Sirenews (ISSN 1017-3439) appears twice a year

in April and October and is edited by Daryl P. Domning,

Department of Anatomy, Howard University, Washington, D.C. 20059  USA

(fax: 202-265-7055). It is supported by the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission.

 

 

 

NUMBER 20                                                                                                       OCTOBER 1993

 

 

 

IN THIS ISSUE:       -  NEW JOURNAL ON MANATEES PUBLISHED IN BRAZIL  (p. 5)

 

                                                           -  DUGONGS IN OMAN?  (p. 7)

 

                                                           -  REPORT  AND ABSTRACTS OF SYDNEY WORKSHOP   (pp.  3, 10)

 

 

 

EDITORIAL:  HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE NEED?

 

          The state and various county governments of Florida have for several years been locked in  a  series  of agonizing disputes with the boating industry and  commercial  and  recreational boaters over regulation of waterborne activities for manatee protection. Where boat-speed  and other  regulations have been implemented, there are encouraging signs that  manatee  mortality from watercraft impacts may be abating. However, the struggle to enact such regulations in the remaining critical areas only seems to get harder as, with every passing month, the numbers of people  and boats in Florida increase. According to Dr. Miriam Marmontel, computer  models of  the  manatees' population structure show that their situation is  precarious:  their  predicted survival  or  decline to extinction in the state is highly sensitive to changes  in  mortality  rates, and there seems to be no room for error in those estimates that predict survival (see abstract  in this issue).


          It  is clear that the future of manatees in Florida, not to mention other species  in  other parts  of  the world, depends critically on self-restraint by humans of their  own  numbers  and per-capita  environmental  impact.  Apart from our moral  obligation  to  preserve  endangered species  for our descendants, federal legislation such as the Marine Mammal Protection Act  of 1972  and  the  Endangered  Species  Act of 1973 mandates  whatever  actions  are  needed  to maintain a viable manatee population. I submit that the time has come to address seriously  the issue  of human population growth in this country, and to do so in part by setting national  and regional goals for a desirable total population size.

          Why  do  this now? Why start doing it here (in Florida or the USA)? And most  of  all, why  should  we  (the sirenian research/conservation community,  or  the  marine  mammalogy community in general) be talking about it, let alone taking the lead in it?

          We  need to do it now because manatees and other endangered species can't  wait.  The increasingly  strained  physical  environment  can't  wait.  On  a  global  scale,  the  exploding numbers  of  destitute  human beings can't wait. This also happens  to be  an  opportune  time: public  appreciation of the problems and the stakes is at an all-time high, and the new  political atmosphere  in Washington is relatively conducive to addressing these problems.  A  "Warning to  Humanity",  circulated  by the Union of Concerned Scientists and endorsed  by  more  than 1,670 scientists from 71 countries (including 104 Nobel laureates), states that "we must  accept limits"  to population growth and stabilize the world's population without delay.  Furthermore, governments of all countries have been requested to prepare national population reports for the U.N. International Conference on Population and Development to be held in Cairo, Egypt,  5-24  September  1994.  What form the United States' report takes, and how  close  it  comes  to meeting the need for a realistic and prudent national population policy, will depend largely  on the extent and effectiveness of the demand for such a policy.

          We  need to do it here in the U.S. because of the deteriorating  environmental  situation here  (especially in Florida), and because if we can't do it here we can hardly expect others  to do  it  elsewhere.  The  developing nations are rightly indignant  over  the  developed  nations' attempts to portray overpopulation as strictly a Third World problem. As long ago as 1972, the Commission  on Population Growth and the American Future, appointed by  President  Nixon, concluded,  "after two years of concentrated effort," that "no substantial benefits would  result from   continued   growth  of  the  nation's  population."  That  is  as  good   a   definition   of overpopulation  as  I  know,  and  that  was  a  generation  (and  more  than  45  million   new Americans) ago.

          Finally,  WE  ought  to be the ones to start the ball rolling because we  have  (a)  many years of hard data showing (b) a dramatic impact on manatee survival by (c) a rapidly growing human population that is both (d) affluent, educated, and environmentally sophisticated and (e) having this impact largely through activities that are recreational rather than (as in most of  the world) vital to human survival. As we have said more than once in recent years, manatees  are an  ideal test case of human ability and will to protect endangered wildlife: there is  simply  no respectable  excuse  we  Americans  could  give to the world for  the  demise  of  manatees  in Florida.

          Furthermore,  the  official  Florida  Manatee Recovery Plan has as  its  stated  goal  the downlisting  of  Florida  manatees from "endangered" to "threatened"  status.  The  Plan  itself specifies  that  "Downlisting  should  be considered when ... the population  is  growing  or  is stable,  when mortality factors are controlled at acceptable levels or are decreasing,  and  when habitats  are secure and threats are controlled or are decreasing." Given that human  population growth is a prima facie mortality factor and threat to the manatees' environment, it is  patently obvious that, despite all the good the Plan may accomplish, the threat cannot possibly decrease as long as the human population of Florida continues to grow, and therefore the Recovery Plan is  doomed  to  failure  according  to its own criteria.  The  "Recovery  Plan"  is  an  excellent research and management plan, but as it stands it is not a recovery plan.

          For  these  reasons I propose that a careful and objective study be done to  estimate,  as nearly  as  the available data permit, the maximum size of Florida's human  population  that  is likely  to be compatible with the long-term survival of manatees in the state. This would  be  a modest  yet  significant step on the long road to a national population policy. The  study  could appropriately  be carried out under the auspices of a respected, nonpartisan entity  having  both responsibilities  for marine mammal protection and a strong history of commitment to it  -  for example,  the  Florida Department of Environmental Protection (formerly  the  Department  of Natural  Resources),  the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,  or (best, perhaps) the  U.S.  Marine Mammal  Commission. The study should be done by a specially appointed panel of  biologists, demographers,   and  other  qualified  specialists.  The  resulting  estimate  would  stand  as   a challenge  to the political  system(s) involved, either to devise acceptable ways of reaching  the implied  goal,  or to plan for the consequences of not doing so. Even if the study did  no  more than  stimulate  public  debate  on  the issue, this would be  a  marked  improvement  over  the present conspiracy of silence among our civic leaders regarding overpopulation.

