Shelling (fishing)

Shelling (or conching) is a rare, tool-based foraging strategy observed in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.).[1] This behavior includes dolphins driving prey into an empty conch shell, and then pouring the shells contents into its mouth.[1][2]

History

The behavior have been observed in bottlenose dolphin after a survey on Shark Bay since 2007 by collecting both genetic and behavioral data for more than 1,000 dolphins.[3] Nineteen dolphins have been observed to use the shelling strategy a total of forty-two times.[3] The shelling strategy is rarely observed and may be a new foraging strategy developed by bottlenose dolphins.[1]

Transmission of behavior

Research has shown that the shelling behavior spreads not only via a mother-to-calf bonding, but through peer interaction as well.[4][5] Dolphins have been shown to primarily use mother-to-calf interaction as a learning mechanism, and peer-to-peer behavioral influence is rarely seen.[4]

Implications of the discovery

Tool use in aquatic life

Tool use in regards to animal behavior can be defined as objects, nor a part of the animal itself, which are repeatedly manipulated.[6]Tool use has most commonly been observed in land animals, and is rarely seen in aquatic life.[6] This is not necessarily due to a lack of ability, but rather a lack of need. For example, even though dolphins have larger brains compared to primates, and could thus be expected to engage in more tool-use foraging behavior, they have other methods like echolocation for attaining resources.[6] Still, conching is just one example of tool use found in dolphins.[6]

Inter-species cultural similarities

Dolphins are not the only animals who demonstrate peer-to-peer behavior transmission.[4][7][8] It can be seen in members of the Hominidae family, which suggests similarities in culture.[4][9] Research has suggested that these cultural similarities may stem from the comparable life history characteristics, cognitive abilities, and social systems between the great apes and dolphins.[4] Specifically, both great apes and dolphins live in highly social communities, which enables considerable levels of social interaction.[9] These high levels of social interaction have been shown to be important in the transmission of socially learned foraging behavior.[4][9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Allen, S. J.; Bejder, L.; Krützen, M. (2011). "Why do Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) carry conch shells (Turbinella sp.) in Shark Bay, Western Australia?". Marine Mammal Science. 27 (2): 449–454. Bibcode:2011MMamS..27..449A. doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2010.00409.x. ISSN 1748-7692.
  2. ^ Krützen, Michael; Kreicker, Sina; MacLeod, Colin D.; Learmonth, Jennifer; Kopps, Anna M.; Walsham, Pamela; Allen, Simon J. (2014-06-07). "Cultural transmission of tool use by Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops sp.) provides access to a novel foraging niche". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 281 (1784) 20140374. doi:10.1098/rspb.2014.0374. ISSN 0962-8452. PMC 4043097. PMID 24759862.
  3. ^ a b Wu, Katherine J. (2020-06-25). "Dolphins Have an Eating Trick. How They Learn It Is More Surprising". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Wild, Sonja; Hoppitt, William J.E.; Allen, Simon J.; Krützen, Michael (August 2020). "Integrating Genetic, Environmental, and Social Networks to Reveal Transmission Pathways of a Dolphin Foraging Innovation". Current Biology. 30 (15): 3024–3030.e4. Bibcode:2020CBio...30E3024W. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2020.05.069. ISSN 0960-9822. PMID 32589911. S2CID 220057226.
  5. ^ Mann, Janet; Sargeant, Brooke (2003). "Like mother, like calf: the ontogeny of foraging traditions in wild Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins (Tursiopssp.)". The Biology of Traditions. Cambridge University Press. pp. 236–266. doi:10.1017/cbo9780511584022.010. ISBN 978-0-521-81597-0.
  6. ^ a b c d Mann, Janet; Patterson, Eric M. (2013-11-19). "Tool use by aquatic animals". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 368 (1630) 20120424. doi:10.1098/rstb.2012.0424. PMC 4027413. PMID 24101631.
  7. ^ Hobaiter, Catherine; Poisot, Timothée; Zuberbühler, Klaus; Hoppitt, William; Gruber, Thibaud (2014-09-30). de Waal, Frans B. M. (ed.). "Social Network Analysis Shows Direct Evidence for Social Transmission of Tool Use in Wild Chimpanzees". PLOS Biology. 12 (9) e1001960. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1001960. ISSN 1545-7885. PMC 4181963. PMID 25268798.
  8. ^ Cornell, Heather N.; Marzluff, John M.; Pecoraro, Shannon (2012-02-07). "Social learning spreads knowledge about dangerous humans among American crows". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 279 (1728): 499–508. doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.0957. ISSN 0962-8452. PMC 3234554. PMID 21715408.
  9. ^ a b c Van Schaik, Carel P. (2003). "Local traditions in orangutans and chimpanzees: social learning and social tolerance". The Biology of Traditions. Cambridge University Press. pp. 297–328. doi:10.1017/cbo9780511584022.012. ISBN 978-0-521-81597-0.
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