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PubMed1999

cDNA cloning and functional expression of the dolphin retinal rod Na-Ca+K exchanger NCKX1: comparison with the functionally silent bovine NCKX1.

cDNAs of human and bovine retinal rod Na+-Ca2++K+ exchanger (NCKX1) have previously been cloned, but potassium-dependent Na-Ca exchange activity upon heterologous expression has not been demonstrated. We have cloned NCKX1 cDNA from dolphin, examined function upon transfection in HEK293 cells, and compared the dolphin sequence encoded by the cDNA with those of human and bovine. The dolphin NCKX1 cDNA encodes 1013 amino acid residues. Comparison to bovine and human NCKX1 revealed strong conservation in the transmembrane domains (>95%), but relatively low conservation in the large extracellular ( approximately 50%) and cytosolic (<50%) domains. The dolphin cytosolic domain differs from the bovine sequence by the absence of a stretch of 114 amino acids. HEK293 cells transfected with dolphin NCKX1 cDNA showed K+-dependent Na-Ca exchange in >95% of the experiments, whereas transfection with bovine NCKX1 yielded no function. The bovine NCKX1 phenotype was imparted on dolphin NCKX1 when the dolphin cytosolic loop was replaced by that from bovine. Conversely, deletion of 114 amino acids from the bovine sequence to match the dolphin sequence resulted in a mutant bovine NCKX1 which performed K+-dependent Na-Ca exchange. These results suggest that domains within the large cytosolic loop of NCKX1 control functional activity when expressed in heterologous systems.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Evidence for infanticide in bottlenose dolphins: an explanation for violent interactions with harbour porpoises?

Most harbour porpoises found dead on the north-east coast of Scotland show signs of attack by sympatric bottlenose dolphins, but the reason(s) for these violent interactions remain(s) unclear. Post-mortem examinations of stranded bottlenose dolphins indicate that five out of eight young calves from this same area were also killed by bottlenose dolphins. These data, together with direct observations of an aggressive interaction between an adult bottlenose dolphin and a dead bottlenose dolphin calf, provide strong evidence for infanticide in this population. The similarity in the size range of harbour porpoises and dolphin calves that showed signs of attack by bottlenose dolphins suggests that previously reported interspecific interactions could be related to this infanticidal behaviour. These findings appear to provide the first evidence of infanticide in cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises). We suggest that infanticide must be considered as a factor shaping sociality in this and other species of cetaceans, and may have serious consequences for the viability of small populations.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2003

Toxoplasmosis in Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphins (Sousa chinensis), from Queensland.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical signs, gross pathology, serology, bacteriology, histopathology, electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry findings associated with toxoplasmosis in four Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphins (Sousa chinensis) that stranded in Queensland in 2000 and 2001. DESIGN: Clinical assessment, gross necropsy, and laboratory examinations. PROCEDURE: Necropsies were performed on four S. chinensis to determine cause of death. Laboratory tests including serology, bacteriology, histopathology and transmission electron microscopy were done on the four dolphins. Immunohistochemistry was done on the brain, heart, liver, lung, spleen and adrenal gland from various dolphins to detect Toxoplasma gondii antigens. RESULTS: Necropsies showed all of four S. chinensis that stranded in Queensland in 2000 and 2001 had evidence of predatory shark attack and three were extremely emaciated. Histopathological examinations showed all four dolphins had toxoplasmosis with tissue cysts resembling T. gondii in the brain. Tachyzoite stages of T. gondii were detected in the lungs, heart, liver, spleen and adrenal gland, variously of all four dolphins. Electron microscopy studies and immunohistochemistry confirmed the tissues cysts were those of T. gondii. All four dolphins also had intercurrent disease including pneumonia, three had peritonitis and one had pancreatitis. CONCLUSION: Four S. chinensis necropsied in Queensland in 2000 and 2001 were found to be infected with toxoplasmosis. It is uncertain how these dolphins became infected and further studies are needed to determine how S. chinensis acquire toxoplasmosis. All four dolphins stranded after periods of heavy rainfall, and coastal freshwater runoff may be a risk factor for T. gondii infection in S. chinensis. This disease should be of concern to wildlife managers since S. chinensis is a rare species and its numbers appear to be declining.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Assessment of dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) auditory sensitivity and hearing loss using jawphones.

