WHALES & DOLPHINS OF GOLFO DULCE

Whales from the North Pacific and Southern Ocean arrive in Golfo Dulce seasonally to give birth and nurse calves. This is the only region in the world with overlapping habitat for humpbacks (Megaptera novaeangliae) from both hemispheres. Megapods of pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella allenuata) are common to the midwaters of Golfo Dulce, while bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) hunt closer to shore. Some of the bottlenose have chronic skin lesions, raising environmental concerns. False killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) are also frequent visitors inside Golfo Dulce, and numerous other cetacean species have been recorded just outside the mouth.



Peer-reviewed

Acevedo, A., and M.A. Smultea. 1995. First records of Humpback whales including calves at Golfo Dulce and Isa del Coco, Costa Rica, suggesting geographical overlap of northern and southern hemisphere populations. Marine Mammal Science 11:554–560. [link]

Acevedo G., A. 1996. Lista de mamíferos marinos en Golfo Dulce e Isla del Coco, Costa Rica. Revista de Biología Tropical 44:933–934. [link]

Acevedo-Gutiérrez, A., B. Brennan, P. Rodriguez, and M. Thomas. 1997. Resightings and behavior of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) in Costa Rica. Marine Mammal Science 13:307–314. [link]

Acevedo-Gutiérrez, A., and S. Burkhart. 1998. Seasonal distribution of bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and pan-tropical spotted (Stenella attenuata) dolphins (Cetacea: Delphinidae) in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. Revista de Biología Tropical 46:91–101. [link]

Bessesen, B.L., L. Oviedo, L.B. Hart, D. Herra-Miranda, J.D. Pacheco-Polanco, L. Baker, G. Saborío-Rodriguez, L. Bermúdez-Villapol, and A. Acevedo-Gutiérrez. 2014. Lacaziosis-like disease among bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus photographed in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 107:173–180. [link]

Cubero Pardo, P. 1998. Patrones de comportamiento diurnos y estacionales de Tursiops truncatus y Stenella attenuata (Mammalia: Delphinidae) en el Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. Revista de Biología Tropical 46 (Supl. 6):103-110. [link]

Cubero-Pardo, P. 2007a. Environmental factors governing the distribution of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and the spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) in Golfo Dulce, South Pacific, off Costa Rica. Investigaciones Marina, 35, 15-23. [link]

Cubero-Pardo, P. 2007b. Distribución y condiciones ambientales asociadas al comportamiento del delfín bufeo (Tursiops truncatus) y el delfín manchado (Stenella attenuata) (Cetacea: Delphinidae) en el Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. Revista de Biología Tropical 55:549–557. [link]

Herra-Miranda, D., J.D. Pacheco-Polanco, L. Oviedo, and M. Iñíguez. 2016. Análisis espacial de los hábitats críticos del delfín nariz de botella (Tursiops truncatus) y la ballena jorobada (Megaptera novaeangliae) en el Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica: Consideraciones acerca de un proyecto de construcción de marina. Revista Ciencias Marinas y Costeras, 8(1):9-27. [link]

Oviedo, L. 2007. Dolphin sympatric ecology in a tropical fjord: habitat partitioning by bathymetry and topography as a strategy to coexist. Journal of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 87:1327–1335. [link]

Oviedo, L. 2008. Análisis del uso de hábitat del delfín manchado pantropical Stenella attenuata (Cetacea: Delphinidae) en el Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. Tesis de Maestria, Universidad Nacional Costa Rica PROCMAR. [link]

Oviedo, L., M. Fernández, D. Herra-Miranda, J.D. Pacheco-Polanco, C.J. Hernández-Camacho, and D. Aurioles-Gamboa. 2018. Habitat partitioning mediates the coexistence of sympatric dolphins in a tropical fjord-like embayment. Journal of Mammalogy 99(3):554–564. [link].

Oviedo, L., M. Fernández, J.D. Pacheco-Polanco, and D. Herra-Miranda. 2019. Spatial Analysis on The Occurrence of Inshore and Offshore Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Osa Peninsula Waters and Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 20: 1–11 [link]

Oviedo, L., D. Herra-Miranda, J.D. Pacheco-Polanco, C. Figgener, A. Márquez-Artavia, W. Quiros-Pereira, and M. Iñiguez. 2015. Diversidad de cetáceos en el paisaje marino costeros de Golfo Dulce, Península de Osa, Costa Rica. Revista de Biología Tropical 63(Supl.1):395-406. [link]

Oviedo, L., and M. Solís. 2008. Underwater topography determines critical breeding habitat for humpback whales near Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica: implications for Marine Protected Areas. Revista de Biología Tropical 56:591–602. [link]

Oviedo C., L.E., J.D. Pacheco, and D. Herra M. 2009. Evaluación de los riesgos de afectación por el establecimiento de granjas atuneras en relación con la distribución espacial de cetáceos en el Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. Revista Ciencias Marinas y Costeras 1:159–174. [link]

