Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) increase whistling in the presence of ‘swim-with-dolphin’ tour operations

Abstract

The impact of cetacean eco-tourism on subject animals is not clearly understood. Studies that monitor this impact have traditionally concentrated on observable surface behaviour despite the fact that sound is the primary communication channel for cetaceans. This study monitored whistle production in free ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) to evaluate if dolphins vocalise at different rates in response to commercial dolphin-swim boats. Thirty-two hours of sound were recorded in the austral spring and summer of 1995/96. Results indicate that whistle production is significantly greater in the presence of commercial dolphin swim boats, regardless of dolphins’ behavioural state prior to the arrival of the vessels. The increase in whistle production suggests that group cohesion may be affected during approaches made by commercial dolphin swim tour-operators or may serve some other social function. Monitoring vocal behaviour offers another insight into short-term human impacts on cetaceans.