          The slogan's familiarity has not diminished its force: If not now, when? If not us, who?  -  DPD

 

 

REPORT OF THE SIRENIA SPECIALIST GROUP MEETING

 

          Members  of  the Sirenia Specialist Group of the Species Survival  Commission  of  the IUCN  met  in  Sydney,  Australia, on 10 July 1993, as part of a  workshop  on  sirenians  and seagrasses  held during the Sixth International Theriological Congress [see  Abstracts,  below]. The Sirenia Specialist Group members noted that sirenians have been well studied in  relatively few  of  the 60 countries whose waters they occupy. Nonetheless, there is growing  interest  in developing sirenian research or conservation programs by scientists in countries with unstudied or  poorly studied sirenian populations. In many cases, the scientists possess great  enthusiasm, but  lack  funds.  Some of the scientists wish to initiate  expensive,  high-technology  programs (e.g., telemetry) at the outset. The Sirenia Specialist Group recommends a more  fundamental, cost-effective approach to initiating a sirenian research or conservation program.

          The   Sirenia  Specialist  Group  discussed  research  priorities  for  unstudied   sirenian populations.  The  Group recommends the following research activities, listed in  the  order  in which they should be implemented:

          1) determine the presence or absence of sirenians in the regions;

          2) assess overall distribution and define high-use areas;

          3) describe general characteristics of important habitats;

          4) assess impacts of humans on the animals and plants;

          5) evaluate major aspects of population dynamics.

 

          The  Sirenia  Specialist  Group advises that scientists undertaking  studies  of  relatively unstudied  sirenian  populations  start  with  fundamentals, including,  but  not  limited  to:  1) becoming  familiar  with  literature  dealing with  sirenians  elsewhere;  2)  interviewing  local people  who  might  provide  insight regarding  presence/absence,  important  habitat,  impacts (including   directed   take),   and  cultural  attitudes  that  might  either   facilitate   or   retard conservation  efforts;  3)  using knowledge already available  and  generally  applicable  (e.g., preference for low-fiber seagrasses by dugongs, sirenian gestation periods) as a framework  for developing  research questions that may assess area-specific biological traits (e.g., age  at  first reproduction);    and   4)   developing   interdisciplinary   alliances   with    specialists    (e.g., anthropologists, sociologists, ecologists, or Geographic Information System specialists)  whose expertise  could be valuable in understanding and conserving sirenians or habitat.  The  Sirenia Specialist  Group  noted  that the most important studies of  sirenians  will  develop  long-term databases,  which  probably  can only be maintained  by  developing  local/regional  expertise, enthusiasm, and financial support.

          The sirenians are "flagship species", a term reflecting in this context their visibility and the  enthusiasm with which the public often address sirenian-related issues. Efforts to  preserve sirenians  may,  therefore,  be easier to fund or to engender public support for  than  efforts  to preserve other components of ecosystems. Nonetheless, adequate and appropriate  conservation of   sirenians   within   a  particular  region  will  have  important   consequences   for   habitat conservation.

          In  this regard, the Sirenia Specialist Group notes that education and  awareness  efforts should  parallel research to achieve regional goals of sirenian or habitat protection.  Education, like research, should have a local focus, and should be region-specific to accommodate cultural or  socio-economic  practices. However, effective education programs  also  involve  educating managers   and  administrators  who  can  provide  funds  for  initiation  and  continuation   of programs, and the scientists themselves (i.e., through familiarity with relevant literature).  The Sirenia  Specialist  Group  recommends that development  of  multi-focal  education  programs accompany development of research programs.

          In   summary,  the  Sirenia  Specialist  Group  recommends  a  step-wise  approach   to research,  as  well as a multi-focal education program, to learn about  and  conserve  unstudied sirenian  populations.  A  great  deal  can  be  learned  and  accomplished  using   fundamental approaches that require neither high levels of funding nor extensive technological expertise.   -  John E. Reynolds, III

 

 

FIRST INTERNATIONAL MANATEE AND DUGONG

RESEARCH CONFERENCE

 

          The First International Manatee and Dugong Research Conference will take place at the Hilton  Hotel in Gainesville, Florida, Friday-Sunday, 11-13 March, 1994, and will  deal  with all aspects of sirenian biology, conservation, and evolution. The conference will include a field trip  to  Homosassa Springs on 11 March, with oral and poster presentations on the  other  two days.  Seven  invited speakers will give 30-minute talks, each followed  by  several  15-minute contributed papers. The banquet speaker on Saturday evening will be Tom O'Shea.

          Those  wishing to give a presentation should submit a 1-3 page manuscript (8.5" x  11" paper,  1"  margins,  10-point or larger font) by 1 December 1993. Tables  and  line  drawings may  be  incorporated,  but  not  halftones.  Indicate  your  preference  for  an  oral  or  poster presentation.  Slots  for oral presentations are limited and will be allocated  by  the  organizing committee.  Manuscripts,  and  questions on conference content, can be directed  to  Roger  L. Reep,   Dept.   of  Physiological  Sciences,  Box  100144  JHMHC,  University   of   Florida, Gainesville,  FL  32610;  phone  (904)  392-4700, ext.  3859;  fax  (904)  392-5145;  Internet REEP@CORTEX.HEALTH.UFL.EDU.

          Established  investigators, students, and interested lay people are encouraged to  attend. Each  attendee  will  receive  at  the meeting a bound volume of  the  papers  presented  at  the meeting.  Participation  is  limited to 250 people. Registration costs  are  $70  for  non-student participants, $30 for students; late registration (after 1 December) is $110 or $50, respectively. The  charge  for  the  banquet  is  $18,  and  for  the  field  trip,  $15  (lunch  included).   For registration,  contact  Pat Neilson, University of Florida, IFAS Office  of  Conferences,  P.O. Box 110750, Gainesville, FL 32611-0750; phone (904) 392-5930; fax (904) 392-9734.

