Detailed observations and mechanisms of mud ring feeding by common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus truncatus) in Florida Bay, Florida, U.S.A.

Abstract

The feeding behaviors of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus truncatus) are diverse and often a product of habitat, social learning, and availability and behavior of prey species (

Lords of the Rings: Mud ring feeding by bottlenose dolphins in a Caribbean estuary revealed from sea, air, and space

“…The mud ring feeding behavior documented in Chetumal‐Corozal Bay was remarkably similar to that documented in Florida Bay (Engleby & Powell, 2019; Torres & Read, 2009), occurring nearshore in very shallow waters (<1 m) dominated by mud, sand, and silt substrates (see Video S1). We are confident that these rings have not been caused by other organisms or by boats due to their unique circular characteristics and observed associations with dolphin foraging in both regions.…”

“…Here, we document the occurrence of mud ring feeding in coastal bottlenose dolphins in Chetumal‐Corozal Bay in Mexico and Belize using a combination of remote sensing, boat‐based, and aerial methods. The distinct circular mud ring trails (observed using VHR satellite imagery) and dolphin behaviors (observed from a small boat, planes, and small UAVs) in Chetumal‐Corozal Bay are similar to those reported in Florida Bay (Engleby & Powell, 2019; Torres & Read, 2009) and we hypothesize that similarities between these shallow bay habitats drive dolphins to develop convergent foraging behaviors.…”

“…Mud ring feeding dolphins in Florida Bay exclusively target species of mullet, such as white mullet ( Mugil curema ; Engleby & Powell, 2019; Torres & Read, 2009). The prey species hunted by bottlenose dolphins during mud ring feeding in Chetumal‐Corozal Bay are as yet unknown and dolphin diets or regional prey preferences are yet to be investigated.…”

“…Mud ring feeding is a tactic used by common bottlenose dolphins ( T. truncatus ) inhabiting the interior of Florida Bay (Engleby & Powell, 2019; Torres & Read, 2009). This tactic involves a single “ring‐maker” dolphin (typically in a group) that swims rapidly in a circle near the seafloor along shallow inner‐basin mud banks.…”

Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) interaction with fish farms in the Gulf of Ambracia, western Greece

“…Finally, the broad extent of the fish farm area (7.5 km 2 ) and the high density of cages (55 cages km −2 ) exacerbate habitat encroachment. The bottlenose dolphin is certainly an opportunistic species capable of developing multiple adaptive strategies (Connor et al, 2000;Gonzalvo et al, 2016;Genov et al, 2018;Rechimont et al, 2018;Engleby & Powell, 2019;Piwetz, 2019), but the increased difficulty to effectively capture prey over an extensive area with a high density of cages may overcome the higher availability of prey and explain why dolphins avoid the fish farm area.…”