Diurnal and seasonal behavior patterns of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Date

1993

Authors

Braeger S

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Abstract

Most animals show daily and seasonal patterns in their behavior. However, behavior patterns of free-ranging cetaceans have rarely been described. This note analyzes the diurnal and seasonal (summer and fall) occurrence of three common activities, composed of suites of individual behaviors--foraging, traveling, and socializing--in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). From 1 June to 30 November 1991, I recorded the behavior of bottlenose dolphin groups during 97 trips (27 to 61 trips per month; 310.8 h) in the bay system of Galveston, Texas, and adjacent waters of the Gulf of Mexico, from a 6.5-m research vessel. This was part of an ongoing photoidentification study of the Texas A&M University Marine Mammal Research Program

Description

pp-438

Keywords

activity patterns, ASW,Mexico Gulf, ASW,USA,Texas,Galveston Bay, Behavior, circadian rhythms, feeding behavior, migrations, O 1070 Ecology/Community Studies, Q1 01421 Migrations and rhythms, seasonal variations, social behavior, Texas, Tursiops truncatus, water, Y 25537 Mammals (excluding primates)

Citation