Report of the Working Group on Taxomomy and Stock Identity of bottlenose dolphins in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean

PAULO OTT; ANDRÉ BARRETO; SALVATORE SICILIANO; PAULA LAPORTA; CAMILA DOMIT; PEDRO FRUET; LUCIANO DALLA ROSA; MARCOS SANTOS; ANA CAROLINA MEIRELLES; MARÍA CONSTANZA MARCHESI; SILVINA BOTTA; LARISSA DE OLIVEIRA; IGNACIO MORENO; JANAÍNA WICKERT; ELS VERMEULEN; LILIAN HOFFMANN; CLARENCIO BARACHO; PAULO SIMOES-LOPEZ

Latina American Journal of Aquatic Mammals

Open Journal Systems

Año: 2016

Taxonomy and systematics play a critical role in the conservation of biodiversity (e.g. Ryder, 1986; Mace, 2004; Aleixo, 2009). Taxonomic names are important for recognition and clear definition of the units to be conserved. Usually, species or subspecies levels are the preferred target of conservation policies and biodiversity monitoring programs (e.g. Karl and Bowen, 1999; Haig et al., 2006; Morrison et al., 2009). In addition, for widely distributed species with considerable finescale structuring such as bottlenose dolphins (genus Tursiops) (Wells and Scott, 2009), it is important to determine stock units to guide conservation and management procedures at the local level (e.g. Dizon et al., 1992; Moritz, 1994). In this report, we attempt to compile the current information on morphology, genetics, stable isotopes, acoustics and parasites of bottlenose dolphins along the Southwest Atlantic Ocean (SWAO), which includes waters of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. In addition, we briefly review the proposed taxonomy for the genus along the Atlantic coast of South America. The original source included 12 working papers (WP) presented during the ?First Workshop on the Research and Conservation of Tursiops truncatus: Integrating knowledge about the species in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean?, carried out in Cassino, Brazil, in 21-23 May 2010. In addition, 26 articles in peer-reviewed journals, one book, two book chapters, four doctoral, four master and two bachelor theses concerning the bottlenose dolphins in the SWAO complemented this information. Two conference abstracts and personal communications provided by specialists were also used as supplementary data.