Dear MARMAM community, On behalf of all authors, we are pleased to announce our recent publication in Scientific Reports:
Fiori, L., Davis, R.W., Würsig, B., Orbach, D.N. 2024. Energetic savings of bow-riding dolphins. Scientific Reports 14:30056. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81920-y ABSTRACT: Bow-riding occurs when dolphins swim in the pressure waves at the front of a vessel. Bow-riding is hypothesized to be “fun” for dolphins or to save them energy although the energetics have not been explored. An UAS (Unoccupied Aerial System) was used to follow and video-record adult dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) bow-riding in front of a research vessel or free-swimming off Kaikoura, New Zealand. Videos of individual dolphins swimming in a linear direction at consistent speeds were analyzed with respiration rate used as a proxy for energy expenditure (bow riding n = 51; free-swimming n = 62). The respiration rates of bow-riding dolphins remained relatively constant across swimming speeds and were 45% lower than free-swimming dolphins at speeds exceeding 4 m/s, indicating substantial energetic savings. The respiration rates of free-swimming dolphins increased exponentially with speed, suggesting that dolphins incur comparatively high energetic expenditures from swimming rapidly. This research advances understanding of the biological function of bow-riding behavior and supports the energy saving hypothesis. Swimming energetics can be used to assess the impacts of anthropogenic disturbances to dolphin energy budgets. Open access to the article is available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-81920-y Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Best, Lorenzo Fiori, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Research Associate Department of Life Sciences Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi 6300 Ocean Dr. Tidal Hall 324
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