1. The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) is a Vulnerable species threatened by habitat loss in the coast of north‐eastern Brazil. This study investigates how the distribution and habitat use of the West Indian manatee is influenced by resource availability in a scenario of freshwater limitation.
2. Land‐based and boat surveys were conducted to record manatee sightings and habitat use, in a total of 206 hours of observation.
3. Manatee abundance was significantly influenced by freshwater availability, with greater abundances occurring close to freshwater sources. Food availability and the variation in freshwater availability between seasons were also important to determine their distribution. For the 47 manatees sighted, 39 were recorded during the rainy season and eight during the dry season.
4. Habitat use was influenced by freshwater sources and manatees spent more time (average coefficient of area use = 24.96%) in areas with greater availability of fresh water. Under conditions of freshwater limitation, manatees were more abundant and spent more time closer to fresh water than to food sources; as a result, animals' distribution varied between seasons.
5. The results found here can help to determine conservation strategies for the region with the highest population density and genetic variability of West Indian manatees in Brazil.

中文翻译：

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淡水限制对巴西北部沿海西印度海牛Trichechus manatus分布模式和栖息地利用的影响

1. 西印度海牛（Trichechus manatus）是脆弱的物种，受到巴西东北部沿海地区栖息地丧失的威胁。这项研究调查了在淡水限制的情况下，西印度海牛的分布和栖息地利用如何受到资源可用性的影响。
2. 总共进行了206个小时的观察，进行了陆基和船只调查以记录海牛的目击情况和栖息地使用情况。
3. 海牛的丰度受到淡水供应量的显着影响，大量的丰度发生在淡水源附近。不同季节之间的食物供应量和淡水供应量的变化对于确定其分布也很重要。对于发现的47只海牛，雨季记录为39只，旱季记录为8只。
4. 栖息地的使用受到淡水资源的影响，海牛在淡水供应更多的地区花费更多的时间（平均面积使用系数= 24.96％）。在淡水限制的条件下，海牛比粮食来源更丰富，花在靠近淡水的时间更多；结果，动物的分布随季节而变化。
5. 此处发现的结果有助于确定巴西西印度海牛的人口密度和遗传变异性最高的地区的保护策略。