Devices known as jawphones have previously been used to measure interaural time and intensity discrimination in dolphins. This study introduces their use for measuring hearing sensitivity in dolphins. Auditory thresholds were measured behaviorally against natural background noise for two bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus); a 14-year-old female and a 33-year-old male. Stimuli were delivered to each ear independently by placing jawphones directly over the pan bone of the dolphin's lower jaw, the assumed site of best reception. The shape of the female dolphin's auditory functions, including comparison measurements made in the free field, favorably matches that of the accepted standard audiogram for the species. Thresholds previously measured for the male dolphin at 26 years of age indicated a sensitivity difference between the ears of 2-3 dB between 4-10 kHz, which was considered unremarkable at the time. Thresholds for the male dolphin reported in this study suggest a high-frequency loss compared to the standard audiogram. Both of the male's ears have lost sensitivity to frequencies above 55 kHz and the right ear is 16-33 dB less sensitive than the left ear over the 10-40 kHz range, suggesting that males of the species may lose sensitivity as a function of age. The results of this study support the use of jawphones for the measurement of dolphin auditory sensitivity.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Linking the sounds of dolphins to their locations and behavior using video and multichannel acoustic recordings.

It is difficult to attribute underwater animal sounds to the individuals producing them. This paper presents a system developed to solve this problem for dolphins by linking acoustic locations of the sounds of captive bottlenose dolphins with an overhead video image. A time-delay beamforming algorithm localized dolphin sounds obtained from an array of hydrophones dispersed around a lagoon. The localized positions of vocalizing dolphins were projected onto video images. The performance of the system was measured for artificial calibration signals as well as for dolphin sounds. The performance of the system for calibration signals was analyzed in terms of acoustic localization error, video projection error, and combined acoustic localization and video error. The 95% confidence bounds for these were 1.5, 2.1, and 2.1 m, respectively. Performance of the system was analyzed for three types of dolphin sounds: echolocation clicks, whistles, and burst-pulsed sounds. The mean errors for these were 0.8, 1.3, and 1.3 m, respectively. The 95% confidence bound for all vocalizations was 2.8 m, roughly the length of an adult bottlenose dolphin. This system represents a significant advance for studying the function of vocalizations of marine animals in relation to their context, as the sounds can be identified to the vocalizing dolphin and linked to its concurrent behavior.

Acoustics↗

PubMed2002

Discrimination of amplitude-modulated synthetic echo trains by an echolocating bottlenose dolphin.

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) have an acute ability to use target echoes to judge attributes such as size, shape, and material composition. Most target recognition studies have focused on features associated with individual echoes as opposed to information conveyed across echo sequences (feature envelope of the multi-echo train). One feature of aspect-dependent targets is an amplitude modulation (AM) across the return echoes in the echo train created by relative movement of the target and dolphin. The current study examined whether dolphins could discriminate targets with different AM envelopes. "Electronic echoes" triggered by a dolphin's outgoing echolocation clicks were manipulated to create sinusoidal envelopes with varying AM rate and depth. Echo trains were equated for energy, requiring the dolphin to extract and retain information from multiple echoes in order to detect and report the presence of AM. The dolphin discriminated amplitude-modulated echo trains from those that were not modulated. AM depth thresholds were approximately 0.8 dB, similar to other published amplitude limens. Decreasing the rate of modulation from approximately 16 to 2 cycles per second did not affect the dolphin's AM depth sensitivity. The results support multiple-echo processing in bottlenose dolphin echolocation. This capability provides additional theoretical justification for exploring synthetic aperture sonar concepts in models of animal echolocation that potentially support theories postulating formation of images as an ultimate means for target identification.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

PubMed2006

Acoustic features of objects matched by an echolocating bottlenose dolphin.

The focus of this study was to investigate how dolphins use acoustic features in returning echolocation signals to discriminate among objects. An echolocating dolphin performed a match-to-sample task with objects that varied in size, shape, material, and texture. After the task was completed, the features of the object echoes were measured (e.g., target strength, peak frequency). The dolphin's error patterns were examined in conjunction with the between-object variation in acoustic features to identify the acoustic features that the dolphin used to discriminate among the objects. The present study explored two hypotheses regarding the way dolphins use acoustic information in echoes: (1) use of a single feature, or (2) use of a linear combination of multiple features. The results suggested that dolphins do not use a single feature across all object sets or a linear combination of six echo features. Five features appeared to be important to the dolphin on four or more sets: the echo spectrum shape, the pattern of changes in target strength and number of highlights as a function of object orientation, and peak and center frequency. These data suggest that dolphins use multiple features and integrate information across echoes from a range of object orientations.

