Development and functions of signature whistles of free-ranging bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus
Citable URI
https://hdl.handle.net/1912/5489Location
Sarasota, FLDOI
10.1575/1912/5489Abstract
This thesis presents data on the development and functions of individually distinctive
signature whistles of free-ranging bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops tnmcatus. Research
was conducted at a study site near Sarasota, Florida, where a resident community of
bottlenose dolphins have been the focus of a long-term, ongoing study. Through
observations and censuses, researchers have gained information on home ranges and
association patterns among individuals. A temporary capture and release program
has provided opportunities to collect basic information regarding age, sex, genetic
relationships, and life history of individuals, as well as to record vocalizations of
known individuals. During the periods 1975-1976 and 1984-1992, 134 different
individuals were recorded during temporary capture. More than half of these were
recorded on two or more (up to 10) different occasions. These recordings
demonstrate that free-ranging dolphins produce individually distinctive signature
whistles, as was previously documented for captive dolphins. Each dolphin produced
a distinctive frequency contour, or pattern of frequency changes over time, and this
whistle comprised a large portion of all whistles produced. Comparisons of whistles
recorded from the same individuals over periods of more than a decade indicate that
these signature whistle contours are markedly stable. This extensive database of
recordings of signature whistles produced by known individuals formed the basis for
much of the work described in this thesis.
Playback experiments conducted during temporary capture-release projects indicated
that free-ranging dolphins were able to discriminate among signature whistles of
familiar individuals. When these results are taken in the context of what is known
about dolphin societies, which are characterized by stable individual associations
intermixed with fluid patterns of association among many individuals, it appears
highly likely that dolphins use signature whistles to recognize one another as
individuals. Sex differences in whistle production were documented through analysis of whistles
recorded during temporary capture. Naive judges rated the similarity of signature
whistle contours of 42 Sarasota calves and their mothers, and found that males were
more likely than females to produce signature whistle contours highly similar to those
of their mothers. Conversely, females were more likely than males to produce
contours highly distinct from those of their mothers. In addition, preliminary results
indicated that male calves were more likely than female calves to produce whistles
other than the signature whistle (called "variant" whistles). It was hypothesized that
these sex differences may relate to the different roles males and females play in the
social structure of the community.
Comparisons of whistle contours of parents and offspring, both in the wild (Sarasota)
and in captivity (Miami Seaquarium), do not indicate that signature whistle structure
is strictly inherited. Instead, it appears that learning plays a role in determining
whistle structure. This contrasts with other non-human mammalian species, where
learning does not appear to be involved in vocal development. Focal observations
and acoustic recordings of four free-ranging Sarasota mother-calf pairs were
conducted in order to examine the effects of the early social and auditory
environment on signature whistle development. Although there was considerable
individual variability among these four calves, this study provided some preliminary
insights into factors affecting the time course and outcome of signature whistle
development in the wild. Two calves which exhibited relatively rapid whistle
development and produced contours that resembled those of their mothers also
heard proportionately more of their mothers' signature contours than did the other
two calves. The other two calves exhibited more prolonged whistle development and
produced contours that did not resemble those of their mothers. Preliminary data
indicated that these two mothers may have actively taught their calves to produce a
distinctive whistle contour by producing "model" contours while their calves were very
young. Strength of the mother-calf association, number of associates other than the
mother, overall number of whistles heard, and number of whistles produced by the
mother all may affect the time course of whistle development and whether or not a
calf develops a contour similar to that of its mother.
Description
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution September 1992
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Suggested Citation
Thesis: Sayigh, Laela S., "Development and functions of signature whistles of free-ranging bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus", 1992-09, DOI:10.1575/1912/5489, https://hdl.handle.net/1912/5489Related items
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