeographicalrangeoffranciscanadolphinspontoporiablainvillei AT marcelohcassini environmentalpredictorsofhabitatsuitabilityandbiogeographicalrangeoffranciscanadolphinspontoporiablainvillei |