 

 

MARINE MAMMAL E-MAIL DISCUSSION LIST

 

          A   marine   mammal   research  and  conservation  e-mail  discussion   list   has   been established, using the listserver at the University of Victoria. The purpose of this is to facilitate discussion  regarding  research  and conservation of marine mammals, as  well  as  for  posting conference  or meeting announcements, volunteer opportunities, new techniques or  equipment available, new books or journals published, etc.

          There  is  no cost for subscribing. Messages sent to  the  list  (marmam@uvvm.uvic.ca) will  be forwarded to all members subscribing to the list. To subscribe, send a message  to  the listserver (listserv@uvvm.uvic.ca or listserv@uvic.bitnet), with a message in the text saying:

 

subscribe MARMAM your name

 

The subject line in the message should be left blank.

          Please forward this message to any colleagues working on marine mammal research  or conservation topics. Questions regarding the list can be sent to the list managers, David Duffus (ddvffvs@uvvm.uvic.ca) or Robin Baird (rbaird@sfu.ca).  -  Robin Baird

 

 

LOCAL NEWS

 

BRAZIL

 

          New  Manatee Journal. - The  Brazilian environment agency IBAMA has inaugurated a new technical journal devoted entirely to research on the nation's manatees. Entitled Peixe-Boi,  or  manatee,  it  is  published   in Portuguese by IBAMA's National Center  for Conservation  and Management of  Sirenians, and is edited by Danielle Paludo.

          Publication  began in 1992  with  Ano 1,  No.  1, a spiral-bound issue  of  73  pages containing six articles (see Recent  Literature, below). The contents deal with both  Amazonian  and  West  Indian  manatees  and  cover such  topics as distribution, status,  and  conservation  in  the wild and diet,  growth,  behavior,   and   blood  chemistry   of   captive animals.

          Peixe-Boi  (ISSN  0103-9431)  has  its editorial    offices   at   the    Centro    Peixe-Boi/IBAMA,  Av. Dom Pedro II,  no.  3484, Joa~o  Pessoa, Parai'ba, CEP 58040-440,  Brazil. All  submissions and correspondence  regarding  the  journal  should  be  directed  to  that address. No price for subscriptions is given.

          We  congratulate the editor  and  publishers  of this welcome addition to the  sirenian literature, and wish Peixe-Boi a successful future.

 

          Conservation  Recommendations.  - The 5a. Reunio'n de Trabajo de Especialistas en Mami'feros Acua'ticos de Ame'rica del Sur, held  in September of 1992 in Buenos Aires, Argentina,  included  a round-table  meeting  on  the problems  of sirenian conservation in  Brazil. This   meeting,  coordinated  by  Ricardo   J. Soavinski,    recommended    the    following (translated from Portuguese):

          1.  A  survey of  the  distribution  and occurrence  of the Amazonian  manatee,  and continuation  of  surveys of  distribution  and occurrence  of West Indian manatees in  Brazil.

          2.  Evaluation  and  quantification   of incidental   entanglements   of   manatees   in fishing nets, as well as of intentional captures of manatees for food.

          3.  Evaluation of the quality of  manatee  habitats  in Brazil. Evaluation  of  heavy-metal  and  organochlorine levels  in  sirenian tissues should be emphasized.

          4.  Monitoring  of  manatees  in  their principal  areas of occurrence and in areas  of demonstrated importance in their life cycles.

          5. Studies of population dynamics and genetics   in  order  to  evaluate  groups   and populations.

          6.   Creation   and   establishment   of Conservation  Units in priority areas in  order to  preserve sirenians and the ecosystem as  a whole.

          7. Immediate creation of the Barra  do Rio  Mamanguape Environmental  Protection Area  in Parai'ba; of a conservation unit  in  the Rio Timonhas estuary, in Piaui'; and of another in the coastal region of Tabuba, in Alagoas  - areas of demonstrated importance for conservation  of  the  West  Indian  manatee  in  the Brazilian Northeast.

          8.   Development   of   environmental education  campaigns in the area  of  distribution  of  sirenians, in order  to  prevent  their extinction.

          9.   Greater  participation  of   aquatic mammal   specialists   in   discussions   about sirenians  and  mustelids  in  future  meetings and congresses.

          10.  Extension of  these  recommendations   to  other  South   American   countries where  sirenians occur and that possibly  face the same problems as Brazil.

 

COLOMBIA

 

          Conditions  for  Captive   Manatees Improved. - Rubby Montoya of the  Caribbean Stranding Network (CSN), Puerto Rico, reports on the status of a young female  West Indian manatee, formerly held in very inadequate   facilities  at  the  Jardin  Zoolo'gico   de Barranquilla.   Following   unsuccessful    attempts to have the animal transferred to other facilities,  the latter institution has  now  been taken  over  from the city  government  by  a new,   privately-sponsored   enterprise,    the Fundacio'n Zoolo'gico de Barranquilla. This  new foundation  has  promised to treat  the  manatee's welfare as its top priority, implementing some  of  CSN's  recommendations  for  improvements  in the animal's diet  and  contracting more capable zookeepers.  Construction of a new holding facility and development  of managerial   and  educational  programs   are being    monitored   by    INDERENA    (the Colombian  government's  natural   resources agency) and by CSN.

          Several  other manatees held in  CSN-sponsored  semicaptive colonies in the  towns of  Magangue'  and Pinto  were  also  examined recently,  and  found  to be  in  good  health. With  the  help  of  CSN  and  the  Save   the Manatee  Club (Florida),  educational  efforts in  Magangue'  are also bearing fruit.  A  "Club Amigos   del  Manati'",  comprising  113   high school   students,  was  created   in   October 1992.  They  have been  spreading  the  word about    manatee    conservation    to     other schoolchildren,  assisting  in  fieldwork,  and representing  their  state at a  science  fair  in Bogota',  and  are  now  seen  by  the  Magangue' community   as  a  symbol   of   conservation education for the new generation.

