Abstract

AXIS-ARROYO, Javier; MORALES-VELA, Benjamín; TORRUCO-GOMEZ, Daniel  and  VEGA-CENDEJAS, María Eugenia. Variables asociadas con el uso de hábitat del manatí del Caribe (Trichechus manatus), en Quintana Roo, México (Mammalia). Rev. biol. trop [online]. 1998, vol.46, n.3, pp.791-803. ISSN 0034-7744.

Influence of atmospheric variables and water temperature, winds, cloudiness, depth, salinity, grass and algal abundance, and group structure on the spatial distribution of Trichechus manatus manatus was studied in Chetumal Bay, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Boat surveys were done from November 1994 trough June 1995. There was little association with cloudiness and atmospheric and water temperature (in contrast with reports for the Florida subspecies, Trichechus manatus latirostris); the variables with moderate association were salinity (as in Florida), depth (frequent use of depths between 0.80-2 m) and group structure (which suggests that the zone is not an important mating area). Spatial distribution was more associated with drastic changes in wind intensity and the available food (similar to previous works in Mexico).

Keywords : Manatee; habitat; Mexico; path analysis; spatial distribution.