Acoustics↗

PubMed1998

Experimental approaches towards interpreting dolphin-stimulated bioluminescence.

Flow-induced bioluminescence provides a unique opportunity for visualizing the flow field around a swimming dolphin. Unfortunately, previous descriptions of dolphin-stimulated bioluminescence have been largely anecdotal and often conflicting. Most references in the scientific literature report an absence of bioluminescence on the dolphin body, which has been invariably assumed to be indicative of laminar flow. However, hydrodynamicists have yet to find compelling evidence that the flow remains laminar over most of the body. The present study integrates laboratory, computational and field approaches to begin to assess the utility of using bioluminescence as a method for flow visualization by relating fundamental characteristics of the flow to the stimulation of naturally occurring luminescent plankton. Laboratory experiments using fully developed pipe flow revealed that the bioluminescent organisms identified in the field studies can be stimulated in both laminar and turbulent flow when shear stress values exceed approximately 0.1 N m-2. Computational studies of an idealized hydrodynamic representation of a dolphin (modeled as a 6:1 ellipsoid), gliding at a speed of 2 m s-1, predicted suprathreshold surface shear stress values everywhere on the model, regardless of whether the boundary layer flow was laminar or turbulent. Laboratory flow visualization of a sphere demonstrated that the intensity of bioluminescence decreased with increasing flow speed due to the thinning of the boundary layer, while flow separation caused a dramatic increase in intensity due to the significantly greater volume of stimulating flow in the wake. Intensified video recordings of dolphins gliding at speeds of approximately 2 m s-1 confirmed that brilliant displays of bioluminescence occurred on the body of the dolphin. The distribution and intensity of bioluminescence suggest that the flow remained attached over most of the body. A conspicuous lack of bioluminescence was often observed on the dolphin rostrum and melon and on the leading edge of the dorsal and pectoral fins, where the boundary layer is thought to be thinnest. To differentiate between effects related to the thickness of the stimulatory boundary layer and those due to the latency of the bioluminescence response and the upstream depletion of bioluminescence, laboratory and dolphin studies of forced separation and laminar-to-turbulent transition were conducted. The observed pattern of stimulated bioluminescence is consistent with the hypothesis that bioluminescent intensity is directly related to the thickness of the boundary layer.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Dolphin morbilliviral infection from the Mediterranean Sea did not spread into the Adriatic Sea.

In July of 1990, a mass mortality of striped dolphins due to morbillivirus infection had begun in the western Mediterranean. By 1992, the infection had spread to the eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea. Other dolphin species in the Mediterranean were not found to have died due to this infection, although it is possible for many species of marine mammals to be infected. In 1994, it was published that morbillivirus infection had caused Atlantic bottlenose dolphin mortality in the USA. Although striped dolphins are not residents of the Adriatic Sea, it was hypothesised that the infection could have spread from them to Adriatic bottlenose dolphins. From October 1990 through April 1997, 16 dolphin carcasses found along the Croatian Adriatic coast were examined. Tissues were examined by light microscopy for syncytia and inclusion bodies, histopathologic lesions characteristic of dolphin morbillivirus infection, and by detection of morbilliviral RNA by a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). No signs of morbillivirus infection were found in the examined animals. It was concluded that this infection had not spread to dolphins of the Adriatic Sea up until that date.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

PROFILE: River Dolphins in Bangladesh: Conservation and the Effects of Water Development

/ Ganges river dolphins (Platanista gangetica) are threatened in Bangladesh from the effects of dams, large embankment schemes, dredging, fisheries bycatch, directed hunting, and water pollution. Visual surveys of the section of the Jamuna River located between the divergence of the Old Brahmaputra River and the confluence of the Padma River and the section of the Kushiyara River located between the Bangladesh-India border and the confluence of the Korangi River recorded a sighting rate of 0.13 sightings/km (mean group size = 1.8 dolphins) and 0.08 sightings/km (mean group size = 3.8 dolphins), respectively. These sections of river were considered to be priority areas for investigation because several water development projects have already been constructed and more are planned for the areas. During the surveys we examined the remains of dolphins caught accidentally in plastic gillnets and observed fishermen catching the fish species Clupisoma garua using dolphin oil and body parts as a fish attractor. Additional studies are needed to assess the status of dolphins and effects of water development and fisheries bycatch. Feasibility studies should be conducted on designating dolphin/fish sanctuaries and creating artificial habitat or enhancing existing habitat in eddy countercurrent scour pools to mitigate deleterious impacts. The environmental requirements of river dolphins reflect the needs of productive and biotically diverse tropical rivers.KEY WORDS: Bangladesh; River dolphins; Water development; Platanista; Fisheries bycatch; Flood Action Plan; Dams; Embankments; Barrages

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

The object behind the echo: dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) perceive object shape globally through echolocation.