 

FLORIDA

 

          Manatees "Introduced" into  Florida???  - In the course of a  rancorous  debate like  the one presently raging in Florida  over boat  speed  limits, it is to be hoped  that  the parties  to the discussion will try to  get  their facts  straight.  This  ideal,  however,  is  not always  achieved, as seen from the  inaugural issue  of  a newsletter published by  the  Boat Owners Association of The United States.  In BOAT/U.S. Reports*Florida, Vol. 1, No.  1, April  1993,  a letter to the  editor  from  Jim Walters of Jupiter, Florida, is published  with an   editorial  endorsement  stating  that   "... every  once  in  a while we get a  letter  on  a controversial  issue which is so  well  written that it deserves to be widely shared.  Whether you  agree or disagree with Mr. Walters,  we would like to hear from you." Excerpts  from Mr. Walters' letter follow:

          "Having  been in the marine  industry in our state, I have seen countless numbers of rules  and  regulations regarding  our  waterways grow, many of them good and many  of them bad.

          "Here is my plan to solve the  greatest boating issue placed before the Governor and Cabinet  members:  the  dispute  between  the recreational  boaters,  the  manatee  and   the DNR (Florida Dept. of Natural Resources).

          "Years  ago,  manatees  were  brought here to Florida and released in the freshwater canals  to eat and maintain the overgrowth  of hyacinths. It seemed to be a good idea, but  it really  didn't  work. Instead, the  giant  manatees  worked  their  way  through  the  canal network and ventured out into the intracoastal waterways  and  ocean. This was not  part  of the  plan  and they easily adapted to  the  salt water....

          "Like all other endangered animals  in the world, the manatee is faced with the same problems as the elephant, the rhinoceros  and the  buffalo. They have  become  endangered because  they  got in the way of  man's  progress....

          "The current attempt to crush  boating and  restrict  God's  greatest  mammal,  man, from  his  greatest  Florida  pastime,  boating and water sports, is absolutely ludicrous.

          "Let's  handle  the  manatee  like   all other  endangered species we have dealt  with in  the  past. We will select for them  one  of the  largest and most beautiful lakes we  have to  offer  in Florida. We will build  them  the ultimate habitat....

          "Let's  get our rescue team  out  there and  gather  up the  remaining  manatees  and transport them to their new, safe home in  the middle of the state where they can live happily ever after...." [Emphasis added]

          Just for the record, the oldest  currently known Trichechus fossils from Florida  are Early  Pleistocene in age (about 1.0-1.5  million  years  old), and the earliest  remains  of any  sirenians in the state are Middle  Eocene (around  45 million years old). In fact, at  the moment Florida happens to be the only  place on   the  planet  where  fossil   sirenians   are known  from  every  geological  epoch   from Eocene to Recent!

          If  you  would like to  respond  to  the invitation   of   the  editors   of    BOAT/U.S. Reports*Florida  to  comment on  this  letter, their  address is 880 S. Pickett  St.,  Alexandria, VA 22304 USA.  -  DPD

 

INDONESIA

 

          Dugong   Seminar   in   Ambon.    - During  7,  8 and 10 April  1993  an  International Seminar was held in Ambon on Coastal Zone  Management  of Small  Island  Ecosystems,  with  special  reference  to  turtle   and dugong conservation.

          The   seminar   was   funded   by   the European   Economic  Community  and   was organized   by   the   Environmental   Studies Centre   of   the   Pattimura   University    in Ambon,  in  cooperation  with  the   National Science   Institute  LIPI,  AID   Environment Amsterdam, and the Centre for  Environmental  Science, Leiden University, The  Netherlands.

          Some 65 participants from  Indonesia, Canada,   USA,   Australia,   UK   and   The Netherlands   participated   in   the   seminar. Although  its scope covered a wide  range  of subjects  related to coastal zone  management and  marine conservation, the  importance  of the seminar for the conservation of Sirenia in Indonesia  was the official recognition of  the need  for conservation and  proper  management  of  dugong  populations  in  Indonesian coastal waters.

          The   seminar  was  attended   by   the Governor   of  the  Moluccas  Province,   the Assistant   Minister   for   the    Environment (representing  the Minister), the  Ambassador of  the EEC, and the Rector of the  Pattimura University.

          During  his keynote speech the  Assistant  Minister stressed the importance  of  the conservation  of  endangered  and  vulnerable marine  species  such as sea  turtles  and  dugongs, and the need for an integrated  system of  coastal zone management. Hans de  Iongh presented   an  overview  of  the   results   of ongoing research on dugong feeding  ecology in the Moluccas.

          During workshop sessions, the  participants elaborated on a large number of specific  recommendations,  such  as  the  need  for further  inventories of dugong populations  in Indonesian  coastal waters, the  establishment of   a  National  Conservation   Strategy   and Action  Plan  for Dugongs in  Indonesia,  and the  need  to increase the number  of  Marine Conservation Areas.

          The    International    Seminar     also marked the start of a Coastal Zone  Management Project, funded by the EEC. Drs. Henk Blaauw,  project  leader, and  Mark  van  der Wal,  ecologist,  have been  assigned  to  this project  to assist the staff of the  Environmental Studies Centre of the Pattimura University to    implement   coastal   zone    inventories, mapping,   planning,  and  a  range  of   pilot projects in support of coastal communities. A specific  research programme, with  cooperation  between Dutch and Indonesian staff  and students,  covers the  distribution,  migration, and   feeding   ecology  of  dugongs   in   the Moluccas.

          Further information on the project and the   seminar  proceedings  can  be   obtained through:  Drs.  Henk Blaauw, Mark  van  der Wal,  and  Desi  Norimarna,   Environmental Programme   Maluku   (EPM),   POB    221, Ambon, Indonesia (telephone  62-911-61236; fax 62-911-61455).  -  Hans de Iongh

 

OMAN

 

          Does  the Dugong Occur in  Omani Waters?  - From our knowledge of the  present  world  distribution of the  dugong  (e.g., Thornback & Jenkins, 1982, IUCN  Mammal Red  Data Book; Bertram &  Bertram,  1973, Biol.  J. Linn. Soc.), it is not expected  along the  coast  of eastern Arabia  except  as  stray migrants, but there are only two references to this ever occurring: remarks attributed to  W. Travis to the effect that there are  "occasional strays  at Mukalla and Kuria  Muria  Islands" (Bertram  & Bertram, 1973: 307),  and  mentions  of  Bab el Mandeb in the  past  (Preen, 1989, MEPA Coastal & Marine  Management Series (Saudi Arabia), Rept. #10, Vol. 1).

