Hi all,

We are pleased to share our new publication in Proceedings B:

Moore BL, Connor RC, Allen SJ, Krützen M, King SL (2020). Acoustic coordination by allied male dolphins in a cooperative context. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.2944

Abstract

Synchronous displays are hallmarks of many animal societies, ranging from the pulsing flashes of fireflies, to military marching in humans. Such displays are known to facilitate mate attraction or signal relationship quality. Across many taxa, synchronous male displays appear to be driven by competition, while synchronous displays in humans are thought to be unique in that they serve a cooperative function. Indeed, it is well established that human synchrony promotes cooperative endeavours and increases success in joint action tasks. We examine another system in which synchrony is tightly linked to cooperative behaviour. Male bottlenose dolphins form long-lasting, multi-level, cooperative alliances in which they engage in coordinated efforts to coerce single oestrus females. Previous work has revealed the importance of motor synchrony in dolphin alliance behaviour. Here, we demonstrate that allied dolphins also engage in acoustic coordination whereby males will actively match the tempo and, in some cases, synchronize the production of their threat vocalization when coercing females. This finding demonstrates that male dolphins are capable of acoustic coordination in a cooperative context and, moreover, suggests that both motor and acoustic coordination are features of coalitionary behaviour that are not limited to humans.

You can access the paper here: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2019.2944

All the best,

Stephanie, Bronte, Richard, Michael and Simon

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Dr Stephanie L. King

Senior Lecturer

School of Biological Sciences

Life Sciences Building | 24 Tyndall Avenue

University of Bristol | Bristol BS8 1TQ | U.K.

+44 (0) 117 39 41191

Twitter: @_StephanieLKing

website: www.slkinggroup.weebly.com

website: www.sharkbaydolphins.org