Two experiments tested a bottlenosed dolphin's ability to match objects across echolocation and vision. Matching was tested from echolocation sample to visual alternatives (E-V) and from visual sample to echolocation alternatives (V-E). In Experiment 1, the dolphin chose a match from among three-alternative objects that differed in overall (global) shape, but shared several 'local' features with the sample. The dolphin conducted a right-to-left serial nonexhaustive search among the alternatives, stopping when a match was encountered. It matched correctly on 93% of V-E trials and on 99% of E-V trials with completely novel combinations of objects despite the presence of many overlapping features. In Experiment 2, a fourth alternative was added in the form of a paddle that the dolphin could press if it decided that none of the three-alternatives matched the sample. When a match was present, the dolphin selected it on 94% of V-E trials and 95% of E-V trials. When a match was absent, the dolphin pressed the paddle on 74% and 76%, respectively, of V-E and E-V trials. The approximate 25% error rate, which consisted of a choice of one of the three non-matching alternatives in lieu of the paddle press, increased from right to center to left alternative object, reflecting successively later times in the dolphin's search path. A weakening in memory for the sample seemed the most likely cause of this error pattern. Overall, the results gave strong support to the hypothesis that the echolocating dolphin represents an object by its global appearance rather than by local features.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Accuracy of a third (Dolphin Voyager) versus first generation pulse oximeter (Nellcor N-180) in predicting arterial oxygen saturation and pulse rate in the anesthetized dog.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy of a 3rd (Dolphin Voyager) versus 1st generation pulse oximeter (Nellcor N-180). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective laboratory investigation. ANIMALS: Eight adult dogs. METHODS: In anesthetized dogs, arterial oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) was recorded simultaneously with each pulse oximeter. The oxygen fraction in inspired gas (FiO(2)) was successively reduced from 1.00 to 0.09, with re-saturation (FiO(2) 0.40) after each breathe-down step. After each 3-minute FiO(2) plateau, SpO(2) and pulse rate (PR) were compared with the fractional arterial saturation (SaO(2)) and PR determined by co-oximetry and invasive blood pressure monitoring, respectively. Data analysis included Bland-Altman (B-A) plots, Lin's concordance correlation factor (rho(c)), and linear regression models. RESULTS: Over a SaO(2) range of 33-99%, the overall bias (mean SpO(2) - SaO(2)), precision (SD of bias), and accuracy (A(rms)) for the Dolphin Voyager and Nellcor N-180 were 4.3%, 4.4%, and 6.1%, and 3.2%, 3.0%, and 4.3%, respectively. Bias increased at SaO(2) < 90%, more so with the Dolphin Voyager (from 1.6% to 8.6%) than Nellcor N-180 (from 3.2% to 4.5%). The SpO(2) readings correlated significantly with SaO(2) for both the Dolphin Voyager (rho(c) = 0.94) and Nellcor N-180 (rho(c) = 0.97) (p < 0.001). Regarding PR, bias, precision, and accuracy (A(rms)) for the Dolphin Voyager and Nellcor N-180 were -0.5, 4.6, and 4.6 and 1.38, 4.3, and 4.5 beats minute(-1), respectively. Significant correlation existed between pulse oximeter and directly measured PR (Dolphin Voyager: rho(c) = 0.98; Nellcor N-180: rho(c) = 0.99) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In anesthetized dogs with adequate hemodynamic function, both instruments record SaO(2) relatively accurately over a wide range of normal saturation values. However, there is an increasing overestimation at SaO(2) < 90%, particularly with the Dolphin Voyager, indicating that 3rd generation pulse oximeters may not perform better than older instruments. The 5.4-fold increase in bias with the Dolphin Voyager at SaO(2) < 90% stresses the importance of a 93-94% SpO(2) threshold to ensure an arterial saturation of >or=90%. In contrast, PR monitoring with both devices is very reliable.