          Oman  has  a  coastline  in  excess  of 1800  km  between Yemen  and  the  Arabian Gulf, so the question "Does the dugong occur in  Omani waters?" has never been  far  from our  thoughts.  It  gained  prominence   again during  the  preparation  of  the  Whale   Hall extension  (opened in December 1992) to  the Oman  Natural  History Museum  at  Muscat, where  we  were able to  include  one  exhibit exclusively for the dugong, its range,  status, habits and threats.

          Beds  of seagrasses along the coast  of Oman   are   small,  sparse   and   ephemeral (IUCN,  1988,  Oman:  Coastal  Zone  Management  Plan  -  Quriyat to  Ra's  al  Hadd, Report  for Ministry of Commerce  &  Industry, Oman), with the notable exception of the area  of Barr al Hikman (opposite  the  island of  Masirah),  and  the  Ghubbat  Hashish  in particular.  Here Salm (1991, Shoreland  and Marine  Environments,  Sultanate  of  Oman, Report  for Ministry of Commerce  &  Industry,  Oman)  reports the densest  and  greatest variety of seagrasses in the Sultanate, with  at least five genera present (Halodule,  Halophila,  Thalassia, Thalassodendron,  and  Syringodium),  all  of  potential  use  to   dugongs, which,  however,  have never  been  reported here.

          When it was suggested by other States during  the  Gulf  War  that  dugongs   under threat  in the Arabian Gulf might be  translocated  to  Oman, we pointed out  that  though the  area just mentioned seemed suitable,  the fact   that  dugongs  were  not   present   was probably  an  indication  of  its  unsuitability, particularly  because this coast is affected  by the very cold current generated by the  strong winds of the southwest monsoon of summer.

          So far, our searches on the islands and the  coast  of Oman during the last  17  years have   yielded   no   evidence   of    dugongs. However,  dugongs  may  very   occasionally stray  eastward in the Arabian Gulf  to  reach Omani   shores  in  the   Musandam   region. Individuals  may also occur in Omani  waters when  on passage between the populations  of the Red Sea and Africa and those to the  east, when  they  would  not  necessarily  keep   to shallow water or pause to feed.

          Nevertheless, the report of "occasional  strays ... on the Kuria Muria Islands"  attributed  to  Travis  is  most  unusual,  and  it would  be good to have confirmation of  this.  -   Michael D. Gallagher  (Natural  History Museum,  P.O.  Box 668, Muscat  113,  Sultanate of Oman, fax 602735)

 

PUERTO RICO

 

          New  Newsletter.  -  The  Caribbean Stranding  Network (Red Cariben~a  de  Varamientos)  has begun publication  (in  Spanish) of  a newsletter entitled Alerta Neptuno.  The first   issue  came  out  in  March  1993,   the second  in  June,  and  subsequent  issues  are scheduled   to  appear  every  three   months. Regular   features  will  deal  with   research, rescue  and rehabilitation, and  public  education  concerning  endangered  aquatic   fauna, including  manatees.  The  editor  is  Gloribel Delgado  (Apartado  908, Lajas,  PR  00667-0908).

          As part of its development efforts, the Caribbean Stranding Network is also opening membership   to   supporters   and    sponsors (US$10/year  student membership, $15  individual,  $25  family, as well  as  higher-level sponsor  and  corporate  memberships).   The benefits of membership include a subscription to  Alerta Neptuno. Further  information  can be obtained from the address above.

          We  wish the Stranding  Network  the best of luck with its newsletter and  membership drive, and anticipate that these will make valuable contributions to marine conservation efforts in the Caribbean region.

 

          Radiotelemetry   and    Hematology Projects.  - During May 1993,  biologists  of the  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's  (FWS) Sirenia  Project  began the second stage  of  a manatee radiotracking project in Puerto Rico. Other   participants  included  the   Caribbean Stranding   Network,   the   Department    of Marine  Sciences of the University of  Puerto Rico,  the FWS Caribbean Field  Office,  the Department  of  Natural  Resources,  and  the U.S. Navy.

          The  project  seeks to  investigate  the migratory  patterns  of  manatees  on   Puerto Rico's   east  coast,  specifically  within   the Roosevelt  Roads  Naval  Base.  Three  males were  tagged in 1992. According to Jim  Reid and Bob Bonde, the project's directors,  these animals  often  moved large distances  in  the course  of  a day,  but  individual  movement patterns   differed  significantly.  This   year, three more manatees were tagged with transmitters.

          Blood  samples were also taken  for  a study of comparative hematology in manatees from  Puerto  Rico, Colombia,  and  Florida. This   project,  which  will  serve  as   Rubby Montoya's  master's thesis, aims to  establish normal  blood-chemistry  parameters  for  the Antillean  manatee.  Skin  samples  are   also being  taken for individual identification  and studies   of  the  genetics  of   the   Caribbean manatee   population.    -    (Translated   and abridged  from  Alerta  Neptuno  1(2),   June 1993.)

 

THAILAND

 

          Surrogate Mothers for  Dugongs??? -  The following excerpts are from an  article that  appeared  in the Bangkok  Post  in  early May 1993:

          "WANTED:  A tender-loving  woman volunteer  to breast-feed a baby dugong  who has   lost  his  mother.  Mermaids  need   not apply.

          "A  stray baby dugong housed  at  the Marine   Biological  Centre  in  Phuket   desperately  needs  a generous woman to  be  his 'mother',  Fisheries Department  chief  Plodprasop  Suraswadi told the Bangkok  Post  on May 3.

          "The  baby  dugong  needs  a  woman volunteer  to be with him at least three  hours a  day to nurse him and breast-feed  him,  Mr Plodprasop said.

