Daily patterns in aerial activity by spinner dolphins in Fernando de Noronha

Activities displayed by animals are usually cyclic, and fluctuations in behavioural repertoires can be observed on a daily or seasonal timescale. The present study describes daily and seasonal variations in the aerial events – such as leaps, spins and slaps with body parts – by spinner dolphins in B...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2018-08, Vol.98 (5), p.1151-1157
Main Authors: De Carli, R.C., Silva, F.J.L., Silva, J.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic mammals
Behavior
Body parts
Cetacea
Daily
Data collection
Data processing
Dolphins
Dolphins & porpoises
Dry season
National parks
Rainy season
Seasonal variation
Seasonal variations
Seasons
Stenella
Studies
Tourism
Wet season
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Summary:Activities displayed by animals are usually cyclic, and fluctuations in behavioural repertoires can be observed on a daily or seasonal timescale. The present study describes daily and seasonal variations in the aerial events – such as leaps, spins and slaps with body parts – by spinner dolphins in Baía dos Golfinhos, Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park, in Brazil. To measure aerial events by dolphins, we compiled and analysed data collected from January 2006 to December 2010. A total of 113,027 aerial events were recorded during 1431 days of land-based daytime observations. Our results show that the frequency of aerial events was positively correlated with the number of dolphins in the bay. The relative frequency of aerial events was higher in the rainy season, when compared with the dry season. Aerial activities also varied throughout the day, with dolphins being more active in the morning, specifically from 8:00 a.m. to 8:59 a.m., regardless of the season.
ISSN:0025-3154
1469-7769
DOI:10.1017/S0025315417000327