Recognising emotional expressions in captive bottlenose dolphins: Can lay observers agree using qualitative behavioural assessment?
This study applies qualitative behavioural assessment (QBA) to bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus. Ten observers recruited through convenience sampling, who were unfamiliar with bottlenose dolphins and managed care of cetaceans, were instructed to use a Free Choice Profiling methodology to assess 20 video clips showing captive dolphins in a range of environmental and contextual settings. QBA […]
Saliva and Blood Cortisol Measurement in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): Methodology, Application, and Limitations
A central task of zoos and aquaria is the frequent and accurate assessment of their animals’ welfare. Recently, important steps have been made, such as the introduction of animal welfare evaluation tools and welfare decision trees. To determine animal welfare, it is not only important to collect life history data, such as longevity and reproductive […]
Bottlenose dolphins’(Tursiops Truncatus) Visual and Motor Laterality Depending on Emotional Contexts
Hemispheric lateralization is a specialized neural and cognitive processing achieved preferentially by either the left or the right hemisphere of the brain. Among vertebrates, emotions processing seems to be lateralized, but the involvement of each hemisphere is still on debate. Our study investigated visual and motor laterality on five bottlenose dolphins’ (Tursiops truncatus) during spontaneous […]
Sex, Age, and Individual Differences in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Response to Environmental Enrichment
Application of environmental enrichment, as a means to successfully decrease undesired behaviors (e.g., stereotypic) and improve animal welfare, has been documented in a variety of zoological species. However, a dearth of empirical evidence exists concerning age, sex, and individual differences in response to various types of enrichment tools and activities in Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops […]
The Influence of Age, Sex, and Social Affiliation on the Responses of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) to a Novel Stimulus Over Time
Responses to novelty may differ among individuals as a function of age, sex, and/or the presence of offspring, and understanding how marine mammals respond to novel stimuli is critical to management. In this study, 20 captive Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were exposed to a novel object, consisting of PVC pipes and either a non-reflective […]
Social behaviors modulate bottlenose dolphins’ (Tursiops truncatus) breathing rate
Breathing frequency is a non-invasive physiological measure that brings valuable information on the bottlenose dolphins’ internal state and behaviors. When combined with behavioral observations, it helps to better understand and interpret relevant behaviors. The present study aimed to investigate some basic characteristics of breathing rate in nine dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) (e.g., age and sex effects) […]
Whistles as potential indicators of stress in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
We examined the possibility that parameters of bottlenose dolphin signature whistles may serve as indicators of stress. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Sarasota Bay, Florida, were recorded during brief capture–release events, which are potentially a source of short-term stress to these dolphins, although no effects of chronic or long-term stress have been observed over the […]
Effects of Pool Size on Free-Choice Selections by Atlantic Bottlenosed Dolphins at One Zoo Facility
Dolphin pool design often derives from the concept that cetaceans are ocean based and ipso facto should live in open, deep, watery spaces. This emotionally appealing rationale is not data driven. Researchers report that in the wild, some populations of Atlantic bottlenosed dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) reside in shallower areas (approximately 2 m deep) and move […]
Reactions of three bottlenose dolphin dams with calves to other members of the group in connection with nursing
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20071.abs The suckling behavior of three bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) mother–calf pairs at the Kolmården Wild Animal Park, Sweden, was followed from birth until the calves were 1 year old, with emphasis on the behavior of the mothers toward other dolphins present in pool. The results show that 80.44% of the sucklings occurred when […]
Maternal aggressive contact vocalizations in captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): Wide-band, low-frequency signals during mother/aunt-infant interactions
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430140402.abs The mother-infant bond in bottlenose dolphins is critical to infant survival and has been reported to last from 3-10 years in both captive and wild populations. Little information on mother-infant communication during early development has been collected. This paper reports on a newly discovered dolphin vocalization, termed thunk, which is predominantly used by […]