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The Development of Synchronous Vocalizations and Behaviors in Juvenile Male Wild Atlantic Spotted DolphinsUnknown Date (has links)
The ability of adult wild Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) to
synchronize vocalizations and behaviors has been found to be a key factor in overcoming
much larger bottlenose dolphins during interspecies aggression (Cusick & Herzing,
2014). Furthermore, an adult baseline of behaviors and vocalizations during aggressive
events containing synchrony has been established (Myers, Herzing, & Bjorklund, 2017).
The present study examines juvenile aggression that contains bouts of synchrony to look
at the development of this valuable skill. Differences of duration between adult and
juvenile synchronous bouts, lag sequential analyses, frequencies of behavioral classes
depending on the age class of the aggressor-recipient dynamic, differences in the
frequencies of behavioral classes depending on the synchronous state and aggressorrecipient
dynamic, and differences in behavioral classes exhibited by adults and juveniles
during different synchronous states were analyzed. Adults, across group size, were able
to maintain physical synchrony for a longer duration. Juveniles were often in loose synchronous groups before forming into a tight synchronous group as seen in adult
synchrony. Vocal synchrony during adult aggression in terms of synchronized squawks
were longer in duration than vocal synchrony during juvenile aggression. Juveniles used
more pursuit behaviors during aggression, which indicates practice of a behavior that was
found to be the most frequently used in interspecies aggression (Volker, 2016).
Additionally, when adults were present in juvenile aggression, they used fewer
aggressive behavioral classes demonstrating self-handicapping based on their opponent.
This illustrates that there is a learning period for both vocal and physical synchrony for
juvenile dolphins and that juvenile aggression, or play-fighting, is an important aspect of
the development of these skills. This study is the first to describe juvenile synchrony in a
population of wild Atlantic spotted dolphins. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
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Social play as a tool for developing social-cognitive skills in a wild population of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis)Unknown Date (has links)
The purposes of this dissertation were to identify complex social-cognitive behaviors in a population of wild Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) using long-term video archives and identify developmental trends in those behaviors. Chapter One analyzed calf behavior during foraging events involving maternal teaching in order to identify mechanisms for sharing information between mother and calf... The calves' behavior was affected by the referencing cues, supporting the presence of joint attention and true teaching behavior....Chapter Two observed the altered benthic foraging behavior of juvenile play groups, in which juveniles took turns chasing the fish and using referencing gestures to reference the position of the fish to other individuals during the chase, despite the ability of these young, independent dolphins to catch fish much more quickly and efficiently alson... The third chapter analyzed social object play in which dolphins passed pieces of seaweed between individuals. The data clarified developmental trends in the play, and suggested social-cognitive abilities needed for participation. / by Courtney Elizabeth Bender. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.
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Synchrony in adult male Atlantic Spotted Dolphins (Stenella frontalis) during aggressionUnknown Date (has links)
Synchrony between Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) is crucial for successfully
fending off bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) during interspecies aggression. The present study
examined synchrony in adult Atlantic spotted dolphins during aggressive encounters with bottlenose
dolphins. Across group size, aggressive behavioral events increased preceding synchrony, peaked during
synchrony, and decreased dramatically after synchrony. Although smaller groups (< 10 dolphins) became
synchronous more frequently than larger groups (> 10 dolphins), larger groups remained synchronous
longer; however, smaller groups exhibited more frequent aggressive behavioral events during synchrony,
suggesting that additional aggressive behaviors may be necessary to compensate for the small group size, whereas larger groups may be able to rely on synchrony alone. Disorganized squawk bouts synchronized as physical synchrony began, but only if coupled with escalating aggressive behaviors. The synchrony during aggressive episodes observed in adult Atlantic spotted dolphins can be used as a baseline to determine the process of the development of this critical skill in juveniles. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015 / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
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Maternal and alloparental discipline in Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) in the BahamasUnknown Date (has links)
Discipline was implemented by mothers and alloparent spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) mothers and alloparents on Little Bahama Bank, Bahamas. Disciplinarians were significantly more likely to be adults than juveniles. Although most disciplinarians were female, males were also observed to perform discipline. The recipients of discipline were male and female, and significantly more likely to be calves than juveniles. Pursuit, contact, and display behaviors were used in discipline, however pursuit behaviors were most often observed. Variables such as age class, sex, and parity were not found to influence how discipline was implemented. The durations of all disciplinary pursuits were under thirty seconds, and successful pursuits had slightly shorter duration than unsuccessful pursuits. Disciplinarian success was not significantly influenced by age class, sex, parity, or behavior used. / by Meghan Weinpress. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.