          "Mr Plodprasop said the baby  marine mammal was thought to be about six  months old  when  he was caught  unintentionally  by fishing  nets at night on April 22  off  Phumriang beach in Chaiya District of Surat  Thani Province....

          "The baby dugong was 97 centimetres long and 14 kilogrammes in weight ....

          "The  problem,  he  said,  is  that  the baby  dugong  refuses  to  take  milk  from  a bottle and the centre officials may have to try breast-feeding from a woman...."

          Sirenews   looks  forward  to   hearing from readers the denouement of this story.

 

VENEZUELA

 

          Manatee    Research   Base    Established.  -  Project  Mermaid,  an   expedition from the University of Newcastle upon  Tyne (UK),  traveled  to the Gulf  of  Paria,  Sucre State, Venezuela (see Sirenews No. 19). Over a  period of three months (July to  September 1992)  the team constructed a 9m x 4m  floating platform. This was sailed over 100 km to the  study  river,  Cano  La  Brea.  Surveying from dugout canoes over a period of 20 days, the   team   made  14  records   of   manatees (Trichechus  manatus) in the 30 km of  navigable  river.  Of  the  14  records,  ten   were considered   to   be  "definite",   two   to   be "probable"  and two to be  "possible".  Seven of  the  records are of between  one  and  five manatees  feeding on floating and  submerged vegetation  (Pistia stratiotes, Lemna sp.,  and Myriophyllum sp.), a further two records  are of  manatees  resting just below  the  surface, and  three records are of  manatees  traveling along  the  cano.  Examination  of  feces  revealed grasses (Gramineae), black  mangrove (Avicennia nitida), and Rhabdadenia  biflora. Black mangrove only occurs in the first 7 km from  the  mouth of the cano; the  feces  containing black mangrove were collected 30 km upstream,   indicating   significant    manatee movements.

          The  results  from  this  brief   survey indicate  that  Cano La Brea  is  an  excellent wet-season  habitat  for  manatees.  Of   great importance is the possibility raised by O'Shea et al. (Biol. Conserv. 46: 281-301, 1988) that in  the  dry  season  Cano  La  Brea  forms  a feeding sanctuary for manatees from a  wider area. Cano La Brea, along with Rio Morichal Largo (Maturin State), are unique in the  area in  that they are deep freshwater streams  that provide   access  to  savanna  feeding   areas, unlike  the majority of mangrove-lined  canos which are accessible for feeding only at  high tide.  If manatees do use the cano as a  refuge in  the  dry season, then Cano La Brea  is  of critical  importance for the manatee in  Venezuela.

          Project Mermaid is applying for charity  status. Members of the original  team  are returning  to the floating platform in  January 1994,  to commence six  months'  continuous research  on  the  river.  This  will  include  a feasibility study for the use of radiotelemetry, as  well as research on the area's  other  wildlife. The floating platform is established as a research  base  and the team  is  interested  in hearing  from manatee specialists who  would like  to visit the area with research  in  mind. At  present, providing sufficient funding  can be found, Project Mermaid intends to support an  Environmental  Impact  Assessment   and Management   Plan,   to  be   undertaken   by Provita,   A   Venezuelan   non-governmental conservation  society,  starting in  late  1994. Contact:  Project  Mermaid,  Trees   Cottage, Froxfield,   Petersfield,   Hampshire,   GU32 1DN,  UK (fax: 0263-71-3100).  -   Richard Cuthbert

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.

 

          Sirenian Bibliography. - Domning's Bibliography  and  Index of  the  Sirenia  and Desmostylia  has been formally  accepted  for publication  in Smithsonian  Contributions  to Paleobiology. Funds are now being  obtained to  support its publication, which is  expected to  take  place  during 1994.  Stay  tuned  for further  bulletins, and please send  me  copies of your publications as promptly as  possible, since the database will be closed sometime  in the next few weeks.  -  DPD

 

ABSTRACTS

 

          The  following two abstracts, here translated from Portuguese, are of  papers  presented by  personnel  from  INPA (Manaus, Brazil) at the 5a Reunio'n de  Trabajo  de  Especialistas  en Mami'feros Acua'ticos de Ame'rica del Sur, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 28 Sept.-2 Oct. 1992.

 

          Hematocrit, Hemoglobin and Mineral Content of the Serum of the Amazonian Manatee (Trichechus  inunguis)  (Kesa  K. Lehti &  Fernando C. W. Rosas).  -  We  analyzed  blood samples  from 8 Amazonian manatees, 5 males and 3 females held captive at INPA, to  determine  hematocrit  and  hemoglobin. The serum of the same animals  was  analyzed  by  atomic absorption  spectrophotometry to determine the concentrations of zinc, sodium,  copper,  magnesium,  manganese,  iron,  and calcium. The hematocrit varied between 23  and  34%  (mean 27%),  and  the hemoglobin between 10.9 and 15.2%. The levels of zinc varied from  6.25  to 8.0  ppm; sodium, 7.209-8.331 ppm; copper, 0.51-0.91 ppm; magnesium, 26.08-26.74  ppm; iron, 1.11-2.00 ppm; and calcium, 39.5-56.5 ppm. Manganese was not present in any  sample. The  low  hematocrit  values obtained in this study, though similar to  others  obtained  for  the Amazonian manatee (32-35%, mean 33%), are probably due to monotony of the diet  provided since  1986.  These  results are lower than the hematocrit values cited  for  T.  manatus  (39.3-46.6%),  whereas  the hemoglobin values are similar for both species. The  sodium  concentrations are almost double those cited in the literature for T. manatus (3.412-3.471 ppm; Irvine et al.,  1980; Medway et al., 1982), whereas the magnesium values were half those found  in  the West  Indian  manatee  (53.49  ppm). The calcium values are much  lower  than  those  for  T. manatus  (348.7-412.8 ppm). The concentrations of the other elements could not be  compared due to lack of published data.

