WURSIG and WURSIG BEHAVIOR AND ECOLOGY OF TURSIOPS TRVNCATUS 



energ>', by surfing in this manner. How much pure 

 play (and perhaps play as a part of learning) is 

 involved, and whether or not dolphins really ride 

 waves to get a "free ride" to a different location are 

 questions which remain unanswered. 



In the present paper, we made an attempt to 

 describe some of the behavior patterns which we 

 saw most often from above the water surface, and 

 suggested various possible functions for them. We 

 realize, however, that most social interactions go 

 on under water, and that dolphins probably com- 

 municate with sound at least as extensively as 

 with observed movements. Tyack ( 1976) found dif- 

 ferences in quality and quantity of sounds pro- 

 duced by the bottlenosed dolphins of the present 

 study depending on whether they appeared to be 

 feeding, socializing, or resting. Although this is a 

 promising beginning, much more sound-behavior 

 correlation is necessary before biological meaning 

 can be ascribed to specific sounds. 



In this paper, we have described certain move- 

 ment patterns and behavior, and ascribed possible 

 functions to them. However, the present analysis 

 raises many more questions than it answers, and 

 may be regarded as a first step in understanding 

 the behavior of these animals. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 



Jen and Des Bartlett, Peter Tyack, Marty 

 Hyatt, and Russ Charif helped gather data. Jan I. 

 Wolitzky wrote the computer program for analyz- 

 ing theodolite track data, and Matt Lamishaw pa- 

 tiently worked at the computer. Roger and Katy 

 Payne provided material and intellectual support. 

 Kenneth Norris, Jay Quast, George C. Williams, 

 J. L. McHugh, Randall Wells, William Perrin, 

 Douglas Smith, and an anonymous reviewer for 

 the Fishery Bulletin critically read the manu- 

 script. Charles Walcott supported and encouraged 

 all phases of the research. We are especially gi-ate- 

 ful to him. 



This study was supported by the New York 

 Zoological Society, the Committee for Research 

 and Exploration of the National Geographic Soci- 

 ety, and the Progi-am for Neurobiology and Behav- 

 ior of the State University of New York at Stony 

 Brook. 



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