Dolphins Use Diplomacy in Their Communication, Biologists Find

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100609094355.htm
                According to this article, new research reveals the complexity and our lack of understanding about the communication of dolphins. At first, the scientific community has always thought that whistles were the main sounds that the dolphins make and were unaware of the important and significant use of the burst-pulsed sounds. Researchers have shown that these sounds are crucial to their social life and mirror their behavior. Burst-pulsed sounds are used to socialize and maintain their position in the social hierarchy in order to stop the physical conflict in the life of the bottlenose dolphins. According to the experts, the most tonal, melodious whistle sounds allow the dolphins to stay in contact with each other and to organize hunting strategies. On the other hand, the burst-pulsed sounds are more complex and varied. It is used to avoid physical aggression of high excitement in situations such as when they are competing for the same piece of food, which they both want. Bottlenose dolphins are said to make longer burst-pulsed sounds when they are hunting and during the times of high aggression.


                This article relates to science/biology concepts since it’s talking about how the bottlenose dolphins communicate with each other not only through whistles but also burst-pulsed sounds. The whistles keep the dolphins in contact with each other. The burst-pulsed sounds keep the dolphins away from physical aggression, so that they won’t hurt each other fighting over food. These sounds are what the dolphins make and are vital to their social life and behavior.

                This information was put in the newspaper because it’s interesting to know that the dolphins make other sounds rather than just whistles. It is also interesting to know that those sounds allow the dolphins to do certain things like keeping in contact, organizing hunting strategies, and avoiding physical aggression. According to this article, many people probably think the way dolphins communicate are simple, just whistling and making sounds. This study reveals our lack of understanding about the communication of these marine mammals.