Innovative Behaviors and Synchronization in Bottlenosed Dolphins - Braslau-Schneck, S.
University of Hawaii, Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Lboratory, 1129 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI, USA, 96814 -
- (C) 1994 University of Hawaii
The ability of dolphins to innovate behaviors and to perform synchronized behaviors was studies with two pairs of dolphins. In Experiment 1 the first pair was tested individually with the sign “CREATIVE,” which requires the animal to produce a variety of responses to the single cue. Although no responses were reinforced both were able to perform a variety of responses. They were then tested with the sequence “TANDEM CREATIVE,” which requires the pair to produce a variety of behaviors synchrony. Without reinforcement the response quickly extinguished. Reinforcement of synchronized behaviors in response to the TANDEM CREATIVE sequence in a further flexibly-scheduled test allowed the pair to produce 79 different synchronous behaviors, In Experiment 2 a second pair of dolphins was tested with reinforcement for responses to CREATIVE and TANDEM CREATIVE. The second pair produced little variety with reinforcement, until conditions were changed to resemble the unstructured training conditions, after which they produced 41 different tandem responses. Theories of how dolphins might coordinate their movements and why they might have evolved the ability for synchronization are explored.
Braslau-Schneck, S. (1994). Innovative Behaviors and Synchronization in Bottlenosed Dolphins. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Hawaii, Honolulu. Back to Top Dolphin Programs | Whale Programs | Education Programs | Our Research | Resource Guide Copyright © 2002, The Dolphin Institute |
