Dear colleagues,
we are pleased to announce the publication of our recent paper:
Kriesell HJ, Elwen SH, Nastasi A, Gridley T (2014): _Identification and
Characteristics of Signature Whistles in Wild Bottlenose Dolphins
(/Tursiops truncatus/__) from Namibia_. PLoS ONE 9(9): e106317.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0106317
Abstract:
A signature whistle type is a learned, individually distinctive whistle
type in a dolphin's acoustic repertoire that broadcasts the identity of
the whistle owner. The acquisition and use of signature whistles
indicates complex cognitive functioning that requires wider
investigation in wild dolphin populations. Here we identify signature
whistle types from a population of approximately 100 wild common
bottlenose dolphins (/Tursiops truncatus/) inhabiting Walvis Bay, and
describe signature whistle occurrence, acoustic parameters and temporal
production. A catalogue of 43 repeatedly emitted whistle types (REWTs)
was generated by analysing 79 hrs of acoustic recordings. From this, 28
signature whistle types were identified using a method based on the
temporal patterns in whistle sequences. A visual classification task
conducted by 5 naïve judges showed high levels of agreement in
classification of whistles (Fleiss-Kappa statistic, ? = 0.848,/Z/=
55.3,/P/<0.001) and supported our categorisation. Signature whistle
structure remained stable over time and location, with most types (82%)
recorded in 2 or more years, and 4 identified at Walvis Bay and a second
field site approximately 450 km away. Whistle acoustic parameters were
consistent with those of signature whistles documented in Sarasota Bay
(Florida, USA). We provide evidence of possible two-voice signature
whistle production by a common bottlenose dolphin. Although signature
whistle types have potential use as a marker for studying individual
habitat use, we only identified approximately 28% of those from the
Walvis Bay population, despite considerable recording effort. We found
that signature whistle type diversity was higher in larger dolphin
groups and groups with calves present. This is the first study
describing signature whistles in a wild free-ranging/T.
truncatus/population inhabiting African waters and it provides a
baseline on which more in depth behavioural studies can be based.
You can access the paper here
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0106317
or contact [email protected] or [email protected] for a PDF
version.
Best wishes
Hannah Kriesell
---------------------------
/Master of International Nature Conservation (M.Sc./M.I.N.C.)
/Namibian Dolphin Project
E-Mail: [email protected]
http://www.namibiandolphinproject.com/
Présentation PowerPoint
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