LTREB: Long-term Study of Bottlenose Dolphin Life History and Social Ecology

Georgetown University, Washington DC

Investigators

Abstract

LTREB: Long-term study of bottlenose dolphin life history and social ecology. Janet Mann and Richard Connor Bottlenose dolphins are best known to the public through popular media and shows in aquaria. The Shark Bay Dolphin Project, the second longest running wild dolphin project worldwide presents a complex picture of dolphin life, including a long nursing period (3-6 years), delayed reproduction (12+ years), foraging and possibly other "traditions" that are passed down from mother to offspring, and hierarchical multi-level adult male alliances. Only the great apes have shown comparable behavioral, social, and cognitive complexity. Although the research site is in Shark Bay, Australia, the long-term project data are maintained at Georgetown University; over a dozen international investigators contribute to the project annually. With the LTREB, a database manager will create, coordinate, update, and preserve the project database so that it can be accessed by researchers. The long-term data currently contain over 10,000 sightings of dolphin groups over the last 20 years involving over 900 dolphins. Of those, over 300 have been individually tracked in detail for thousands of additional hours. The core feature of the Shark Bay Dolphin Project- detailed knowledge of individual life history, behavior, genetics, and ecology- not only serves as the basis for important theoretical insights on why dolphins have large brains, a long juvenile period and complex social system, but also attracts public interest and commitment to wildlife education and conservation (www.monkeymiadolphins.org).