Date of Award

Spring 5-2016

Degree Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Stanley Kuczaj

Committee Chair Department

Psychology

Committee Member 2

Donald Sacco

Committee Member 2 Department

Psychology

Committee Member 3

Richard Mohn

Committee Member 3 Department

Educational Studies and Research

Abstract

There is relatively little known about the social behavior of rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) particularly in comparison to information on the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, (Tursiops truncates). The purpose of the current study is to describe the social behavior of two juvenile male rough-toothed dolphins housed at Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach, FL. Rates of affiliative social behaviors were greater between the two males within this group compared to the other pairs of dolphins. The males exhibited a high rate of association, calculated using the half-weight index. Following aggressive behavior within the overall group, the focal pair was more likely to respond by engaging in affiliative interactions. The other pairs of dolphins were more likely to respond to aggression in the environment with other aggressive interactions.

Doctoral dissertation: http://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/1390/

ORCID ID

orcid.org/0000-0001-8015-8673

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