Conservation Biology (2007)
The recent likely extinction of the baiji (Chinese river dolphin [Lipotes vexillifer]) (Turvey et al. 2007) makes the vaquita (Gulf of California porpoise [Phocoena sinus]) the most endangered cetacean. The…
Genetic drift vs. natural selection in a long-term small isolated population: major histocompatibility complex class II variation in the Gulf of California endemic porpoise (Phocoena sinus)
MUNGUIA-VEGA, ADRIAN; ESQUER-GARRIGOS, YARELI; ROJAS-BRACHO, LORENZO; VAZQUEZ-JUAREZ, RICARDO; CASTRO-PRIETO, AINES; FLORES-RAMIREZ, SERGIO
Molecular Ecology (2007)
Although many studies confirm long-term small isolated populations (e.g. island endemics) commonly sustain low neutral genetic variation as a result of genetic drift, it is less clear how selection on…
Predation by killer whales (Orcinus orca) and the evolution of whistle loss and narrow-band high frequency clicks in odontocetes
Morisaka, T.; Connor, R. C.
Journal of Evolutionary Biology (2007)
A disparate selection of toothed whales (Odontoceti) share striking features of their acoustic repertoires including the absence of whistles and high frequency but weak (low peak-to-peak source level) clicks that…
Passive acoustic assesment of vaquita
Jaramillo-Legorreta, Armando M.; Rojas-Bracho, Lorenzo
Scientific Committee Meeting Documents (2008)
(...) During April 1997 the acoustic detector was successfully used to detect vaquitas for the first time. On that occasion we surveyed on a fixed location, aboard an outboard motor…
Paedomorphic ossification in porpoises with an emphasis on the Vaquita (Phocoena sinus)
Mellor, Liliana; Cooper, Lisa Noelle; Torre, Jorge; Brownell, Robert L.
Aquatic Mammals (2009)
Heterochrony, the change in timing of developmental processes, is thought to be a key process shaping the numerous limb morphologies of tetrapods. Through a delayed offset in digit development, all…
Report of Vaquita Expedition 2008 and current conservation actions
Jaramillo-Legorreta, Armando M.; Taylor, Barb; Gerrodette, Tim; Rankin, Shannon; Swift, Rene; Rojas-Bracho, Lorenzo
Scientific Committee Meeting Documents (2009)
Two scientific efforts brought the need for immediate actions to conserve vaquita as a high priority for the Mexican government. Passive acoustic techniques (Jaramillo-Legorreta, 2008) revealed a negative trend of…
Photo-identification of the vaquita (Phocoena sinus): The world’s most endangered cetacean
Jefferson, T. A.; Olson, P. A.; Kieckhefer, T. R.; Rojas-Bracho, L.
Lat. Am. J. Aquat. Mamm. (2009)
(...) In the autumn of 2008, a large-scale international effort to study the vaquita and develop methods to monitor its population status was conducted. As part of this effort, we…
A combined visual and acoustic estimate of 2008 abundance, and change in abundance since 1997, for the vaquita, Phocoena sinus
Gerrodette, Tim; Taylor, Barbara L.; Swift, René; Rankin, Shannon; Jaramillo-Legorreta, Armando M.; Rojas-Bracho, Lorenzo
Marine Mammal Science (2010)
A line-transect survey for the critically endangered vaquita, Phocoena sinus, was carried out in October–November 2008, in the northern Gulf of California, Mexico. Areas with deeper water were sampled visually…
Interspecific variation of ontogeny and skull shape among porpoises (Phocoenidae)
Galatius, Anders; Berta, Annalisa; Frandsen, Marie Schou; Goodall, R. Natalie P.
Journal of Morphology (2010)
All extant members of Phocoenidae (porpoises) have been characterized as pedomorphic based on skeletal characters. To investigate the ontogenetic background for pedomorphosis and assess interspecific differences in ontogeny among phocoenids,…
Estimating the success of protected areas for the vaquita, Phocoena sinus
Gerrodette, Tim; Rojas-Bracho, Lorenzo
Marine Mammal Science (2011)
Bycatch in artisanal gill nets threatens the vaquita, Phocoena sinus, with extinction. In 2008 the Mexican government announced a conservation action plan for this porpoise, with three options for a…