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Assessment of genetic population structure, promiscuity, and paternity in free-ranging Atlantic spotted dolphins, Stenella frontalis, in the BahamasUnknown Date (has links)
This study investigated a resident community of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) on Little Bahama Bank (LBB) in the Bahamas utilizing a noninvasive molecular approach. Genetic template material was collected and extracted from fecal material of S. frontalis. Fine-scale population structure was found within LBB according to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellites (Fst = 0.25317, P < 0.0001 and Fst = 0.04491, P < 0.0001, respectively). Three main social clusters (North, Central, South/Roam) exist on LBB and all clusters were found to be genetically distinct according to microsatellite analyses. Mitochondrial haplotypes revealed North and South/Roam were not differentiated, but Central was different from both. When separated by sex, males were less genetically structured than females. Males showed no evidence of structure according to Ost or Rst. / Females of all clusters were differentiated according to microsatellites whereas mtDNA revealed the same pattern in females as was seen for the total population. The structuring patterns of the sexes clearly indicate a pattern of male dispersal and female philopatry for the LBB population. Genetic investigation of mating revealed patterns in the mating system of S. frontalis on LBB. Genotypes of females and offspring were analyzed and revealed that more than two males were required to explain the progeny arrays, indicating promiscuous mating among females. In addition, paternity assessment assigned seven males as fathers to ten of 29 mother-calf pairs. A pattern of reproductive skew according to age was revealed because reproductively successful males were in the oldest age class at the estimated time of conception of the calves. / Patterns in social cluster mating revealed that males from the Central cluster sired offspring with females from both the Central and North clusters, while Roaming males sired offspring with South and Central females indicating that males mate within their social cluster or with females from the next closest cluster. The study has important implications for cetacean research, specifically delphinids. Fine-scale population structure and mating patterns of male and female S. frontalis were revealed through noninvasive methodology presenting a valuable genetic framework with which to support ongoing investigations of life history, behavior, communication and social structure. / by Michelle Lynn Green. / Vita. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2008. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, FL : 2008 Mode of access: World Wide Web.
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Personality Traits in Atlantic Spotted Dolphins (Stenella Frontalis): Syndromes and Predictors of NeophiliaUnknown Date (has links)
Personality is defined as inter-individual variation of behavioral traits while
maintaining intra-individual stability. The focus of this study was to observe distinct
personality trait categories, establish baseline personality trait phenotypes for the juvenile
population, and compare the personality phenotypes between different categories, such as
sex or generation. Three personality traits were studied—sociability, curiousity, and
boldness—based on the percentage of time individuals spent with conspecifics, human
researchers, and their mothers, respectively. The surveyed individuals significantly
varied positively and negatively from the means of each trait, and no significant
difference for any trait was found between males and females, or across time periods. A
moderately strong correlation was discovered between two personality traits, boldness
and curiousity, suggesting a personality syndrome. The second primary goal was to use
the aforementioned baseline to determine if personality traits can be used to predict neophilic behavior specific to human-dolphin communication research. Six of the study
subjects were more prone than their peers to engage with the two-way work, and these
individuals were more bold—spent less time with their mothers—than the other subjects.
This suggests that boldness has some predictive capabilities towards this type of
neophilia. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
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Does size really matter: how synchrony and size affect the dynamic of aggression between two sympatric species of dolphin in the BahamasUnknown Date (has links)
Bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and spotted (Stenella frontalis) dolphins are sympatric species, resident to Little Bahama Bank, Bahamas. A unique, dynamic methodology quantified how interspecific aggression changed over time in terms of the individuals participating, context, and behaviors used. The timing of human observation relative to the onset of aggression did not result in differences in the proportion of behaviors observed. Highly intense behaviors were used most often. The synchronous state of spotted dolphin groups, not the presence alone, was a crucial factor in determining the onset and progression of aggression. When synchronous, spotted dolphins successfully dominated the larger bottlenose dolphins. Two levels of dominance were observed. Within a single encounter ("encounter level"), one species did dominate the other. When all aggressive encounters were considered collectively over the long term ("gross level"), one species did not dominate the other. The combination of contextual factors best determined the dynamic of interspecific aggression. / by Jessica A. Cusick. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2012. Mode of access: World Wide Web.
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Aggressive Behaviors Of Adult Male Atlantic Spotted Dolphins (Stenella frontalis) During Intraspecific And Interspecific Aggressive InteractionsUnknown Date (has links)
Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops
truncatus) are two sympatric species resident to the Bahamas. The visibility of the
Bahamian water provided a unique opportunity to study spotted dolphin communication
during aggression. This study’s main focus was to decipher any similarities or differences
in the behaviors used by spotted dolphins during interspecific and intraspecific
aggression. Both similarities and differences were discovered. Biting, following, and
chasing behavioral events were used more during interspecific aggression, while the
display behavioral class was used more than the contact behavioral class during intrabut
not interspecific aggression. This study showed that spotted dolphins use more energy
intensive and risky behaviors when fighting interspecifically. This could result from
having to fight and defend females from a larger species, trying to avoid sexual
harassment from bottlenose males, or needing to use behaviors that are more overt and easily understood during interspecies communication. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
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Site Fidelity Assessment of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Following Large-Scale Emigration of Sympatric Atlantic Spotted Dolphins (Stenella frontalis) in the BahamasUnknown Date (has links)
Two sympatric species of dolphins (Atlantic spotted dolphins, Stenella frontalis
and Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus) have been long-term residents to
Little Bahama Bank. This study assessed whether there was a change in residence
patterns or diurnal foraging depths of bottlenose dolphins following a large emigration
event in the resident spotted dolphin community on this sandbank. Photo-identification
was used to identify individual bottlenose dolphins and compare pooled years before
(2010-2012) and after (2013-2015) the spotted dolphin emigration. The identified
community size and overall residency of the bottlenose dolphins remained similar,
although two bottlenose dolphins emigrated over deep water to the site spotted dolphins
emigrated. Bottlenose dolphins diurnally fed in shallower water but remained in the same
geographic foraging locations. Reasons remain unknown for this depth change, but
potential changes in the productivity of primary bottlenose dolphin foraging habitats or
reduction of spotted dolphins from shallower depths remain possibilities. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
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