Abundance, Distribution and Habitat Use of Tucuxi Dolphins along the Caribbean Coast of Colombia, South America
By Salome Dussan-Constantine, M.Sc.

The marine tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis) is one of the lesser-known delphinids. Many aspects of this species natural history and behaviour remain unknown. It has been included in the Appendix I of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) as “Data Deficient” (CITES Red List, 2002). In Colombia, Tucuxi have been cataloged as a “vulnerable” species due to loss of habitat, deforestation, pollution, and incidental mortality in local fisheries and direct takes for use as shark bait or to be sold on the black market. Tucuxi is one of the top predator species along the Caribbean coast of Colombia. These species contribute to maintain the population dynamics of their prey and as a consequence, the balance of the different ecosystems. Human activities have modified the movement and abundance of the Tucuxi’s prey along with the behaviour and habitat use of this species. The main goal of this research project is to study and analyze, under a scientific perspective, the actual situation of the Tucuxi in Colombian waters, in search for clues for its management and long-term conservation.

Field data will be collected during the months of November, March, July and October of 2002-2003, in the Gulf of Morrosquillo in Colombia. The research methodology will include photo identification along with the use and analysis of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). All data will be analyzed under an ecological and ethological perspective. I hope this will be the beginning of many years of research with coastal Tucuxi in Colombian waters resulting in the understanding and preservation of its habitat in the future. This research has been supported by the Chicago Board of Trade, Cetacean Society International, Fundacion Omacha, Conservacion Inernacional, CVS and INVEMAR.

In a separate project, marine Tucuxi are under study by colleague Paulo Flores in southern Brazil, near Florianopolis. Flores is conducting this work for his doctoral degree, with the support of Earthwatch Institute. Randall Wells serves as a co-Principal Investigator on the project, and as a dissertation advisor to Flores.