Vocal behaviour of allied male dolphins during cooperative mate guarding

• DOI: 10.1007/s10071-019-01290-1
• Publication Date: 2019-07-17T17:02:21Z
• Authors: Stephanie L. King; Simon J. Allen; Michael Krützen; Richard C. Connor
• Keywords: Bottlenose dolphin; Animal communication; Territoriality; Guard (computer science)

Coercive mate guarding, where males use aggression to control female movements, is a form of sexual coercion which functions constrain choice. Non-human primates, for example, herd females keep them away from competing males, but male bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) also close their alliance partners. Indeed, pairs and trios work together sequester single estrus defend alliances. Yet how facilitate such coordination remains unknown. Here, we investigate the vocal behaviour allied during herding individual females, examining production whistles 'pops' (a threat vocalisation) varied with behavioural state inter-animal distances. Allied produced both pops significantly more often at higher rates social interactions, though they differed in function. Whistle increased when new individuals joined consorting group, consistent previous showing that are part greeting sequence this species. matching appeared play role within-alliance coordination. Pop vocalisations nearest changed, likely inducing remain as coordinate guard switch. Building upon prior research movements response pops, show approach current whilst popping, leading Our results provide insights into signals cooperative guarding between dolphins.