The Metabolic Cost of Click Production in Bottlenose Dolphins
Abstract
The objective of this study is to measure oxygen consumption in two captive bottlenose dolphins to determine the metabolic cost of click production. The metabolic cost of click production will then be compared to resting metabolic rates, the metabolic cost of whistles and other communicative sounds, and the metabolic costs of other activities, such as performing surface active behaviors (SABs) and/or swimming. This work required two years to complete. Year 1 (training dolphins to perform the necessary behaviors and measuring metabolic rates during click production and resting trials) was initiated in 2012. For the second year of this study (ending in December 2013), we aimed to increase the number of experimental trials to quantify the metabolic cost of click production in bottlenose dolphins. The metabolic cost of click production is being measured in two captive male Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) maintained at Dr. Terrie Williams' Mammalian Physiology Laboratory at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Long Marine Laboratory. These individuals were trained by Traci Kendall (Program Manager/Research Training Supervisor) and Beau Richter (Head Trainer) to produce clicks on command while stationed under a metabolic hood to measure oxygen consumption. The sounds of free-ranging Atlantic bottlenose dolphins have been described as clicks, whistles, buzzes, quacks, and pops (Jacobs et al., 1993). The trained sounds of the captive dolphins of the current study are representative of those found in wild, free-ranging populations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA599981
Entities
People
- Dawn P Noren
- Marla M. Holt
- Terrie M. Williams
Organizations
- National Marine Fisheries Service