Date of Award
Spring 5-2017
Degree Type
Honors College Thesis
Department
Biological Sciences
First Advisor
David Echevarria
Advisor Department
Psychology
Abstract
In group-living species, an individual’s response to aggression from another animal can reveal information about the complexities of their social relationships. The current study sought to categorize behavioral responses between conspecifics following direct aggression. Agonistic behavioral interactions were analyzed in a semi-captive group of bottlenose dolphins housed at the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences, whose population dynamics mirror those observed in the wild. Interactions began at the onset of an aggressive behavior, and all concomitant behaviors between aggressor(s) and recipient(s) were coded chronologically for the length of each event. Results revealed five response types present following aggression: retaliation, reconciliation, avoidance, sexual, or no reaction. Response type varied based upon age-class, sex, and initiator/recipient role in the initial aggression. Specifically, subadults were more likely to be involved in retaliation than other age-classes. Calves were more likely to respond through reconciliation, avoidance, or had no reaction during conflicts, possibly due to mother-calf relationships (i.e., alloparenting, discipline, and protection). Additionally, males were more likely to retaliate, while females tended to avoid or reconcile with opponents, which is a reflection of the sex specific reproductive pressures observed in fission-fusion groups. Understanding behavioral pressures on demographic and social roles in aggressive interactions may aid management practices for both captive and wild populations.
Copyright
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Recommended Citation
Cheri, Breanna M., "Identifying Behavioral Response Trends Following Aggression in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)" (2017). Honors Theses. 537.
https://aquila.usm.edu/honors_theses/537