Feeding aggregation and aggressive interaction bet

Authors: Mariano A Coscarella Enrique A Crespo

Publish Date: 2009/07/07

Volume: 28, Issue: 1, Pages: 183-

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Abstract

We report the first recorded interactions between bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus and Commerson’s dolphins Cephalorhynchus commersonii The diurnal behavioral patterns of bottlenose dolphins in Bahía Engaño Argentina were similar to those described for other coastal populations around the world The majority of the feeding bouts were recorded near the mouth the Chubut River When not feeding near the river bottlenose dolphins generally swam along the coast and interactions with Commerson’s dolphins were recorded very close to the shore on two occasions during a 3year period In the first event both species were feeding on a fish school The second interaction was aggressive in nature involving one juvenile and three adult bottlenose dolphins with several Commerson’s dolphins Two of the adult bottlenose dolphins attacked the Commerson’s dolphins We propose that the observed behavior represented defense of the juvenile bottlenose dolphinThe authors are indebted to many people and organizations for the institutional logistical and financial support given throughout this study We thank the Centro Nacional Patagónico––CONICET Fundación BBVA BIOCON 04 ANPCyT 4025 4030 11679 and 33934 and Project PNUD ARG02/018 BB27 We also thank the Secretaría de Turismo de Chubut that granted the permits to carry out the studies Néstor García made the determination of the prey species found in the stomach content of the beached bottlenose dolphin Dr Dave Beauchamp improved the language style

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