Aggressive Behaviors of Adult Male Atlantic Spotted Dolphins: Making Signals Count during Intraspecific and Interspecific Conflicts

Reproductive success of male Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) revealed by noninvasive genetic analysis of paternity

Cetaceans are known to frequently engage in sexual behavior; however, the lack of male parental investment in offspring makes assessment of male reproductive success difficult. We assessed paternity in a small population (mean individuals sighted per year = 93) of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis (G. Cuvier, 1829)) utilizing noninvasively collected fecal material. Samples (n = 88) ...

Responses of Human-Habituated Wild Atlantic Spotted Dolphins to Play Behaviors Using a Two-Way Human/Dolphin Interface

Echolocation signals of wild Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis).

An array of four hydrophones arranged in a symmetrical star configuration was used to measure the echolocation signals of the Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) in the Bahamas. The spacing between the center hydrophone and the other hydrophones was 45.7 cm. A video camera was attached to the array and a video tape recorder was time synchronized with the computer used to digitize the ...

Noninvasive methodology for the sampling and extraction of DNA from free-ranging Atlantic spotted dolphins

Genetic sampling and molecular investigations are important parts of studying wild populations. However, collecting tissues from free-ranging animals can be difficult or impractical. This study develops a sampling and extraction protocol for template DNA from faecal material collected in a marine environment from small cetaceans. DNA was extracted from faecal material of free-ranging Atlantic s...

Molecular Assessment of Mating Strategies in a Population of Atlantic Spotted Dolphins

Similar to other small cetacean species, Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) have been the object of concentrated behavioral study. Although mating and courtship behaviors occur often and the social structure of the population is well-studied, the genetic mating system of the species is unknown. To assess the genetic mating system, we genotyped females and their progeny at ten micros...