 

          Growth of Amazonian manatee Calves Raised on Artificial Milk (Fernando C.  Weber Rosas). - Techniques of raising Trichechus inunguis calves have been developed by the  Laboratory  of  Aquatic Mammals of INPA, which has successfully raised calves  orphaned  by  the illegal  hunting  that  continues  in  the region. These animals are  nursed  for  1-2  years  with powdered  milk enriched with soy oil, using special nursing bottles. Size and weight data  were analyzed  for 15 manatees raised at INPA. The sexes were analyzed separately, but no  significant  differences  between them were found. The equations obtained to express  the  growth  in length (1) and weight (2), after testing the linearity of the relations, were:

  Ct (cm) = 96.764 + 2.749 X (months), n=236, r=0.86 (1)

  Pt (kg) = 11.696 + 3.502 X (months), n=262, r=0.86 (2)

The relation weight/length obtained for the 15 calves was:

  Pt (kg) = 5.105x10-6.Ct3.31 (cm), n=233, r=0.97.

          Although  the  growth data presented here pertain to animals raised  on  artificial  milk, they are very similar to data for T. manatus nursed by their mothers (Odell, 1978).

 

          The  following  abstracts are of papers and posters presented at  the  Sixth  International Theriological Congress held in Sydney, Australia, 4-10 July 1993.

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RECENT LITERATURE

 

Anonymous.  1993.  Sea cows under threat. Down to Earth, Apr. 30, 1993: 42.  [Dugongs  in India.]

 

Aubert, A.  1992.  La  rhytine  de  Steller, un grand  sirenien  du  Pacifique  nord  maintenant disparu. Boreales 50/53: 15-22.

 

Blair, D.,  and  B.E.T.  Hudson.  1992.  Population  structure  of  Lankatrematoides  gardneri (Digenea:   Opisthotrematidae)   in   the  pancreas  of  the   dugong   (Dugong   dugon) (Mammalia: Sirenia). Jour. Parasitol. 78(6): 1077-1079.

 

Bol, J. 1989.  Olifanten en andere slurfdragers [Elephants and other tusk-bearers].  Grondboor en Hamer 43(3): 688-75. [In Dutch. Mentions "Dysmostylus".]

 

Bonde, R.K. 1993. Manatees in Florida: a personal perspective. Whalewatcher 27(1): 16-18.

 

Bradley,  J.L.,  S.D. Wright, and P.M. McGuire. 1993. The Florida manatee:  cytochrome  b DNA sequence. Mar. Mamm. Sci. 9(2): 197-202.

 

Brown, J.  1993. Did dugongs die of muddy water? Bodies on beaches linked to lazy  farming. BBC Wildlife 11(4): 11. [Dugong mortality in Hervey Bay, Australia.]

 

Brown, L.N.   1991.   Sea  mammals:  Atlantic,  Gulf  and   Caribbean.   Miami,   Windward Publishing, Inc.: 1-64.

 

Brown, R.C.   1988.   Florida's  fossils.  Guide  to  location,  identification   and   enjoyment. Sarasota, Pineapple Press: 1-208.

 

Colares,  E.P.,  I.G.  Colares,  and A.D. Pinto do  Amaral.  1992.  Para^metros  bioqui'micos  do sangue do peixe-boi da Amazo^nia (Trichechus inunguis; Mammalia: Sirenia).  Peixe-Boi 1(1): 19-25.

 

Colares,  I.G.,  and  E.P. Colares. 1992. Prefere^ncia alimentar do  peixe-boi  da  Amazo^nia  em cativeiro. Peixe-Boi 1(1): 26-32.

 

Czyzewska,   T.,   and  A.  Radwanski.  1991.  Middle  Miocene  (Badenian)   delphinid   and phocoenid  remains  from  the Fore-Carpathian Depression  in  southern  Poland.  Acta Geol. Polonica 41(3-4): 183-191. [Mentions fossil sirenians from Poland.]

 

Dietz, T.  1992.  The  call of the siren: manatees and dugongs.  Golden  (Colorado),  Fulcrum Publishing: xii + 196.

 

Erftemeijer,  P.L.A.,  Djunarlin, and W. Moka. 1993. Stomach content analysis of  a  dugong (Dugong dugon) from South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Austral. Jour. Mar. Freshwater  Res. 44(1): 229-233.

 

Furusawa,  H.,  T. Maeda, S. Yamashita, T. Sagayama, Y. Igarashi, and M.  Kimura.  1993. Geologic  age  and  paleoenvironment  of marine  mammal  fossils  from  Numata-cho, Hokkaido.  Earth  Science (Chikyu Kagaku) 47(2)(245): 133-145. [In  Japanese;  Engl. summ.]

 

Gallagher,   W.B.,  D.C.  Parris,  B.S.  Grandstaff,  and  C.  DeTample.  1989.   Quaternary mammals from the continental shelf off New Jersey. Mosasaur 4: 101-110.

 

Gray, J.   1988.  Evolution  of  the  freshwater  ecosystem:  the  fossil  record.   Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclim. Palaeoecol. 62(1-4): 1-214.

 

Grubel da  Silva, K., D. Paludo, E.M.A. de Oliveira, R. Pinto de Lima, and  R.J.  Soavinski. 1992.  Distribuic,a~o  e ocorre^ncia do peixe-boi marinho (Trichechus manatus) no  estua'rio  do Rio Mamanguape, Parai'ba - Brasil. Peixe-Boi 1(1): 6-18.

 

Grubel da  Silva,  K.,  R.J.  Soavinski,  E.M.A.  de  Oliveira,  and  M.C.M.  Kohler.   1992. Alimentac,a~o,  crescimento  e comportamento em cativeiro de um filhote  o'rfa~o  de  peixe-boi marinho (Trichechus manatus, Linnaeus, 1758). Peixe-Boi 1(1): 33-41.

 

Jacobs, F.  1991.  Sam  the sea cow. New York, Walker & Co.:  1-47.  [Children's  book  on Florida manatees. First published in 1979 as Sewer Sam, the sea cow.]

 

Kadel, J.J. 1992. The great white manatee. Underwater Naturalist 21(2): 15-16.

