Page 5 - Gateways_2017_Fall

Perspective

he Chicago Zoological Society (CZS) is the umbrella
organization for some groundbreaking initiatives that are known
Tworldwide for their rsts in animal research. Weare proud that
the CZS Sarasota Dolphin Research Program—the longest-running
study of a wild dolphin population in the world—is one such initiative.
Under the direction of Dr. Randy Wells, sta of this agship program
have spent nearly ve decades adding important data to the scientic
By Stuart D. Strahl, Ph.D. world’s storehouse of knowledge about dolphins, mainly in Sarasota
President & CEO Bay o Florida’s western coast but also in other parts of the world.
Randy and his CZS dolphin research team have learned much about
the health, biology, life history, ecology, and social structure of these
amazing marine mammals over the years. For example, bottlenose
dolphins live in “ssion-fusion societies.” at’s a scientic way of saying
that they swim in groups—typically four to seven dolphins but sometimes
more—that frequently split up and reform with new members.
Despite groups’ frequently changing membership, our CZS
dolphin researchers have discovered patterns of associations
among females and males. e core of the bottlenose
dolphin community in Sarasota Bay is nursery
groups, which are comprisedoffemales
accompanied by their most recent calves, often
of similarage. esemothers tend to have similar
core areaswithin the community home range.
Adult males, on the other hand, tend to form very strong pair
bonds, and they range more widely, looking for mating opportunities.
Alliances of two males usually last for the life of one of them. When one
of a pair dies, the remaining dolphin sometimesnds a new partner.
is issue of Gateways contains a great primer on the CZS Sarasota
Dolphin Research Program. Of course, you can always visit S S
at Brookeld Zoo to meet our dolphins face-to-face. While you’re there,
spend some time observing the dolphins and see what you can learn about
their behavior. Observing is an important part of how Randy and the
other Sarasota program researchers have been so successful over the years.

BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS

BROOKFIELD ZOO | FALL 2017 5