Bottlenose Dolphins Produce Underwater Bubbles Linked to Cognitive Task Engagement but Not Success
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Site and Subjects
2.2. Task Design and Set-Up
2.3. Behavioural Data
2.3.1. Baseline
2.3.2. Task Trials
2.4. Statistical Analyses
2.4.1. Initial Analyses
2.4.2. THEME Analysis of Behavioural Sequences
2.4.3. Generalised Linear Modelling Task Engagement and Spectating
2.4.4. Burst Production as a Function of Respiration
3. Results
4. Discussion
4.1. Burst Production, Task Engagement, and Affective state
4.2. Does Burst Production Have a Social Function?
4.3. Does Burst Production Have a Respiratory Function?
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Behaviour | Description 1 |
---|---|
Bubble production: | |
Bubble burst | A large singular bubble, shaped like a mushroom cloud, produced from the blowhole. |
Bubble scrap | A thin ribbon-like bubble, produced from the blowhole, which is immediately eaten by the producer. |
Task engagement: | |
Approach | Movement within one body length (approx. 2.5 m) of the task, with the body aligned towards the task (i.e., not passively swimming past). |
Observe | Stationary or slowly moving within one body length of the task while paying close visual attention to the task. Head may be moving around. |
Contact | Physical contact with the task. Includes push, pull, bite, slide ball (with rostrum), gentle touch. |
Play with ball | Playful interactions with the (gelatine) task ball. Includes throwing ball around in water, mouthing, chasing and tussling. |
Task spectating: | |
Vigilance of task user | Close visual inspection of a dolphin engaged with the task, within one body length. |
Vigilance of experimenter | Close visual attention to experimenters or trainers above water. |
Possible frustration behaviour: | |
Jaw-clap | Rapid opening and closing of the jaw. |
Tail-beat | Strong vertical movement of the tail flukes. |
Subject (Age in Years) | Rearing History | Burst Frequency | Success Frequency | Total Task Engagement (min) | Total Bout Frequency | Median Bout Duration (s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brandy (12) | c | 47 | 12 | 134 | 205 | 26 (40) |
Brisby (18) | c | 17 | 5 | 92 | 141 | 26 (37) |
Sonny (12) | c | 17 | 0 | 51 | 93 | 21.5 (41.8) |
Merlin (26) | w | 12 | 0 | 20 | 43 | 22 (26.5) |
Ty (22) | c | 7 | 0 | 36 | 91 | 18 (21.5) |
Cupid (10) | w | 6 | 0 | 27 | 65 | 16 (35) |
Total | 106 | 17 | 360 | 638 |
Explanatory Variable | Regression Coefficient | Standard Error | p-Value |
---|---|---|---|
Proportion of interval 1 spent task-engaged | 0.66 | 0.16 | <0.001 |
Frequency spectators | 0.54 | 0.09 | <0.001 |
Frequency successes | 0.13 | 0.07 | 0.061 |
Frequency new ball loads | −0.51 | 17.51 | 0.977 |
Frequency ball location changes | −0.11 | 0.10 | 0.254 |
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Alexander, E.; Abrahams, M.; Clark, F.E. Bottlenose Dolphins Produce Underwater Bubbles Linked to Cognitive Task Engagement but Not Success. J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2021, 2, 287-299. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/jzbg2020020
Alexander E, Abrahams M, Clark FE. Bottlenose Dolphins Produce Underwater Bubbles Linked to Cognitive Task Engagement but Not Success. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens. 2021; 2(2):287-299. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/jzbg2020020
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlexander, Elena, Mark Abrahams, and Fay E. Clark. 2021. "Bottlenose Dolphins Produce Underwater Bubbles Linked to Cognitive Task Engagement but Not Success" Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 2, no. 2: 287-299. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/jzbg2020020