Reflections on the Summer...

School has started and our research team is back in school or at home! We are moving to the other phases of our yearly research, which focuses more on overall population monitoring. We asked our Field Assistants to reflect on what they've learned this summer, what they still want to know, and where they are going. Here are their responses. THANK YOU to their hard work this summer!

Jaiere: 
Having the opportunity to be a full-time summer intern for the Cedar Key Dolphin Project was an amazing experience. Before coming to Florida for the summer, I had little experience regarding marine mammal science and field work. Over the past three months I have learned a substantial amount of information about bottlenose dolphin social and foraging behavior, the specific individuals residing in and around Cedar Key, and their habitats. I also learned a lot about other related topics to the project, including boating etiquette and logistics. I did not know that there could be in a single dolphin performing the driver-barrier technique; I thought the behavior was only performed in groups. I also did not know that there is potential for mothers to steal calves from other mothers! Throughout the season we had some technical difficulties, and it was rewarding learning about the boat itself, including names of different parts of the boat and learning the standard procedure of prepping the boat before going out onto the water.

Due to the driver-barrier foraging technique being the dominant focus of the project, there were lots of questions asked, and some still needing to be answered after observing and analyzing the dolphins for the past three months. Therefore, I am still curious about the social structure associated with driver-barrier. I would be interested in learning more about individuals’ memory capacities and if there is an intentional hierarchical influence when determining who is driving, and what that entails. For example, do the dolphins have the capacity to remember and rank the success of driving of specific individuals over a long period of time? I also would be interested in learning more about mother/calf pairs, and the genetic influence, if any, of learning driver-barrier and other foraging techniques. Not only have I learned so much about marine mammal science, but I have also improved on quickly and efficiently applying new knowledge to real-life situations, which will definitely be of great service to me in my future educational endeavors. I plan to continue my education via a PhD focusing on interdisciplinary ecology, yearning to specifically focus on marine mammal behavior. Therefore, this internship gave me the opportunity to expand my knowledge in that area and open doors for more opportunities to
continue to expand my knowledge on marine mammal behavior and other related topics. A big thanks to the Cedar Key Dolphin Project for an amazing summer!

Faith:
This field season I learned so much about dolphins and their unique behaviors. Before I came here, I didn’t know anything about role-specialization in foraging, and I didn’t know about the immense range of foraging strategies that dolphins utilize. After all, how many ways can there be to catch a fish? Apparently a lot! I also didn’t know how specialized different foraging tactics are based on the location. In addition to learning more about bottlenose dolphins as a species, I was able to get to know some of the dolphins that reside in the area. They really do have their own personalities!

I would be curious to learn more about what other foraging strategies dolphins in this area utilize. DB is the only documented example of role specialization with a division of labor documented in any marine mammal, but why is role specialization so rare? What other species (cetaceans and otherwise) use role specialization? Is knowledge passed down primarily through matrilines or do dolphins learn from other non-related animals as well? How much do resident and transient animals mingle? Could they learn from residents and utilize the tactics they pick up elsewhere?

After I finish my bachelor’s degree, I would like to enter a marine biology graduate program. This summer, I’ve gained some essential skills that will serve me well in my future studies. For example, I’ve become much better at photo ID since starting. This method is used in a variety of species, but especially in marine mammal studies. I’ve also learned a lot of field research skills this season. I learned just much goes into working safely on the water! It’s been so much fun to observe the dolphin’s interactions this summer. I’ve really learned a lot about cetaceans
and field research.

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