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Endangered Species Research

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ESR is a gold Open Access research journal on all endangered forms of life on Earth, the threats faced by species and their habitats, and the necessary steps that must be undertaken to ensure their conservation.

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Online: ISSN 1613-4796

Print: ISSN 1863-5407

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr

Volume contents
Endang Species Res 49:13-42 (2022)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01201

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Challenges and priorities for river cetacean conservation

ABSTRACT: River cetaceans are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts due to their constrained ranges in freshwater systems of China, South Asia, and South America. We undertook an exhaustive review of 280 peer-reviewed papers and grey literature reports (1998-2020) to examine the current status of knowledge regarding these cetaceans and their conservation. We aimed to better understand the scale of threats they face, and to identify and propose priority future efforts to better conserve these species. We found that the species have been studied with varying frequency and that most of the research on threats has focused on habitat degradation and fragmentation (43%, mainly driven by dams and extractive activities such as sand mining and deforestation), and fishery interactions (39%, in the form of bycatch and direct take). These threats occur across all species, but more information is needed, primarily on quantifying the population impacts as a basis for designing mitigation measures. Other threats identified include pollution, vessel collisions, traditional use, and poorly managed tourism. Emerging methods such as environmental DNA and unmanned aerial vehicles are described for studying these species. Promising conservation interventions include cetacean-specific protected areas, natural ex situ protection, community-led conservation, and education programmes. However, transnational political will is required for a step change towards broad-scale protection in freshwater environments. In addition, we propose increasing capacity building, developing management plans, working closely with fishing communities, enhancing public awareness, expanding regional collaborations, and diversifying funding.

KEYWORDS

River dolphinsThreatManagementBycatchDamsDolphin-fishery interactionsResearch prioritisationEmerging methods

Elizabeth Campbell (Corresponding Author)

  • Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
  • Carrera de Biología Marina, Universidad Cientifíca del Sur, 15067 Lima, Peru
  • ProDelphinus, Miraflores, Lima 15074, Peru
ec564@exeter.ac.uk

Joanna Alfaro-Shigueto (Co-author)

  • Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
  • Carrera de Biología Marina, Universidad Cientifíca del Sur, 15067 Lima, Peru
  • ProDelphinus, Miraflores, Lima 15074, Peru

Enzo Aliaga-Rossel (Co-author)

  • Institute of Ecology, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, 6042 La Paz, Bolivia

Isabel Beasley (Co-author)

  • School of Earth and Environmental Studies, James Cook University, 4811 Townsville, Australia

Yurasi Briceño (Co-author)

  • Centro de Ecología, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, 1020A Altos de Pipe, Venezuela

Susana Caballero (Co-author)

  • Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular de Vertebrados Acuáticos (LEMVA), Biological Sciences Department, Universidad de los Andes, 111711 Bogotá, Colombia

Vera M. F. da Silva (Co-author)

  • Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia, 69067-375 Manaus AM, Brazil
  • Associação Amigos do Peixe-boi-AMPA, 69067-001 Manaus AM, Brazil

Cédric Gilleman (Co-author)

  • Asociación Solinia, Iquitos, Loreto 16001, Peru

Waleska Gravena (Co-author)

  • Associação Amigos do Peixe-boi-AMPA, 69067-001 Manaus AM, Brazil
  • Instituto de Saúde e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, 69460-000 Coari, Brazil

Ellen Hines (Co-author)

  • Estuary & Ocean Science Center, San Francisco State University, Tiburon, CA 94920, USA

Mohd Shahnawaz Khan (Co-author)

  • WWF-India, 172-B, Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110 003, India

Uzma Khan (Co-author)

  • WWF-Pakistan, Ferozepur Road, 54600 Lahore, Pakistan

Danielle Kreb (Co-author)

  • Yayasan Konservasi RASI, 75124 Samarinda, Indonesia
  • Laboratory of Hydro-Oceanography, Faculty of Fisheries, Mulawarman University, 75199 Samarinda, Indonesia

Jeffrey C. Mangel (Co-author)

  • Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
  • ProDelphinus, Miraflores, Lima 15074, Peru

Miriam Marmontel (Co-author)

  • Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, 69553-225 Tefé AM, Brazil

Zhigang Mei (Co-author)

  • Key laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, 430072 Wuhan, China

Vanessa J. Mintzer (Co-author)

  • Wildlife Research Partnerships, Asheville, NC 28813, USA
  • Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, School of Forest, Fisheries, & Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32653, USA

Federico Mosquera-Guerra (Co-author)

  • Fundación Omacha, 111211 Bogotá DC, Colombia
  • Laboratorio de Ecología Funcional, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, 110231 Bogotá DC, Colombia
  • Laboratorio de Ecología del Paisaje y Modelación de Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 111321 Bogotá DC, Colombia

Marcelo Oliveira-da-Costa (Co-author)

  • WWF-Brasil, 70377-540 Brasília DF, Brazil

Mariana Paschoalini (Co-author)

  • Instituto Aqualie, 36033-310 Juiz de Fora MG , Brazil
  • Laboratório de Ecología Comportamental e Bioacústica, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 36033-320 Juiz de Fora MG, Brazil

Shambhu Paudel (Co-author)

  • Tribuvan University, Institute of Forestry, Post Box 43, 33700 Pokhara, Nepal

Ravindra Kumar Sinha (Co-author)

  • Department of Zoology, Patna University, Patna 800005, India
  • Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra 182320, Jammu & Kashmir, India

Brian D. Smith (Co-author)

  • Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY 10460, USA

Samuel T. Turvey (Co-author)

  • Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, UK

Victor Utreras (Co-author)

  • Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INABIO), Quito 170135, Ecuador

Paul André Van Damme (Co-author)

  • Faunagua, Instituto de Investigación Aplicada de Recursos Acuáticos, Sacaba-Cochabamba 31001, Bolivia

Ding Wang (Co-author)

  • Key laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, 430072 Wuhan, China

Tara Sayuri Whitty (Co-author)

  • Keiruna Inc., Escondido, CA 92026, USA
  • Myanmar Coastal Conservation Lab, 12011 Mawlamyine, Myanmar

Ruth H. Thurstan (Co-author)

  • Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK

Brendan J. Godley (Co-author)

  • Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK

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