Anesthesia↗

PubMed2005

Changes in epizoic crustacean infestations during cetacean die-offs: the mass mortality of Mediterranean striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba revisited.

In the summer and autumn of 1990, a cetacean morbillivirus caused a massive epizootic mortality of striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba in the western Mediterranean. Previous circumstantial evidence suggested that the disease could also have increased host susceptibility to infestations with epizoic crustaceans. In this study we provide strong evidence supporting this hypothesis. We examined striped dolphins stranded along the Mediterranean central coast of Spain from 1981 to 2004 (n = 136), and recorded data on prevalence, intensity of infestation, size and reproductive status of 2 sessile crustacean species specific to cetaceans, the phoront cirriped Xenobalanus globicipitis and the mesoparasitic copepod Pennella balaenopterae. Compared with the pre-epizootic (n = 12) and post-epizootic (n = 62) dolphin samples, the following changes were noted in the dolphins stranded during the epizootic (n = 62): (1) the prevalence of both X. globicipitis and P. balaenopterae increased; (2) the intensity of X. globicipitis and P. balaenopterae infestations did not increase; indeed, it was even slightly lower than in the other periods, as was their degree of aggregation; (3) individuals of both species were smaller, and a higher proportion were non-gravid; (4) the 2 species tended to co-occur in the same dolphins, but their numbers did not co-vary. These patterns strongly suggest that, during the epizootic, there was a short-term increase in the probability of infestation of these 2 species because of the sudden rise in the population of susceptible hosts; the growth of the new recruits was limited by the early death of dolphins. The high susceptibility was likely related to the immunosuppressive effects of viral infection and the abnormally heavy loads of polychlorinated biphenyls found in sick dolphins; the level of inbreeding was also higher in dolphins from the 'epizootic' sample. Epizoic crustaceans could be suitable indicators of health in cetacean populations.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2003

Diaphragm muscle development in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

Being born directly into the aquatic environment creates unique challenges for the breathing muscles of neonatal cetaceans. Not only must these muscles be active at the instant of birth to ventilate the lungs, but their activities must also be coordinated with those of the locomotor muscles such that breathing takes place only at the water's surface. At least one major locomotory muscle of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) has been demonstrated to be well developed and, therefore, able to power the neonatal dolphin's early movements (Dearolf et al. [2000] J Morphol 244:203-215). Thus, because of the demands for coordinated behavior with the locomotor muscles, it is hypothesized that the breathing muscles of bottlenose dolphins, represented in this study by the diaphragm, will also demonstrate adult morphology at birth. However, histochemical and biochemical analyses demonstrate that neonatal dolphins have immature diaphragms, with only 52% of the adult slow fiber-type profile (neonates: 34% slow-twitch fibers; adults: 66% slow-twitch fibers). The developmental state of the dolphin diaphragm is compared to those of other neonatal mammals, using a muscle development index (% slow-twitch fibers in neonatal muscle / % slow-twitch fibers in adult muscle). Fiber-type profiles reported in the literature are used to calculate index values for the diaphragms of altricial rats, rabbits, and cats, intermediate baboons and humans, and precocial sheep and horses. The dolphin is not unique in having an immature diaphragm at birth; however, there is a positive relationship between the developmental state of the diaphragm and the overall developmental state of the neonate. The presence of type IIc ("undifferentiated") fibers in the diaphragms of altricial developers (e.g., rats, rabbits, and cats) is correlated with the slow contraction speeds recorded from their diaphragms. The diaphragms of neonatal horses and dolphins express little to no type IIc fibers and, thus, may have the ability to contract at the speeds required for their increased ventilation rates. These results lead to the modification of the criterion for evaluating the developmental state of a muscle at birth. Thus, the developmental state of a neonatal muscle should be based on both its value of Dearolf et al.'s (2000) developmental index, as well as the percentage of type IIc fibers found in that muscle.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Dolphin pointing is linked to the attentional behavior of a receiver.

In 2001, Xitco et al. (Anim Cogn 4:115-123) described spontaneous behaviors in two bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) that resembled pointing and gaze alternation. The dolphins' spontaneous behavior was influenced by the presence of a potential receiver, and the distance between the dolphin and the receiver. The present study adapted the technique of Call and Tomasello [(1994) J Comp Psychol 108:307-317], used with orangutans to test the effect of the receiver's orientation on pointing in these same dolphins. The dolphins directed more points and monitoring behavior at receivers whose orientation was consistent with attending to the dolphins. The results demonstrated that the dolphins' pointing and monitoring behavior, like that of apes and infants, was linked to the attentional behavior of the receiver.