Oviedo Correa, L., D. Herra-Miranda, and J.D. Pacheco-Polanco. 2023. Population size and demographic parameters of pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata graffmani) (Cetartiodactyla: Delphinidae) in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. Revista de Biología Tropical 71(S4): e57287. [link]

Pacheco-Polanco, J.D., D. Herra-Miranda, and L. Oviedo Correa. 2023. Lobomycosis Like Disease in Bottlenose Dolphins Tursiops truncatus (Artiodactyla: Delphinidae) from Costa Rica Pacific Waters. Revista de Biología Tropical 71(S4): e57292 [link]

Pelayo-González, L., L. Oviedo, D. Herra-Miranda, J.D. Pacheco-Polanco, A. Márquez-Artavia, B. Bessesen, and H.M. Guzmán. 2022. Habitat use of Southeast Pacific humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae; Borowski 1781) in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. Marine and Freshwater Research 73(12): 1465-1474. [link]

Sánchez Robledo, E., L. Oviedo, D. Herra Miranda, J.D. Pacheco Polanco, S. Goodman, and H.M. Guzman. 2020. The abundance of false killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens (Cetartiodactyla: Delphinidae) in coastal waters of Golfo Dulce and Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. Revista de Biología Tropical 68(2): 580-589 [link]



Scientific Theses, Reports & Posters

Bernal Castro M.P., D. Herra Miranda, J.D. Pacheco Polanco, and L. Oviedo. 2022. Parámetros reproductivos de la población residente de Tursiops truncatus (Cetartiodactyla: Delphinidae) en el Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. Tesis de maestría, Universidad Estatal a Distancia de Costa Rica, 16 pp.

Márquez-Artavia A., L. Oviedo, D. Herra-Miranda, J.D. Pacheco-Polanco, W. Quirós-Pereira, M. Gabriela, S. Hernández, and C. Figgener. 2012. The utilization distribution of humpback whales in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. Other Abstracts of the 2012 Workshop; 8 June–6 July 2; Panama City, Panama. Cambridge (UK): International Whaling Commission, 2012. Abstract: SC/64/O15. [link]

Oviedo, L. 2007. Dolphins in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica: marine mammals in a tropical fjord. JMBA Marine Global Environment p. 22–24 [link]

Oviedo, L. 2018. Patrones y procesos de selección de hábitat en delfines simpátricos en Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. PhD Thesis, Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, IPN. [link]

Oviedo, L., B.L. Bessesen, J.D Pacheco-Polanco, and D. Herra-Miranda. 2022. Golfo Dulce IMMA. Important Marine Mammal Area designation resulting from the Meeting of the Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, 6–10 June. [link]

Oviedo, L., D. Herra-Miranda, J.D. Pacheco-Polanco, A. Márquez-Artavia, W. Quirós-Pereira, M.G.S. Hernández, and C. Figgener. 2012. The critical foraging habitats of bottlenose and coastal pantropical spotted dolphins in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. Abstracts of the 2012 Workshop on Small Cetaceans; 8 June–6 July; Panama City, Panama. Cambridge (UK): International Whaling Commission, 2012. Abstract: SC/64/SM10. [link]

Oviedo C., L.E., D. Herra-Miranda, J.D. Pacheco-Polanco, M.G. Silva, and L. Karczmarski. 2011. Critical foraging habitats of pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata graffmani) in a tropical fjord: Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. PPT Presentation. SMMTampa. [link]

Oviedo, L., and J.D. Pacheco-Polanco. 2007. Dolphin Conservation in Fiord Systems. JMBA Global Marine Environment pp. 36–37. [link]

Pacheco-Polanco J. D. 2016. La población residente de delfines nariz de botella (Tursiops truncatus) ecotipo costero en el Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica: aspectos ecológicos y socio-económicos para una gestión integrada del recurso. Tesis para optar al grado y título de Maestría Académica en Gestión Integrada de Áreas Costeras Tropicales. Universidad de Costa Rica. Costa Rica. 128 pp [link]

Pacheco-Polanco, D., and L. Oviedo. 2007. Determinación preliminar de hábitat crítico de alimentación del delfín nariz de botella (Tursiops truncatus) en Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. Poster Presentation, Centro de Investigación de Cetáceos (CEIC). [link]
Pacheco-Polanco, J.D., L.E. Oviedo-Correa, D.H. Miranda, and M.G. Silva. 2011. The occurence of coastal and oceanic bottlenose dolphins off the Southern-Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Poster Presentation, SMMTampa. [link]



Other Links

Oviedo Correa, L. 2019. The Life of a Humpback Whale and the Importance of Protecting Its Habitat. Earthwatch: Stories from the Field blog. [link]