2018-2019 Faculty Research Grants

Daniel Gonzalez (Biology)

Phase II of Amazonian Manatee Detection with Side-scan Sonar and Initial Survey of Antillean Manatees in the Villa Clara Province of Cuba

Manatees, like many other animals that live in the intersection between humans and nature, have experienced severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss and human caused mortality (poaching, entanglement, etc.) Currently all species of manatees are characterized as either Vulnerable or Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Manatee conservation is a complicated endeavor because it requires sound scientific data relating the ecology of the species, as well as an understanding of interaction with humans. My research has focused on both of these aspects with the aim to improve our ability to identify population trends and the threats that manatees currently face. One of the major challenges in studying manatee distribution and abundance is being able to accurately detect and count manatees. Visual surveys via boats or aircraft have low detection rates and highly variable detection biases. During my master’s work I tested the use of sonar to detect West Indian manatees and the technique has since been applied in dozens of locations with variable success. Here we propose to continue exploring the feasibility of this technique on Amazonian manatees in the western Amazon. Another major challenge in manatee conservation is to identify the current threats to the species, which can vary by location. Working with my Cuban colleague, I propose to visit the northern coast of Villa Clara, an important area for manatees in Cuba, and conduct a baseline survey to begin the process of developing a collaborative systematic conservation project.