Animal Communication↗

PubMed1992

Calretinin-immunoreactive neurons in the primary visual cortex of dolphin and human brains.

A new class of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons immunoreactive to the calcium-binding protein calretinin (CR) was demonstrated in primary visual cortices of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and humans (Homo sapiens). Comparative analysis revealed several differences between dolphin and human visual cortex in the laminar distribution of CR-positive perikarya, although general typology of the immunoreactive CR-positive neurons was similar in both species. Thus, in both human and dolphin primary visual cortex almost all CR-positive neurons are non-pyramidal, either fusiform or bipolar cells, oriented with their long axis along the radial axis of the cortex. Large multipolar stellate cells were also observed in layers I and VI. The CR-positive neurons in the dolphin visual cortex are concentrated almost exclusively in layer I and, to a lesser extent, in layer II. In all other layers (IIIa, b, IIIc/V and VI) of the dolphin visual cortex CR-positive neurons were only rarely seen. In the human primary visual cortex CR-positive neurons are located mainly in layers II, III and IVa, b, c, with considerably lower densities of these cells observed in layers V and VI. CR-positive neurons in layer I of the human visual cortex are represented by Cajal-Retzius horizontal cells, whereas no such cells were seen in layer I of the dolphin neocortex. The numerical density of CR-positive neurons in the dolphin primary visual cortex is significantly lower than in the area of cortex in humans.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

PubMed1985

Reporting presence or absence of named objects by a language-trained dolphin.

Referential "reporting" was defined as the transmission of information about the presence or absence of symbolically-referenced real-world objects. In Experiment 1 two bottlenosed dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), trained in earlier studies to carry out instructions conveyed by imperative sentences expressed in artificial gestural or acoustic languages, each gave spontaneous indications that an object referenced in an imperative was absent from their tank. In Experiment 2 the dolphin tutored in the gestural language was taught to make explicit reports of object absence by pressing a "No" paddle in response to imperatives referencing an absent object. Absence was reported correctly on 84% of 97 missing-object probes inserted at random intervals among 598 sentences referring to objects that were present. Reports were typically made after active search of the tank for an average of 15.0 sec. False reports, that objects present were absent, were few (7.5%). In Experiment 3, the dolphin was taught an interrogative sentence form that enabled us to ask direct questions about the presence or absence of specific objects. Responses by the dolphin on the No paddle indicated absence, while responses on a "Yes" paddle indicated presence. From one to three objects were shown the dolphin and then placed in the tank in a discrete-trial procedure. In response to the interrogative, reports or object presence or absence were better than 91% correct with a single object in the tank and either that object or some other object referenced; accuracy declined to 72-78% correct with three objects present, but was still well above chance. Several lines of evidence suggested that the dolphin was attempting to remember which objects it had been shown, rather than conducting an active environmental search as in Experiment 2. The memory strategy became less efficient as the number of objects to be remembered increased. Overall, the results evidenced the language-trained dolphin's understanding of references to present or absent objects, its ability to inventory its environment to seek information about those objects, and its ability to report its obtained knowledge to others.

Animal Communication↗

PubMed1994

Nucleic acid hybridization analyses confirm the presence of a hitherto unknown morbillivirus in Mediterranean dolphins.

In 1990 an epidemic caused by a morbillivirus was noticed among Mediterranean dolphins. RNA was extracted from the tissues of dolphins and from cell cultures infected with a corresponding dolphin morbillivirus isolate. By nucleic acid hybridization this RNA was compared to RNA extracted from animal tissue or cell cultures infected with canine distemper virus (CDV), phocine distemper virus (PDV) or measles virus (MV). The presence of morbillivirus RNA in the dolphin tissue was demonstrated. Morbillivirus N, P, M and F gene mRNAs were detected in the RNA from dolphin morbillivirus infected cells. These mRNA species seemed to be of approximately the same size as the corresponding mRNA species of CDV, PDV and MV. The results of the comparison demonstrated that the dolphin morbillivirus is genetically different from CDV, PDV and MV. No indication of a close relationship between the dolphin isolate and either CDV, PDV or MV was found.

Animals↗