Importance of Social Relationships in a Group of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) During a Natural Disaster

Tim Hoffland, Institute for Marine Mammal Studies
Deirdre Yeater, Sacred Heart University
Stan A. Kuczaj, The University of Southern Mississippi
Moby Solangi, Institute for Marine Mammal Studies

Abstract

The article discusses a study to determine the importance of social relationships in a group of bottlenose Dolphins during a natural disaster. It analyzed the effect of several social factors including loss of a close associate, change in the dominance hierarchy and introduction of a new individual, on their behavior.