Whistle Convergence among Allied Male Bottlenose Dolphins (Delphinidae, Tursiops sp.)

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75053/1/j.1439-0310.1999.00441.x.pd

RESPONSES TO CALF ENTANGLEMENT IN FREE-RANGING BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/74984/1/j.1748-7692.1995.tb00280.x.pd

Synchrony, social behaviour and alliance affiliation in Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus

Here we report that synchronous surfacing in male bottlenose dolphins is associated with alliance membership and that synchrony between members of cooperating alliances is more common during social behaviour than during nonsocial behaviour, especially during bouts of 'intense' social behaviour (e.g. mounting, displays, chasing) with female consorts. Alliances of three males varied in the degree to which all members participated in synchrony, possibly reflecting differences in alliance unity and the extent to which alliances consort with females. The lack of a discontinuity between the elaborate displays that males perform around females and the synchronous surfacing of alliance members reported here suggest that synchrony is an adaptive signal. If so, we have a remarkable convergence in the use of synchrony as an alliance signal in humans and bottlenose dolphins. However, whether an adaptive signal or a correlate of proximity, synchrony will be a useful tool in the study of delphinid social relationships

Acoustic communication in bottlenose dolphins.

This thesis examines the behavior and acoustic communication of bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Western Australia. The thesis begins with a review of the literature on dolphin acoustic communication, followed by background information on the Shark Bay dolphin research project and general methods. Chapter two examines patterns of association among individuals. Groups of dolphins (2-20 individuals) were fluid with frequent changes of membership. Underlying these temporary associations were long-term, consistent associations between members of the same sex. Males associated with one or two other males, stable over years. Male-male associations were as consistent as those between mothers and their dependent offspring. Female-female associations were less consistent, but some stable associations occurred. This fission-fusion social organization is compared to similar patterns in chimpanzees and spider monkeys. The third chapter examines how associations between mothers and calves are mediated through the use of individualized signature whistles. Focal infant follows with simultaneous acoustic monitoring revealed that infants frequently separate far from their mothers and produce distinctive whistles primarily during the process of reuniting. The use of signature whistles to mediate mother offspring reunions is compared to other species exhibiting similar acoustic and social systems, particularly colonially living birds and mammals. The fourth chapter presents analysis of whistle repertoires of six provisioned dolphins that regularly enter shallow water at the Monkey Mia campground where they are fed by hand. Females produced 1-4 whistle types per dolphin, and whistle repertoires changed little across the three years of the study. Males produced 5-14 whistle types, and year to year changes occurred in the repertoires of the two males recorded in multiple years. The males shared several whistle types, and they converged on a single whistle type, which became the most abundant in their repertoires by 1987. This convergence corresponded with formation by the males of an active alliance to herd females cooperatively. The fifth chapter presents some further observations of whistle patterns and behavioral correlates of whistling. The concluding section summarizes results and discusses these in terms of possible functions of dolphin whistles.Ph.D.Biological SciencesPsychobiologyPsychologyZoologyUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/129162/2/9332904.pd

Use of signature whistles during separations and reunions by wild bottlenose dolphin mothers and infants

We examine the contexts and patterns of “signature” whistle production by wild bottlenose dolphin mother-infant pairs (Tursiops spp.) to gain insight into the functional significance of whistles. Results are based on focal observations and simultaneous recordings of underwater vocalizations. Whistles occur primarily when mother-infant pairs are separated, and the probability of whistles increases with distance of separation. The timing of whistles during separations varies, but whistles tend to be produced in repetitive series and are generally concentrated toward the later stages of the separation, i.e., during the process of reunion. Although we focused on infants, mothers do not appear to whistle during separations as frequently as infants. Infant whistles may function to facilitate reunions by conveying information to the mother concerning the infant's motivation to reunite and/or its location. Infant whistles could induce a cooperative response from the mother including approach, slowing to allow the infant to catch up or whistling. Highly individualized signature whistles may be particularly useful in a fission-fusion society in which individuals (mothers and infants as well as adults) join and leave temporary parties in a fluid manner, yet maintain consistent, long-term associations with particular individuals.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46899/1/265_2004_Article_BF00170254.pd

The New Bioeconomy and the Future of Agriculture

Rachel Smolker argues that the future of agriculture will be determined by how we respond to the decreased availability of cheap energy. She suggests that if we simply substitute plant biomass energy in place of fossil fuel energy, we are doomed. Instead, we need to reduce our consumption of energy by dramatically restructuring our lifestyles and relocalizing the production and consumption of food and biomass. Development (2008) 51, 519–526. doi:10.1057/dev.2008.67