Contributions to the Natural History of the Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops Truncatus (Montague), on the Texas Coast, with Particular Reference to Food Habits

Gunter, Gordon

doi:10.2307/1374993

Cited by 43 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Some learned foraging behaviors appear to be passed from mother to offspring and allow dolphins to specialize on a particular prey item that might otherwise appear to be undesirable. For example, while most fish prey are swallowed whole, dolphins have been known to prey on catfish by severing the head, swallowing just the body, and discarding the noxious barb along with the head (Gunter, 1942;Ronje et al, 2017). In this study we cannot evaluate to what extent such learned behavior might have contributed to dolphin prey choice, but it is conceivable that dolphins from two different populations may have developed different feeding strategies and preferences based on previous experience and group knowledge.…”

Section: Discussion Sighting Differencesmentioning

confidence: 93%

Niche Differentiation and Prey Selectivity among Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Sighted in St. George Sound, Gulf of Mexico

et al. 2017

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Two groups of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) have been identified within St. George Sound, Florida, USA: high site-fidelity individuals (HSF) which are individuals sighted multiple times in the region (i.e., ≥2 months, ≥2 seasons, and ≥2 years), and low site-fidelity individuals (LSF), which are individuals sighted fewer than 2 months, in 2 different seasons among 2 different years. Our goal was to determine whether differences in foraging behaviors were correlated with differences in sighting frequency and overall usage of St. George Sound by the two groups. We used carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur stable isotopes and niche hypervolume metrics to model the foodweb of St. George Sound. Mixing model results indicated that croaker, mojarra, pigfish, pinfish, and silverperch were the most important prey items for dolphins. The hypervolume metrics demonstrate niche partitioning between HSFs and LSFs, with the HSFs relying more heavily on pinfish, pigfish, and mojarra, while the LSFs relied more on silverperch. Plankton, benthic diatoms, seagrass, and epiphytes all contributed to secondary production within St. George Sound. This diversity of source utilization by seagrass-associated consumers supported by a high rate of total production likely sustains high secondary productivity despite the potential for competition in this system. Zooplankton was the most important basal source to the system, followed by seagrass and benthic primary production (as indicated by a sanddollar proxy). The reliance of dolphins on seagrass-dependent prey indicates that alteration of seagrass habitat would significantly impact the dolphin community foraging in St. George Sound and suggests that preservation of seagrass habitat is an important component of an effective management strategy for dolphin populations in the region.

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Section: Discussion Sighting Differencesmentioning

confidence: 93%

Niche Differentiation and Prey Selectivity among Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Sighted in St. George Sound, Gulf of Mexico

et al. 2017

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“…The feeding range of T truncatus is extremely wide and its coastal populations tend to specialize in estuary preys. It is usually considered a generalist and opportunist, taking profit of the most abundant preys of the season (GUNTER 1942;ORRIS & PRESCOTT 1961;CALDWELL & CALDWELL 1972;HAMILTON &NISHJMOTO 1977;WELLSetat. 1980;IRVINE et at.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dolphin interactions with the mullet artisanal fishing on Southern Brazil: a qualitative and quantitative approach

1998

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ABSTRACT. A detailed analysis of the interactions between Tursiops /runco/us (Montagu, 1821) and the artisanal fishing of mullets (MugU spp.) is presented at two localities in the south of Brazil: Laguna (Santa Catarina) and Imberrramandai (Rio Grande do Sui). Its behavioral strategies and the advantages of their association are re-described and quantified based on the success of the capture and on the selectivity of the prey sizes. The mullets are the main resource involved (92 % to 75%) both at numerical level and as biomass. Twenty individuals of Tursiops /runcollls participated in the interactions in Laguna and 9 in Imberrramandai. The participation and learning of calves is also reported.

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“…data). Contrary to Gunter's (1942) claim, seasonal density changes have been found, near the mouths of Texas bays (Shane, 1980;Gruber, 1981;Jones, 1988;McHugh, 1989;Fertl, 1994;Weller, 1998), but nothing is yet known about the source of the arriving dolphins or the destination of those departing. Thousands of bottlenose dolphins can be found on the continental shelf, outside the bay systems (Mullin et al, 1990;Scott, 1990).…”

mentioning

confidence: 89%

Summer Movement Patterns of Bottlenose Dolphins in a Texas Bay

Lynn

Würsig

2002

goms

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Contributions to the Natural History of the Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops Truncatus (Montague), on the Texas Coast, with Particular Reference to Food Habits

Cited by 43 publications

References 1 publication

Niche Differentiation and Prey Selectivity among Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Sighted in St. George Sound, Gulf of Mexico

Niche Differentiation and Prey Selectivity among Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Sighted in St. George Sound, Gulf of Mexico

Dolphin interactions with the mullet artisanal fishing on Southern Brazil: a qualitative and quantitative approach

Summer Movement Patterns of Bottlenose Dolphins in a Texas Bay

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