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.

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

Small-Scale Movement Patterns, Activity Budgets, and Association Patterns of Radio-Tagged Indian River Lagoon Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Noke Durden ◽  
Greg O’Corry-Crowe ◽  
Steve Shippee ◽  
Teresa Jablonski ◽  
Sarah Rodgers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Indian River Lagoon ◽  
Movement Patterns ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Association Patterns ◽  
Activity Budgets ◽  
Indian River

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 Fibrillation of events in the cambial domains of Tilia cordata Mill.

2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wiesław Włoch ◽  
Ewa Biczewska
Keyword(s):  
High Intensity ◽  
Single Domain ◽  
Tilia Cordata ◽  
Fusiform Cell ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Domain Type ◽  
Cambium Layer ◽  
One Year

The cambium and 9 annual growths from a linden stem were studied. Some of the fusiform cell ends changed their contacts-which is shown by the comparison of the cambium layer and terminal parenchyma of the phloem. This means that these ends were active in the period the layers under comparison were formed. The active ends were found in groups numbering a few to ten-odd ends alternating with groups of inactive ends. About 70% of the ends retained their activity for only one year. In the studied areas. in a given year, one direction of migration of the active ends dominated. As a rule, this configuration changed every two years. Along with the change in the configuration of the active ends, the position of the active areas also changed in such a way that after the change of configuration, the areas previously inactive became active. No migration of activity along the borders of the storeys was observed, but only its appearance and disappearance, which was called fibrillation of activity. Fibrillation of activity becomes noticeable when there is a low intensity of events. Because the active areas at a given moment are characterized by one type of configuration of events, the whole studied surface can be seen as a single domain. Fibrillation gives the impression of frequent changes of domain type, these changes, however, are of a different nature than the movement of domain borders found in cambium characterized by a high intensity of events.

scholarly journals Activity, Social Relationships, and Maternal Care in a Bottlenose Dolphin Group under Professional Care

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-286
Author(s):  
Lisa K. Lauderdale ◽  
Lance J. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
High Association ◽  
Maternal Behaviors ◽  
Professional Care ◽  
Simple Ratio ◽  
Group Compositions

Defining the activity patterns and social relationships of animals can provide valuable information related to animal welfare. Bottlenose dolphins under professional care engage in a variety of social and solitary activities, which may be influenced by conspecifics, time of day, and maternal behaviors. This study examined the social, solitary, and maternal behaviors of eight dolphins at one zoological facility. Data about social and solitary behaviors, nursing occurrences, and mother–calf pair swimming were collected five days per week over a ten-month period. The simple ratio index was used to calculate association rates for all dyads. Affiliative behaviors were the dominant behavior class and all behavior categories and swim states showed temporal oscillations throughout the day. The high association values within the mother–calf dyads suggested these ties remain strong through the second and third years of life. Preferred associates remained the same for some individuals in both social group compositions, while they differed for others. However, no large reductions in associations were recorded, suggesting strong relationships in the subgroups continued when other individuals were present. Examining sociality and activity levels may be a useful tool in continuing to improve welfare as they may be related to social groupings and environmental factors.

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.

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