La Vida

Colegio Nocturno de Quepos

Topic:

The habitat of the Pacific Spotted Dolphin in Manuel Antonio and Quepos Coast


Student:
Jason Solano Zamora

Teacher:
María José Soto Chinchilla

2011

Introduction
Tourism is now the area's leading employer as Quepos evolves from its banana growing roots into a premier holiday destination. After the demise of the Quepoa Indians in thelate 1800's, vast banana plantations were developed throughout the region. Bananas were shipped to world markets across the docks that now service the sportfishing fleet. As Quepos diminished in importance as a banana port, it renewed itself as an ecotourism and sportfishing destination. World travelers are discovering the area, with many visitors purchasing homes and returning each year to enjoythe relaxing village lifestyle and natural beauty of nearby Manuel Antonio. Travel the coastline of Manuel Antonio while learning the history of the park and the Quepos Indians. Passing the local islands will give you an opportunity to see the different species of dolphins, whales, birds, and sea turtles their natural habit this beautiful coastline. Nevertheless, tourism has brought seriousproblems to many species of animals in the area such as the dolphin that not only face natural depredators but also human industry.

Topic:
The habitat of the Pacific Spotted Dolphin in Manuel Antonio and Quepos Coast

Justification:

As a naturalist tour guide of Quepos area, I observe the dolphins in their natural habitat very often. I see sometimes humans place dolphins in bigger danger thanthe natural reasons. Quepos is at town where people survive of fishing activities. they kill and contaminated areas that have generated millions to the industry of ecotourism like the dolphin watching tours.

I make this project because I want to make a create conscience and promote conservation of this specie of dolphin who lives in our coast and many of our citizens don’t know about theirexistence and the role they have in the live of these animals.

General Objective:
Educate students for Colegio Nocturno de Quepos about the habitat of the Pacific Spotted Dolphin in Quepos.

Specific Objectives:
* Describe the habit and conservation of the habitat of the Pacific Spotted Dolphin in Quepos.

* Explain natural and human dangers that the Pacific Spotted Dolphin face in thePacific Coast.

Development of the Topic

Feeding and Habitat

The Pacific Spotted Dolphin is common species around Quepos and Manuel Antonio area, they choose to lived in warm waters because is one of the several ways they can avoid their natural predators in this area. The warm waters provide a safe place where they can meet , have their babies (calf), and nurse as well. They try to bearound 3 nautical miles from shoreline, where is the place that contains the warm waters.
In general they avoid to be in cool waters because there are their natural predators, but sometimes they go to deeper waters looking for their food , their favorite food is calamari but they have a diet of 18 species o fish like the California flying fish for example. at the moment they hunt theycommunicated using echolocation and they emits short, shrill whistles divided in small groups and they take turns to dive, they try to surround the fish in a school fish , when they accomplish that , they will try forced the fish get to surface end then his when action star, because they will get the fish for feed

Human and Natural Dangers
Juveniles dolphin are eaten by sharks in areas with largeconcentrations of tuna fish. It is suspected that the common killer whale , pygmy killer whale are predator of this species

The worst predator the dolphins have is the people. The human being cause with contaminated with water as well the environment.
Also the garbage that float on the surface in many cases comes from of fishing boats where are in the area , at the time they want to bring...