PARENT SESSION
Oral Session #103: Avian Ecology.
Presiding: J. Yeakley
Friday, August 9. 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Cochise Meeting Room, TCC.
Estimating the economic value of the Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) in Los Olivitos estuary, Venezuela..
GIL-WEIR, KARINE*,1, WEIR, ENRIQUE1, 1 Universidad del Zulia, Facultad Exp.Ciencias, Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela
ABSTRACT- In the Los Olivitos mangrove ecosystem located in northeast of Maracaibo, western Venezuela a colony of neotropic cormorants had settled down from approximately year 1986.These birds have used 1,5 Km of swamp coast as resting and reproductive site.In this area of the lake is carried out the biggest artisanal fishery in the country.The presence of these birds in quantities of thousands generates an impact that is sought to analyze through this environmental economic study based on ecological functions. The economic value (TV) of the cormorant population (N) is defined as the value of the species to the fishermen. The ecological functions of the species have an impact in the wellbeing of the fishermen. Changes in the species would imply changes in the fishermen wellbeing. The value of the cormorants was estimated by valuing four of the ecological functions of the cormorant population. Those are: food meat supplier M(N) to local consumers; as indicator of schoal's location S(N),time of fishing reduced due to the service; as contribuitors to fish diversity FD(N) because they feed on those fishes more abundant; and as contribuitors to fish biomass through the guano FB(N,G)contribution through the nutrient inputs (G).The total Value (TV) of the Cormorants (N) is defined as TV(N)= M(N)+ S(N) + FD(N) + FB(N,G).
KEY WORDS: Cormorant, Neotropic, Value, Venezuela