Vocal Productions of Rhythms by the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus)

Date of Award

2006

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Harley, Heidi

Keywords

Dolphin, Rhythm, Vocalization

Area of Concentration

Biopsychology

Abstract

This investigation explored the variation in the vocal responses of an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) within a larger study of his ability to produce rhythms. In the larger rhythm production study, the dolphin was shown one of six objects and reinforced for the correct vocal response to the object. Each object was labeled with its own rhythm, consisting of a sequence of long and short tones, which the dolphin produced vocally. The dolphin learned to produce the appropriate rhythm to the appropriate object accurately. An analysis of his vocal responses across eight months of the study revealed that the dolphin varied frequencies and durations across the rhythms while maintaining the structure of each rhythm. The rhythm also changed in general ways. As the study progressed, the dolphin produced fewer single frequency long elements and more long frequency upsweeps (low to high). In addition, short elements became louder and more broadband. This study demonstrates that dolphins may represent rhythms in terms of relative durations and frequencies versus absolute durations and frequencies, and also suggests the importance of contour in the dolphin�s vocal repertoire.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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