scholarly journals Behavioral Development of Two Captive Mother-Calf Dyads of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Calves’ First Year

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia von Streit ◽  
Udo Ganslosser ◽  
Lorenzo von Fersen
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Social Play ◽  
Spatial Relations ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Behavioral Development ◽  
Play Behavior ◽  
First Year ◽  
Object Play

This study investigated the development of suckling behavior, spatial relations, social behavior, and play behavior in 2 mother-calf dyads of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Each dyad was observed 4 hours weekly throughout the calves’ 1st year. The dyads differed in calves’ sex and mothers’ parity. The dyad with the primiparous female needed more time to establish suckling and swimming routines. After the 3rd month, interactions with the mother (flipper-rub, rest together, social play, and calf watches mother) were significantly more frequent in the female calf, whereas interactions with the calves’ father (swim together, rest together, and social play) were significantly more frequent in the male calf. The calves showed high rates of object play and social play. They seemed to modify their type of play according to the opportunities they were offered. A mentally stimulating object was preferred to simpler toys. The knowledge of the details of mother-calf behavior helps to develop appropriate breeding conditions that are vital for the survival and well-being of captive dolphin calves.

scholarly journals The Development of Social Play in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Mackey ◽  
Radhika Makecha ◽  
Stan Kuczaj
Keyword(s):  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Social Play

Efficacy of an interactive apparatus as environmental enrichment for common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 379-386
Author(s):  
LK Lauderdale ◽  
LJ Miller
Keyword(s):  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Specific Behaviour ◽  
Effective Form ◽  
Professional Care ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
And Control ◽  
Case Basis

Environmental enrichment is a key component in improving the psychological and physiological well-being of animals under professional care. Environmental enrichment involves the addition of stimuli, including objects and cognitive challenges, into the environment in order to increase species-specific behaviour and provide opportunities for choice and control. The effectiveness of enrichment should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine if the desired result has been achieved. Environmental enrichment devices (EEDs) can be utilised to present novel problems to animals under professional care. Here, a submerged interactive cognitive apparatus was presented to eight bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) five days a week for 18 weeks and behavioural indicators of animal welfare assessed. As a group, dolphins spent more time in social swims compared to solitary swims and more time at the bottom of the habitat than the middle or top throughout the day, even when the apparatus was not immediately available. Individuals' differences were apparent in the type and amount of engagement with the apparatus. Three dolphins engaged with the apparatus by solving it or consuming the reward. Two dolphins, D4 and D8, engaged simultaneously with the apparatus and participated in more social swimming with each other. D4 solved the interactive apparatus and engaged in more social active and solitary active behaviours. D1 and D4 increased their use of the bottom of the habitat. This study is the first report of underwater enrichment increasing dolphins time at depth throughout the day even when the enrichment device is not available. The interactive apparatus was an effective form of enrichment for dolphins participating in successful trials.

scholarly journals Microglial elimination of dopamine D1 receptors defines sex-specific changes in nucleus accumbens development and social play behavior during adolescence

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley M. Kopec ◽  
Caroline J. Smith ◽  
Nathan R. Ayre ◽  
Sean C. Sweat ◽  
Staci D. Bilbo
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Social Behavior ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Neural Circuit ◽  
Social Play ◽  
Play Behavior ◽  
D1 Receptors ◽  
Adolescent Male ◽  
Dopamine D1 Receptors ◽  
Social Play Behavior

AbstractAdolescence is a developmental period in which the mesolimbic dopaminergic ‘reward’ circuitry of the brain, including the nucleus accumbens (NAc), undergoes significant developmental plasticity and neural circuit maturation. Dopamine D1 receptors (D1rs) in the NAc have recently been demonstrated to be critical modulators of social behavior, but how these receptors are regulated in adolescence to mediate social behavior is not well understood. In this report, we used multi-plexed immunohistochemistry with volumetric reconstructions, co-immunoprecipitation, ex vivo, and in vivo stereotaxic, microglial manipulation, and social behavior assessment to demonstrate that microglia and complement-mediated phagocytic activity shapes sex-specific NAc development. Moreover, we report for the first time that microglia-mediated phagocytosis is required for natural developmental changes in behavior, specifically, adolescent male social play behavior. These data have broad implications for understanding how experience interacts with the developing reward circuity, sex-specific responses to stimuli in adolescence, and how neuropsychiatric disorders may arise in a sexually dimorphic manner.

MOTHER-INFANT SPATIAL RELATIONS IN CAPTIVE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS, TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS

1999 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 751-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cara Gubbins ◽  
Brenda Mcowan ◽  
Spencer K. Lynn ◽  
Stacie Hooper ◽  
Diana Reiss
Keyword(s):  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Spatial Relations

scholarly journals Is Enrichment Always Enriching and How Would You Know? Unintended Consequences and the Importance of Formal Assessment of Enrichment Programs in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Lyn ◽  
Hannah Bahe ◽  
Megan S. Broadway ◽  
Mystera M. Samuelson ◽  
Jamie K. Shelley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Enrichment Programs ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Human Care

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are viewed as a highly intelligent species, capable of complex behaviors, requiring marine parks to maintain dynamic environmental enrichment procedures in order to ensure their optimal psychological and physiological well-being in human care. In this study, two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of different forms of enrichment on the behavior of bottlenose dolphins. In Experiment 1, the most successful enrichment included highly novel items, which resulted in avoidance, but also what is frequently considered positive behavioral changes including a reduction in circle swimming and an increase in social behavior. In Experiment 2, the use of choice resulted in negative unintended social consequences. These two experiments together demonstrate that the results of deploying enrichment may not be as clear-cut as previously presumed. In order to maintain positive benefits of enrichment, the results of this study suggest that unique forms of enrichment should be implemented on a variable schedule that is offered several times a year and consistently evaluated for effectiveness.

scholarly journals Seasonal, Diel, and Age Differences in Activity Budgets of a Group of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Under Professional Care

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel T. Walker ◽  
Lance J. Miller ◽  
Stan A. Kuczaj II ◽  
Moby Solangi
Keyword(s):  
High Intensity ◽  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Social Play ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Activity Budgets ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Professional Care ◽  
One Year

Wild bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) behavior is impacted by a number of factors including season, time of day, and age. However, less is known about how these factors may influence animals under professional care in zoos, aquariums and marine parks. Management practices such as scheduled feeding times, human interactions, lack of predators and show performances may also impact the activity budgets of dolphins. The current study examined the rest, swim and play behavior of seven dolphins (three adults, four calves) at one facility. Data were collected over the entire 24-hour day for a period of one year. Observed behaviors were recorded in mutually exclusive categories including rest, low intensity swim, high intensity swim, low intensity play, high intensity play and social play. Data were analyzed to determine how often dolphins engaged in particular behaviors and if activity budgets varied due to season, time of day and age. These dolphins spent the majority of their time in low intensity swim and low intensity play. The activity budget varied between observational periods. First, seasonal differences were found in low intensity swim, low intensity play, social play and high intensity play behaviors. In the comparison for time of day, differences were found in rest, low intensity swim, low intensity play and social play. Finally, no significant differences were found in age comparisons. Information gained from this study can help to better understand how different factors influence the behavior of bottlenose dolphins under professional care within zoos, aquariums and marine parks.

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