Whistle rates of wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): influences of group size and behavior

Journal of Comparative Psychology
Nicola J Quick, Vincent M Janik

Abstract

In large social groups acoustic communication signals are prone to signal masking by conspecific sounds. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) use highly distinctive signature whistles that counter masking effects. However, they can be found in very large groups where masking by conspecific sounds may become unavoidable. In this study we used passive acoustic localization to investigate how whistle rates of wild bottlenose dolphins change in relation to group size and behavioral context. We found that individual whistle rates decreased when group sizes got larger. Dolphins displayed higher whistle rates in contexts when group members were more dispersed as in socializing and in nonpolarized movement than during coordinated surface travel. Using acoustic localization showed that many whistles were produced by groups nearby and not by our focal group. Thus, previous studies based on single hydrophone recordings may have been overestimating whistle rates. Our results show that although bottlenose dolphins whistle more in social situations they also decrease vocal output in large groups where the potential for signal masking by other dolphin whistles increases.

Citations

May 8, 2013·Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology·Vincent M Janik, Laela S Sayigh
Mar 2, 2012·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Nicola J Quick, Vincent M Janik
Jul 12, 2012·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Robin L Vaughn-HirshornKathleen M Dudzinski
Aug 24, 2013·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Tzu-Hao LinChi-Fang Chen
Aug 24, 2013·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Hanna K NuuttilaPeter G H Evans
Jul 27, 2011·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·E Elizabeth HendersonMichael H Smith
Oct 15, 2013·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Laura J May-Collado
Jan 21, 2014·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Marta AzzolinCristina Giacoma
Apr 8, 2010·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Elizabeth R Hawkins, Donald F Gartside
Feb 27, 2016·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Nikolina Rako Gospić, Marta Picciulin
Sep 9, 2015·Nature Communications·Maurício CantorHal Whitehead
Jul 25, 2014·Current Opinion in Neurobiology·Vincent M Janik
Jul 8, 2016·PloS One·Ana Rita LuísManuel E Dos Santos
Dec 5, 2016·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Pina Gruden, Paul R White
May 4, 2017·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Florence ErbsTess Gridley
Feb 6, 2017·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Valentin PopovFleur Visser
Jun 18, 2020·Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science·Katherine E GentryMichael S Reichert
Jul 3, 2020·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Evan L MorrisonKenneth Tyler Wilcox
Sep 2, 2019·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Mariana BarbosaAlexandre F Azevedo
Dec 3, 2020·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Pina Gruden, Paul R White
Mar 22, 2021·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Michael S ReichertNora V Carlson
Aug 6, 2021·Royal Society Open Science·Bianca RomeuPaulo C Simões-Lopes
Aug 24, 2021·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Michael D GreenfieldVivek Nityananda

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.