Behavioral response of South American sea lion Otaria flavescens to tourist disturbance during the breeding season

Abstract

Resumen.-Los pinípedos muestran una alta predictibilidad en su distribución, tanto espacial como temporal, y tienden a congregarse en parches, lo que permite un fácil acceso de turistas. Sin embargo, la presencia de dichos turistas puede generar un impacto negativo sobre los animales. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar, por primera vez en Chile, el efecto del ecoturismo sobre el comportamiento del lobo marino común Otaria flavescens durante la época reproductiva. Registramos un total de 44 visitas de embarcaciones a la lobera reproductiva de Isla Chañaral. La mayoría de los turistas mostró una actitud de calma, seguida por moderada y perturbadora. La respuesta de los lobos marinos fue mayoritariamente de escape, seguida de inactiva y alerta. La respuesta de los lobos marinos se relacionó negativamente con la distancia de aproximación de la embarcación a la colonia, pero no se relacionó ni con el tiempo de permanencia de la embarcación en la colonia ni con la conducta de los turistas. Nuestros resultados indican que el lobo marino común es afectado negativamente por la presencia de turistas, especialmente debido al escape de los individuos desde la colonia al mar. Dichos escapes pueden generar efectos fisiológicos negativos sobre el animal, lo que puede incidir sobre su adecuación biológica. Sugerimos que futuros estudios evalúen el comportamiento de respuesta de los lobos marinos durante la época reproductiva y en otros periodos del año, además de analizar posibles diferencias entre clases de edad y sexo, lo que permita contar con herramientas adecuadas para el manejo del turismo sobre el lobo marino común en Chile. Palabras clave: Comportamiento animal, ecoturismo, manejo, pinípedos, ChileAbstract.-Pinnipeds have a high predictability, both spatial and temporal, and tend to be distributed in patches, which permitting tourists easy access to them. However, the presence of tourists may generate a negative impact on the animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate, for the first time in Chile, the effect of ecotourism activities on the behavior of the South American sea lion Otaria flavescens during the reproductive season. We recorded a total of 44 visiting boats to the reproductive colony of this species on Isla Chañaral. The attitude of the majority of the tourists was a quiet one; however this was followed by moderate and disturbing behavior. The response of sea lions was mainly to escape, followed by a period of inactive and alert. The response of sea lions was negatively related to the distance at which the boats approached the colony, but was not related to the time boats remained in the colony or the behavior of tourists. Our results show that the South American sea lion is negatively affected by human presence, shown by the escape of individuals from the colony to the sea. Escaping from the colony may generate negative physiological effects on an animal physiological effects on an animal, and ultimately affect the fitness of the individual. We suggest that future studies should evaluate chang...

Variation in behavioral responses of the South American sea lion to tourism disturbance: Implications for tourism management

“…The distance was estimated by extrapolation based on the length of the vessels following Strong and Morris () and Pavez et al . (). The behavior of tourists and sea lions was assigned to categories (Tables and , respectively), which were defined based on Cassini ().…”

“…(1) distance to the colony (m), (2) length of time the vessel was close to the colony (visitation time, min), (3) behavior of the tourists, and (4) behavior of the sea lions. The distance was estimated by extrapolation based on the length of the vessels following Strong and Morris (2010) and Pavez et al (2011). The behavior of tourists and sea lions was assigned to categories (Tables 1 and 2, respectively), which were defined based on Cassini (2001).…”

“…, Pavez et al . ), since the sites that they occupy on land are highly predictable in time and space, which ensures tour operators the presence of animals to observe. However, the high numbers of tourists visiting pinniped colonies, particularly during the breeding period, may trigger a series of disturbances that range from short‐term behavioral changes (Barton et al .…”

“…To our knowledge, the study by Pavez et al . () in central Chile is the only one that has evaluated the effects of tourism on this species. However, the type and degree of responses by the different age/sex classes of the sea lions to variables such as the type of colony, the behavior of tourists, and the distance of the vessel to the colony are still unknown.…”

The effects of vessel approaches on the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

“…, Pavez et al . ), approach angle (Jansen et al . ), and vessel size, speed, and noise level (Newsome and Rodger , Strong and Morris ).…”