Body growth and reproductive parameters of common dolphins from the Southwestern Atlantic

GRANDI, M.F.; HEREDIA, F.; SOSA DROUVILLE, AILÍN; DELLABIANCA, N.; CRESPO, E.A.

MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2022 p. 1 - 19

0824-0469

Common dolphins, Delphinus delphis, in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean are subjectto incidental mortality in fishing gear. However, no information on trends inabundance or estimates of bycatch mortality are available to evaluate theimpact of this threat on the population. This study presents estimates of lifehistory parameters using postmortem data obtained over a 17-year period inArgentina. Ages were determined for 93 specimens, and reproductive organsamples were examined (n = 89). Immature animals ranged from 0 to 6 years in females andfrom 0 to 9 years in males. Mature animals ranged from 7 to 21 years in femalesand from 6 to 23 years in males. The asymptotic body length (L∞) described by a Gompertz model fit to age-length data was196 cm [CI95% = 192.45 ? 199.76 cm] for females and 210.75 cm [CI95% = 206.64 ?215.30 cm] for males and was attained at 14 years in females and 15 years inmales. Comparison to other populations showed that L∞ were shorter than estimates from NewZealand, similar to L∞ fromeastern North Atlantic, and longer than estimates from North Pacific commondolphins. Lmaxreported here were shorter than New Zealand ones but similar to thosepreviously reported from other populations.