REGISTRATION FORM
3rd Annual Symposium of the Florida Student Chapter
of the Society for Marine Mammalogy
April 12-14, 2013 at Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
Miami, FL
Abstract submission deadline: April 1, 2013
Registration deadline: April 1, 2013
Registration fee: $15 ($25 if past deadline)
Name:
Affiliation:
E-mail:
Phone Number:
What is your research topic or area of interest?
For current students only - stage of study (expected degree and graduation date):
Your $15 registration fee will include your attendance to all symposium events, dinner on Friday
(April 12), and breakfast and lunch on Saturday (April 13). Please e-mail this registration form
and abstract to floridasmm@gmail.com and mail checks to address below. (PLEASE NOTE
THAT IF YOU BRING YOUR CHECK OR CASH THE DAY OF THE SYMPOSIUM IT
WILL BE $25) . Please make your check out to the FINSEA Foundation (reference “SMM
Symposium” in the memo portion of the check).
Mailing Address:
RSMAS
MPS Office
1
ATTN: SMM Symposium
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy
Miami, FL 33149
All current students (undergraduate, graduate, and professional) and prospective graduate
students working in the marine mammal field are encouraged to give an oral presentation. This is
an opportunity to practice your presentation skills in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.
Presentations may focus on research projects at any stage or thesis/dissertation proposals.
Application to present (Y/N):
If presenting, please provide title:
Please send an abstract of 300 words or less with your registration form
(see abstract example on page 3).
The medical procedure observation on Friday afternoon will be at Miami SeaQuarium with Dr.
Rodriguez, there will be an opportunity to walk around and explore the SeaQuarium before the
icebreaker at RSMAS.
Will you attend the Friday session at Miami SeaQuarium (Y/N)?
Do you plan to attend the symposium icebreaker on Friday night, April 12, 2012 (Y/N)?
Do you anticipate receiving funding from your university for travel expenses (Y/N)?
Would you be interested in purchasing a symposium t-shirt if available for $10 (Y/N)?
Would you like to receive information on symposium volunteer opportunities (Y/N)?
Do you have any special dietary needs (please specify)?
Please feel free to contact at floridasmm@gmail.com with any questions about the
registration/abstract submission process.
2
Declining apparent survival in Amazon River dolphins: a consequence of illegal
harvesting?
Vanessa J. Mintzer 1, 2, Anthony R. Martin 3, Vera M.F. da Silva 4, William E. Pine 2, Andrew B.
Barbour2, Kai Lorenzen 2, and Thomas K. Frazer2
(1) School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, 103 Black Hall, Box 116455, Gainesville,
Florida, 32611, USA
(2) Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida,
7922 NW 71st St., Gainesville, Florida, 32653, USA
(3) Centre for Remote Environments, University of Dundee, 23, Springfield, Dundee, DD1 4JE, UK
(4) Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia – INPA/Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos, Av. André Araújo
2936, Manaus, Amazonas, 69060-001, Brazil
The Amazon River dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), also known as boto, is illegally harvested for use
as bait to catch the catfish Calophysus macropterus. Direct take of botos for this purpose is
known to occur in and around the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve (MSDR), since
around the year 2000. The aim of this study was to estimate apparent survival probability and
population growth rate for the boto population occurring in and near the MSDR. This population
has been carefully monitored since 1994 providing a unique opportunity to assess its current
status, population dynamics, and the impacts of the direct harvest. Our capture and
recapture/resight data spans from 1994 to the present, and includes approximately 500 uniquely
identified dolphins, allowing estimation of basic population demographic parameters through
mark-recapture/resight modeling. We applied the Barker joint data and Pradel models to
estimate apparent survival and population growth rate. The population growth rate was
estimated to be λ = 0.871 (SE=0.016) and apparent survival as Φ= .910 (SE .006). Timedependent apparent survival models suggest that apparent survival since the growth of the
harvest is considerably lower than in years prior to the harvest. This decline in apparent survival
provides insight into the population-level impacts of the illegal take which have thus far proven
challenging to quantify.
3