Coordinated feeding behavior of the Guiana dolphin, Sotalia guianensis (Cetacea: Delphinidae), in southeastern Brazil: a comparison between populations
The coordinated feeding tactics used by delphinids are influenced by differences in the distribution of prey species, season, and opportunities for social learning. In the present study, we compared the coordinated feeding behavior of two populations of the Guiana dolphin, Sotalia guianensis, in sou...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Sociedade Brasileira de Zoologia
2013-12-01
|
| Series: | Zoologia (Curitiba) |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1984-46702013000600001&lng=en&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1797968013817806848 |
|---|---|
| author | Elaine C. da S. Oliveira Rodrigo H. Tardin Fabiana R. Poletto Sheila M. Simão |
| author_facet | Elaine C. da S. Oliveira Rodrigo H. Tardin Fabiana R. Poletto Sheila M. Simão |
| author_sort | Elaine C. da S. Oliveira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The coordinated feeding tactics used by delphinids are influenced by differences in the distribution of prey species, season, and opportunities for social learning. In the present study, we compared the coordinated feeding behavior of two populations of the Guiana dolphin, Sotalia guianensis, in southeastern Brazil, and how these feeding tactics vary seasonality and in the presence of calves. We observed eight types of coordinated feeding tactics, which differed in frequency and in the mean number of individuals engaged in them, and between both areas. Feeding tactics used to herd and capture prey were the most frequent and engaged a greater number of individuals, suggesting that these tactics are better for capturing fish that gather in larger schools. Furthermore, the seasons influenced the occurrence of different prey items, which in turn modified the feeding tactics of the dolphins. In the Ilha Grande Bay we observed that bouts lasted longer and larger groups engaged in the feeding tactics, which may be associated with the seasonal spawning of larger schooling fish such as Sardinella brasiliensis (Steindachner, 1879) (Teleostei: Clupeidae). However, in the Sepetiba Bay, we observed longer feeding bouts and a smaller number of individuals engaged in the feeding tactics during autumn-winter. This may be associated with the fact that the most abundant prey species, Micropogonias furnieri (Desmarest, 1823) (Teleostei: Sciaenidae), gathers in small schools. Calves were present in 95% of all coordinated feeding tactics that occurred in the Ilha Grande Bay and in approximately 61% of feeding tactics in the Sepetiba Bay, suggesting that these areas are important for social learning. This study provides more information about feeding tactics and improves knowledge of the coordinated behavior of Sotalia guianensis (Van Benéden, 1864). |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T02:40:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b44ee17a565f43388d0298e25a8d5b2c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1984-4689 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T02:40:21Z |
| publishDate | 2013-12-01 |
| publisher | Sociedade Brasileira de Zoologia |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Zoologia (Curitiba) |
| spelling | doaj.art-b44ee17a565f43388d0298e25a8d5b2c2023-01-02T19:16:41ZengSociedade Brasileira de ZoologiaZoologia (Curitiba)1984-46892013-12-0130658559110.1590/S1984-46702013005000013S1984-46702013000600001Coordinated feeding behavior of the Guiana dolphin, Sotalia guianensis (Cetacea: Delphinidae), in southeastern Brazil: a comparison between populationsElaine C. da S. Oliveira0Rodrigo H. Tardin1Fabiana R. Poletto2Sheila M. Simão3Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de JaneiroUniversidade Federal Rural do Rio de JaneiroUniversidade Federal Rural do Rio de JaneiroUniversidade Federal Rural do Rio de JaneiroThe coordinated feeding tactics used by delphinids are influenced by differences in the distribution of prey species, season, and opportunities for social learning. In the present study, we compared the coordinated feeding behavior of two populations of the Guiana dolphin, Sotalia guianensis, in southeastern Brazil, and how these feeding tactics vary seasonality and in the presence of calves. We observed eight types of coordinated feeding tactics, which differed in frequency and in the mean number of individuals engaged in them, and between both areas. Feeding tactics used to herd and capture prey were the most frequent and engaged a greater number of individuals, suggesting that these tactics are better for capturing fish that gather in larger schools. Furthermore, the seasons influenced the occurrence of different prey items, which in turn modified the feeding tactics of the dolphins. In the Ilha Grande Bay we observed that bouts lasted longer and larger groups engaged in the feeding tactics, which may be associated with the seasonal spawning of larger schooling fish such as Sardinella brasiliensis (Steindachner, 1879) (Teleostei: Clupeidae). However, in the Sepetiba Bay, we observed longer feeding bouts and a smaller number of individuals engaged in the feeding tactics during autumn-winter. This may be associated with the fact that the most abundant prey species, Micropogonias furnieri (Desmarest, 1823) (Teleostei: Sciaenidae), gathers in small schools. Calves were present in 95% of all coordinated feeding tactics that occurred in the Ilha Grande Bay and in approximately 61% of feeding tactics in the Sepetiba Bay, suggesting that these areas are important for social learning. This study provides more information about feeding tactics and improves knowledge of the coordinated behavior of Sotalia guianensis (Van Benéden, 1864).http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1984-46702013000600001&lng=en&tlng=enCetaceanscoordinated huntfeeding tacticspreysocial behavior |
| spellingShingle | Elaine C. da S. Oliveira Rodrigo H. Tardin Fabiana R. Poletto Sheila M. Simão Coordinated feeding behavior of the Guiana dolphin, Sotalia guianensis (Cetacea: Delphinidae), in southeastern Brazil: a comparison between populations Zoologia (Curitiba) Cetaceans coordinated hunt feeding tactics prey social behavior |
| title | Coordinated feeding behavior of the Guiana dolphin, Sotalia guianensis (Cetacea: Delphinidae), in southeastern Brazil: a comparison between populations |
| title_full | Coordinated feeding behavior of the Guiana dolphin, Sotalia guianensis (Cetacea: Delphinidae), in southeastern Brazil: a comparison between populations |
| title_fullStr | Coordinated feeding behavior of the Guiana dolphin, Sotalia guianensis (Cetacea: Delphinidae), in southeastern Brazil: a comparison between populations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coordinated feeding behavior of the Guiana dolphin, Sotalia guianensis (Cetacea: Delphinidae), in southeastern Brazil: a comparison between populations |
| title_short | Coordinated feeding behavior of the Guiana dolphin, Sotalia guianensis (Cetacea: Delphinidae), in southeastern Brazil: a comparison between populations |
| title_sort | coordinated feeding behavior of the guiana dolphin sotalia guianensis cetacea delphinidae in southeastern brazil a comparison between populations |
| topic | Cetaceans coordinated hunt feeding tactics prey social behavior |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1984-46702013000600001&lng=en&tlng=en |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elainecdasoliveira coordinatedfeedingbehavioroftheguianadolphinsotaliaguianensiscetaceadelphinidaeinsoutheasternbrazilacomparisonbetweenpopulations AT rodrigohtardin coordinatedfeedingbehavioroftheguianadolphinsotaliaguianensiscetaceadelphinidaeinsoutheasternbrazilacomparisonbetweenpopulations AT fabianarpoletto coordinatedfeedingbehavioroftheguianadolphinsotaliaguianensiscetaceadelphinidaeinsoutheasternbrazilacomparisonbetweenpopulations AT sheilamsimao coordinatedfeedingbehavioroftheguianadolphinsotaliaguianensiscetaceadelphinidaeinsoutheasternbrazilacomparisonbetweenpopulations |