Is the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) back in town? Presence of the species at the “Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Yum Balam”, Quintana Roo, Mexico

The Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus), considered endangered, is protected at national (Mexico) and international levels. Since Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, sightings of manatees have been rare at Conil Lagoon, located within the natural reserve “Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Yum B...

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Main Authors: José Gerardo Ávila-Canto, Carolina Velázquez-Mendoza, Nataly Castelblanco-Martínez, Carlos Niño-Torres, Fernando Córdova-Tapia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México 2017-12-01
Series:Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
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Online Access:https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/2189
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author José Gerardo Ávila-Canto
Carolina Velázquez-Mendoza
Nataly Castelblanco-Martínez
Carlos Niño-Torres
Fernando Córdova-Tapia
author_facet José Gerardo Ávila-Canto
Carolina Velázquez-Mendoza
Nataly Castelblanco-Martínez
Carlos Niño-Torres
Fernando Córdova-Tapia
author_sort José Gerardo Ávila-Canto
collection DOAJ
description The Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus), considered endangered, is protected at national (Mexico) and international levels. Since Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, sightings of manatees have been rare at Conil Lagoon, located within the natural reserve “Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Yum Balam”. However, increased reports of sightings from local fishermen and tour guides suggest manatees may be repopulating the lagoon. Here we report 15 sightings of the Antillean manatee from 2011 to 2016. Group sizes ranged from 1 to 15 individuals and we documented the presence of reproductive groups and mother-calf pairs. The apparent recovery of the species at Conil Lagoon and adjacent areas may be the result of local conservation efforts, or the result of changes in habitat use and distribution of the Caribbean population. A systematic, long-term local monitoring program is necessary to estimate manatee abundance and characterize their distribution in this area.
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institution OA Journals
issn 1870-3453
2007-8706
language English
publishDate 2017-12-01
publisher Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
record_format Article
series Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
spelling doaj-art-a7c6c4ff8f81481e875df8eb4291db9a2025-08-20T01:49:26ZengUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoRevista Mexicana de Biodiversidad1870-34532007-87062017-12-0188410.1016/j.rmb.2017.10.036Is the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) back in town? Presence of the species at the “Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Yum Balam”, Quintana Roo, MexicoJosé Gerardo Ávila-Canto0Carolina Velázquez-Mendoza1Nataly Castelblanco-Martínez2Carlos Niño-Torres3Fernando Córdova-Tapia4ManaHolChi, S.C.Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoConsejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología / Universidad de Quintana RooUniversidad de Quintana RooInstituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México The Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus), considered endangered, is protected at national (Mexico) and international levels. Since Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, sightings of manatees have been rare at Conil Lagoon, located within the natural reserve “Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Yum Balam”. However, increased reports of sightings from local fishermen and tour guides suggest manatees may be repopulating the lagoon. Here we report 15 sightings of the Antillean manatee from 2011 to 2016. Group sizes ranged from 1 to 15 individuals and we documented the presence of reproductive groups and mother-calf pairs. The apparent recovery of the species at Conil Lagoon and adjacent areas may be the result of local conservation efforts, or the result of changes in habitat use and distribution of the Caribbean population. A systematic, long-term local monitoring program is necessary to estimate manatee abundance and characterize their distribution in this area. https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/2189ManateeTrichechus manatus manatusNatural protected areasHolboxConil Lagoon
spellingShingle José Gerardo Ávila-Canto
Carolina Velázquez-Mendoza
Nataly Castelblanco-Martínez
Carlos Niño-Torres
Fernando Córdova-Tapia
Is the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) back in town? Presence of the species at the “Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Yum Balam”, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
Manatee
Trichechus manatus manatus
Natural protected areas
Holbox
Conil Lagoon
title Is the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) back in town? Presence of the species at the “Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Yum Balam”, Quintana Roo, Mexico
title_full Is the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) back in town? Presence of the species at the “Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Yum Balam”, Quintana Roo, Mexico
title_fullStr Is the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) back in town? Presence of the species at the “Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Yum Balam”, Quintana Roo, Mexico
title_full_unstemmed Is the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) back in town? Presence of the species at the “Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Yum Balam”, Quintana Roo, Mexico
title_short Is the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) back in town? Presence of the species at the “Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Yum Balam”, Quintana Roo, Mexico
title_sort is the antillean manatee trichechus manatus manatus back in town presence of the species at the area de proteccion de flora y fauna yum balam quintana roo mexico
topic Manatee
Trichechus manatus manatus
Natural protected areas
Holbox
Conil Lagoon
url https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/2189
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