 

Ketten, D.R.,  D.K.  Odell, and D.P. Domning. 1992. Structure, function, and  adaptation  of the  manatee  ear. In: J. Thomas, R. Kastelein, and A. Supin (eds.),  Marine  Mammal Sensory Systems. New York, Plenum Press: 77-95.

 

Kingdon, J. 1991. Arabian mammals: a natural history. London, Academic Press.

 

Kohno, N.,  and  Y. Takaizumi. 1992. The first record of the halitheriine  dugongid  (Sirenia: Dugongidae)  in  the  western North Pacific Ocean. Fossils (Tokyo)  No.  53:  1-6.  [In Japanese; Engl. summ.]

 

Lal Mohan, R.S. 1993. Struggle for survival: the threatened dolphins and sea cows.  Frontline (India), Mar. 12, 1993: 80-81.

 

Layne, J.N.  1993.  [Review  of]  Manatees and dugongs [by] J.E.  Reynolds,  III,  and  D.K. Odell. Florida Field Nat. 21(1): 22.

 

Loerzel,  S.,  and  R.L.  Reep.  1991. Rindenkerne:  unusual  neuron  aggregates  in  manatee cerebral cortex. Intl. Assoc. Aquatic Anim. Med. Proc. 22: 166-171.

 

 

Loyer, B. 1993. How now, sea cow? BBC Wildlife 11(10): 54-55. [Describes a photographer's unusual  encounter  with  a  lone dugong in Vanuatu. The film  of  this  encounter  was shown at the sirenian workshop in Sydney, where it aroused considerable interest.]

 

Morales Vela,  B.,  and L.D. Olivera Gomez. 1991. Mamiferos acuaticos.  In:  T.  Camarena-Luhrs  & S. Salazar-Vallejo (eds.), Estudios ecologicos preliminares de la zona  sur  de Quintana  Roo. Chetumal (Mexico), Centro de Investigaciones de Quintana  Roo:  172-185.

 

Oishi, M.,   Y.  Hasegawa,  T.  Maruyama,  S.  Nakashita,  and  T.  Kawakami.   1990.   An occurrence  of postcranial skeleton of Desmostylus from Kintaichi, Ninohe City,  Iwate Prefecture,  northeast  Japan. Bull. Iwate Prefectural Mus. No. 8: 1-16.  [In  Japanese; Engl. summ.]

 

Ortiz, M.,  R. Lalana R., and O. Torres Fundora. 1992. Un nuevo ge'nero y una  nueva  especie de  cope'podo  Harpacticoida  asociada  al manati' Trichechus  manatus  en  aguas  cubanas. Revista   Investigaciones  Marinas  13(2):  117-127.  [Engl.   summ.   Harpactichechus manatorum, n.gen.n.sp.]

 

Pilleri, G. 1990. Endocranial cast of Metaxytherium (Mammalia: Sirenia) from the Miocene of Cerro  Gordo,  Almeria,  Spain.  Treballs Mus.  Geol.  Barcelona  1:  35-42.  [Spanish summ.]

 

Pinto de Lima,  R., D. Paludo, R.J. Soavinski, K. Grubel da Silva, and E.M.A.  de  Oliveira. 1992. Levantamento da distribuic,a~o, ocorre^ncia e status de conservac,a~o do peixe-boi  marinho (Trichechus manatus, Linnaeus, 1758) no litoral nordeste do Brasil. Peixe-Boi 1(1): 47-72.

 

Pinto de Lima,  R., D. Paludo, R.J. Soavinski, E.M.A. de Oliveira, and K. Grubel  da  Silva. 1992. Esforc,os conservacionistas e campanhas de conscientizac,a~o para a preservac,a~o do peixe-boi  marinho  (Trichechus  manatus) ao longo do litoral nordeste  do  Brasil.  Peixe-Boi 1(1): 42-46.

 

Savinetsky,  A.B.  1993.  Ancient population dynamics of the  sea  cow  (Hydrodamalis  gigas Zimm., 1780) in the late Holocene. Doklady Biol. Scis. 326(1-6): 403-405. [Translated from Russian; originally published in Dokl. Akad. Nauk 326(3): 570-572, 1992.]

 

Ward, L.I.,  and  B.L.  Weigle.  1993.  To  save a  species:  GIS  for  manatee  research  and management. GIS World 6(8): 34-37.

 

Wolsan, M. 1991. The origin and evolution of Polish marine mammals. Przeglad  Zoologiczny 35(3-4): 261-268. [In Polish; Engl. summ.]

 

Za'rate Becerra,  E.  1993.  Distribucio'n  del  manati' (Trichechus  manatus)  en  la  porcion  sur  de Quintana  Roo,  Me'xico.  Rev. Invest. Cient. (Univ. Auto'n. de  Baja  California  Sur),  Se'r. Ciencias del Mar 1 (Nu'mero Especial SOMEMMA 1): 1-11.

 

Zeiller, W. 1992. Introducing the manatee. Gainesville, Univ. Press of Florida: 1-161. [ISBN 0-8130-1152-3. US$19.95.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHANGES OF ADDRESS

 

Asociacion Juvenil de Voluntarios en Investigacion y Desarrollo Ambientalista (VIDA), Apdo. 7-350-1000, San Jose, COSTA RICA (fax: 506-21-1411)

 

Dr.  Muhammad   Husni   Azkab,   Research  & Development Centre for Oceanology, Indonesian   Institute   of  Sciences  (LIPI),  P.O.  Box  4801/JKTF,   Jakarta   11048, INDONESIA

 

Dr.  Robert  L.  Brownell, Jr., Southwest Fisheries Science Center, P.O. Box  271,  La  Jolla, Calif. 92038-0271 USA

 

Caribbean  Stranding Network, c/o Isla Magueyes Marine Laboratories, University  of  Puerto Rico, P.O. Box 908, Lajas, PR 00667-0908 (fax: 809-899-5500)

 

Dr.  Janet  Lanyon,  Zoology Dept., University of Queensland, St.  Lucia,  Queensland  4072, AUSTRALIA

 

 

 

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