Florida dolphins separate hunting and communication areas — Mongabay

Researchers have found that dolphins along Florida’s Atlantic coast in the United States use separate marine areas for social interaction and foraging. In coastal waters, the animals more often produced whistles used to communicate with one another, while rapid echolocation clicks prevailed in places with large numbers of sound-producing fish, Mongabay reports.

Recordings from an autonomous vehicle

The findings are presented in a study published in the journal PeerJ. Scientists collected data for two months on Florida’s eastern shelf, between Fort Pierce and Jacksonville. They used a 3.7-meter autonomous marine glider powered by solar energy and propelled by waves.

The vehicle recorded 62 hours of underwater sound while also measuring water temperature and salinity, turbidity, and chlorophyll-a concentration. During the analysis, scientists detected dolphins in more than 1,600 recordings. Their signals were divided into whistles used for communication and rapid clicks that help the animals locate prey through echolocation.

Distinct acoustic environments

Researchers found that whistles were associated with location, water temperature, and background noise levels. Dolphins used coastal areas for social interaction. At the same time, clicks were more often recorded where there were many fish capable of producing sounds.

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The study’s lead author, marine scientist Laurent Cherubin of the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University, noted that such observations could help identify feeding and hunting areas that require protection. In particular, the data may be useful for measures aimed at reducing noise impacts in areas where dolphins reside and hunt.

Fish may respond to predators

The data also suggested that fish may become quieter when a dolphin appears nearby. Scientists believe this may indicate that prey use acoustic signals to detect approaching predators.

The team plans to repeat the study in the coming years to track changes in dolphin behavior amid marine heatwaves, coastal development, and other human activities.