Dolphin Problem Solving

Kuczaj, Stan A.; Walker, Rachel T.

doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195392661.013.0037

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The systematic, variable schedule for enrichment sessions used in this study was an effective model for eliciting high levels of participation. The application of enrichment should be strategically implemented and unpredictable in its presentation, while being mindful of variability and reinforcement value (e.g., Clegg et al, in press;Delfour & Beyer, 2012;Kuczaj & Walker, 2012), in order to optimize the effectiveness of subsequent enrichment efforts and activities (Hill & Broom, 2009;Hoy et al, 2010). Enrichment must also be applied strategically in efforts to reinforce desirable behaviors (e.g., pro-social, affiliative, calm) and avoid accidentally reinforcing undesirable behaviors (e.g., aggressive) (e.g., Kuczaj et al, 1998).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Preferential object play among dolphins has been documented in both wild (Connor et al, 2000;Kuczaj & Highfill, 2005;Kuczaj & Yeater, 2006;Mann & Smuts, 1999;Silva, Silva, & Sazima, 2005;Würsig, 2002), and captive populations (Kuczaj & Eskelinen, 2014;Kuczaj & Highfill, 2005;Kuczaj & Walker, 2012;Paulos, Trone, & Kuczaj, 2010). Captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and free ranging Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) played with objects more frequently alone, as opposed to with others, and captive animals residing in sea-pens were more likely to interact with local flora and fauna than their wild counterparts (Greene, Mellilo-Sweeting, & Dudzinski, 2011).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Sex, Age, and Individual Differences in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Response to Environmental Enrichment

Eskelinen¹,

Winship²,

Borger-Turner³

2015

AB&C

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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 truncatus). This study involved a comparative assessment of enrichment participation of three resident, bottlenose dolphin populations, over the course of 17 months, with respect to sex and age class (calf, sub-adult, adult). Enrichment sessions were randomly assigned, conducted, and categorically assessed based on participation during seven, broad based enrichment classes (Object, Ingestible, Human, or a combination of the three). Overall, the proportion of participation in enrichment sessions was high (≥ 0.74), with individual differences in participation noted among the three populations. Sessions involving Humans and/or Ingestible items resulted in a significantly higher mean proportion of participation. Subadult and adult males were significantly more likely to participate in enrichment sessions, as well as engage in Human Interaction/Object sessions. Calves participated significantly more than adults or sub-adults across all enrichment classes with no noted differences between males and females. These data can serve as a tool to better understand the intricacies of bottlenose dolphin responses to enrichment in an effort to develop strategic enrichment plans with the goal of improving animal well-being and welfare.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex, Age, and Individual Differences in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Response to Environmental Enrichment

Eskelinen¹,

Winship²,

Borger-Turner³

2015

AB&C

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For at least some species, play may have evolved to facilitate an individual's ability to adapt to new environments by encouraging both behavioral and cognitive flexibility Kuczaj & Walker, 2012). Play provides a context that allows the individual to explore the consequences of specific behaviors in a relatively non-threatening environment (Burghardt, 2005;Kuczaj & Makecha, 2008).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Novel Bubble Helix Play Behavior

Jones¹,

Kuczaj²

2014

ABC

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Testing this hypothesis can serve as a step toward investigating an animal’s capacity for innovation or insight (see Reader and Laland 2003; Kuczaj II and Walker 2012), but there is a misleading tendency to envisage domain specific and domain general as two distinct categories. A more useful alternative is to envisage ‘domain specific’ and ‘domain general’ as being terms pertaining to different ends of a continuum (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solving a novel confinement problem by spartaeine salticids that are predisposed to solve problems in the context of predation

Cross

Jackson

2014

Anim Cogn

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Especially intricate predatory strategies are widespread in the salticid subfamily Spartaeinae. The hypothesis we consider here is that the spartaeine species that are proficient at solving prey-capture problems are also proficient at solving novel problems. We used nine species from this subfamily in our experiments. Eight of these species (two Brettus, one Cocalus, three Cyrba, two Portia) are known for specialized invasion of other spiders’ webs and for actively choosing other spiders as preferred prey (‘araneophagy’). Except for Cocalus, these species also use trial-and-error to derive web-based signals with which they gain dynamic fine control of the resident spider’s behaviour (‘aggressive mimicry’).The ninth species, Paracyrba wanlessi, is not araneophagic and instead specializes at preying on mosquitoes. We presented these nine species with a novel confinement problem that could be solved by trial and error. The test spider began each trial on an island in a tray of water, with an atoll surrounding the island. From the island, the spider could choose between two potential escape tactics (leap or swim), but we decided at random before the trial which tactic would fail and which tactic would achieve partial success. Our findings show that the seven aggressive-mimic species are proficient at solving the confinement problem by repeating ‘correct’ choices and by switching to the alternative tactic after making an ‘incorrect’ choice. However, as predicted, there was no evidence of C. gibbosus or P. wanlessi, the two non-aggressive-mimic species, solving the confinement problem. We discuss these findings in the context of an often-made distinction between domain-specific and domain-general cognition.

show abstract

Dolphin Problem Solving

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

Sex, Age, and Individual Differences in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Response to Environmental Enrichment

Sex, Age, and Individual Differences in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Response to Environmental Enrichment

Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Novel Bubble Helix Play Behavior

Solving a novel confinement problem by spartaeine salticids that are predisposed to solve problems in the context of predation

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About