Distribution, habitat, and conservation status of the West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus in French Guiana

Abstract

Interview surveys of 116 coastal residents and habitat for the manatee in French Guiana is estuarine mangroves. A survey at Coswine, an area where manatees fishermen and surveys by motorboat were conducted in 2000 and 2001 in French Guiana in order to assess the have been sighted year-round, indicated that this mangrove area is characterized by biotic and abiotic factors within distribution, habitats and conservation status of the West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus. There were 72 reported the range known to provide suitable habitat for the species. However, habitats for manatees in French Guiana sightings of manatees, and we made 10 sightings during river surveys. Interviews suggested that manatees may are limited and receive little formal protection, and the species' status is based more on fortuitous protection be less abundant than in the recent past, but are still present and regularly sighted all along the coast and in than on any active conservation. Public awareness programmes for the manatee are currently being developed estuaries up to 80 km inland. The main reason for any recent decline is probably hunting for meat, pressures by local NGOs, but a regional conservation programme is also required. from development and, in some areas, pollution from maritime traBc. Although only opportunistically caught, manatees are still poached. In some areas they are killed Keywords Bycatch, coastal areas, French Guiana, manatee, Trichechus manatus. for cultural beliefs, but only on a small scale. The main cultures, both in Caribbean islands and in South America,

Habitat analysis and exclusive bank feeding of the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatusL. 1758) in the Coswine Swamps of French Guiana, South America

“…Fig. 1), most sightings are reported from the Coswine Swamps (DE THOISY et al 2003). The Coswine Swamps (total area ca 160 km²; 5°34' to 5°41'N, 53°53' to 54°00'E) are located in the northwest of French Guiana near the Guianan-Surinamese border.…”

“…During the study period, the water in the Coswine Swamps was not salty and it is possible that manatees use this area for drinking or for access to freshwater, similar to patterns observed in Mexico (OLIVERA-GOMEZ & MELLINK 2005), Brazil (BOROBIA & LODI 1992) and Florida (HART-MAN 1979). However, the fact that manatee sightings are regular and occur all yearround (DE THOISY et al 2003) suggests the presence of a resident manatee population in the Coswine Swamps.…”

“…Interviews among fishermen and residents in French Guiana revealed that manatees might be less abundant than they were 20 years ago, although they are still present and widespread. Furthermore, the study indicated the presence of a small but stable manatee population in the estuaries of the rivers Maroni and Oyapock and in the swamps near Sinnamary (DE THOISY et al 2003) (cf. Fig.…”

The differences in behavioral responses to a net obstacle between day and night in captive manatees; does entanglement happen at night?

“…The Antillean manatee Trichechus manatus manatus is primarily threatened by entanglement in fishing nets [3,4]. The intensity of boat traffic throughout its range is relatively low in the areas used by Antillean manatees, and may not be a significant threat [3]. In the West African manatee Trichechus senegalensis, subsistence hunters have heavily exploited this species [5]; however, at present, incidental entanglement seems to be the most significant threat [6].…”

“…In Florida, collisions of the manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris with watercraft are the primary cause of human-contact-related manatee mortality, but other preventable deaths result from entrapment in water control structures and entanglement in fishing gear [2]. The Antillean manatee Trichechus manatus manatus is primarily threatened by entanglement in fishing nets [3,4]. The intensity of boat traffic throughout its range is relatively low in the areas used by Antillean manatees, and may not be a significant threat [3].…”