Deep thinkers inside the minds of whales, dolphins, and porpoises PDF
Preview Deep thinkers inside the minds of whales, dolphins, and porpoises
DEEP T HINKERS DE E P T H I N K E R S Inside the minds of whales, dolphins, and porpoises Edited by JANET MANN CAMILLA BUTTI HEIDI E. HARLEY PATRICK HOF VINCENT JANIK ERIC PATTERSON ANDREW READ LUKE RENDELL LAELA SAYIGH HAL WHITEHEAD The University of Chicago Press Chicago The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 60637 © 2017 Quarto Publishing plc All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations in critical articles and reviews. For more information, contact the University of Chicago Press, 1427 E. 60th St., Chicago, IL 60637. Published 2017 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 1 2 3 4 5 ISBN-13: 978-0-226-38747-5 (cloth) ISBN-13: 978-0-226-38750-5 (e-book) DOI: 10.7208/chicago/9780226387505.001.0001 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Mann, Janet, editor. Title: Deep thinkers : inside the minds of whales, dolphins, and porpoises / edited by Janet Mann. Description: Chicago : The University of Chicago Press, 2017. | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2017013377 | ISBN 9780226387475 (cloth : alk. paper) | ISBN 9780226387505 (e-book) Subjects: LCSH: Cetacea—Psychology. | Cetacea—Behavior. | Animal intelligence. | Cognition in animals. | Animal communication. Classification: LCC QL737.C4 D398 2017 | DDC 599.515/13—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017013377 This book was conceived, designed, and produced by Ivy Press 58 West Street, Brighton BN1 2RA, United Kingdom Publisher Susan Kelly Creative Director Michael Whitehead Editorial Director Tom Kitch Art Directors Wayne Blades and Kevin Knight Commissioning Editor Kate Shanahan Senior Editor Stephanie Evans Project Editor Fleur Jones Designer Simon Goggin Illustrators John Woodcock and Richard Peters Picture Researcher Alison Stevens Front cover image Bryant Austin Printed in China CONTENTS 8 INTRODUCTION 92 CHAPTER 5 Janet Mann QUINTESSENTIALLY SOCIAL CETACEANS 12 CHAPTER 1 Janet Mann BENEATH THE SURFACE Social bonds bind cetaceans throughout their Janet Mann & Andrew Read lifetimes. Long-term studies have been crucial How and why do we study cetaceans? This in revealing remarkably complex communities chapter looks at the history of human association in which relationships are based on affiliation, with cetaceans from whaling to research and aggression, kinship, communal care, protection, monitoring in the wild and in captivity and the mating strategies, and extended networks. challenges ahead. 122 CHAPTER 6 24 CHAPTER 2 DEEP CULTURE THE CETACEAN BRAIN Hal Whitehead & Luke Rendell Camilla Butt i & Patrick Hof We may assume culture to be a uniquely human By studying mammals’ brains and comparing condition, but cetaceans display considerable those of odontocetes and mysticetes scientists cultural diversity. This chapter assesses behavior, demonstate that, in terms of intelligence, size isn’t communication, social dynamics, migration, everything. This chapter considers the relationship cooperative hunting, and learned foraging techniques. between brain and body mass and how scientists determine what it means to have a big brain. 1 44 CHAPTER 7 CETACEAN TOOL USE 36 CHAPTER 3 Eric Patt erson & Janet Mann COGNITION Like primates and birds, cetaceans use tools for Heidi E. Harley different tasks and different reasons: sticks, shells, Humans make sense of their surroundings primarily and sponges become tools for attraction, display, by sight, a perspective that can skew understanding and foraging purposes. of cetacean cognition. This chapter adopts the cetacean perception of their aquatic world—using 1 60 CHAPTER 8 multiple senses, including sound and echolocation. US & THEM Andrew Read 66 CHAPTER 4 From our fi rst encounters with whales as game CETACEAN COMMUNICATION to att empts to save species from extinction, this Laela Sayigh & Vincent Janik chapter looks at how humans and cetaceans How do cetaceans communicate through water? coexist. Hunting, fishing, pollution, and sonic Studies of whale song and dolphin whistles disturbance are among the threats whales and demonstrate the types of communication and dolphins face from human activity. consider call function, social recognition, and communication networks. 186 GLOSSARY 188 RESOURCES & NOTES ON CONTRIBUTORS 190 INDEX & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INTRODUCTION Janet Mann Few species delight humans more than cetaceans, with their massive size, acrobatic ability, social nature, and intelligence. Anyone who has been on a boat and seen a wild whale, dolphin, or porpoise remembers this experience for eternity, even if he or she knows little about them or even which species was spotted. Until quite recently, most of what we knew about cetaceans came from whaling, fisheries, or captivity. None of these circumstances were natural and all were focused on how cetaceans served humans (for food, oil, or entertainment), not on the animals themselves. However, the species we exploited so heavily for centuries now command our attention and respect for their extraordinary intelligence and evolutionary significance. Since the 1960s, dolphins, whales, and porpoises WHAT ARE CETACEANS? have gained increasing legal protections from hunting, Modern-day cetaceans are impressive products of incidental takes (for example, netting a dolphin during millions of years of evolution. Having undergone massive fishing operations), and intentional captures for aquarium transitions since an ungulate-like (hooved) ancestor moved display. In 1972, the US Congress passed the Marine into the seas some 50 million years ago, cetaceans are an Mammal Protection Act, which established a moratorium exemplary illustration of evolution at a grand scale and on taking and importing marine mammals, albeit with extreme adaptation. They also provide intriguing cases some exceptions—such as aboriginal hunting. At the same for convergent evolution—where a trait has evolved more time, wildlife biologists and comparative psychologists than once to serve similar adaptive functions (like blubber initiated studies of wild and captive cetaceans, with some in cetaceans and seals as both fat stores and insulation). long-term studies lasting more than 30 years. Scientists All cetaceans evolved critical adaptations to their have contributed enormously to our understanding of marine environment. A marked increase in size let these magnificent mammals. This work has revealed cetaceans reduce heat loss and maintain body temperature. the intricacy and longevity of their social bonds, their The nose became a blowhole that migrated to the top of elaborate networks and social structures, their resilient the head for easy breathing at the surface. For efficient and ephemeral cultures, their complex foraging tactics, movement in water, a number of physiological changes and their impressive cognitive skills. Importantly, this occurred including hair loss and replacing forelimbs with work also placed cetaceans in a comparative framework pectoral fins for steering and hind limbs with a robust tail with other marine and terrestrial animals. and flukes for propulsion. The pelvis became detached from Our understanding of cetaceans has advanced the vertebrae to facilitate movement. Cetacean blood and considerably in the last 50 years and continues to muscle is specially designed to retain oxygen through change as we debate whether these highly intelligent a high volume of blood, concentrated hemoglobin and animals should be in captivity at all, or should be myoglobin, and larger lungs, which can collapse when afforded “rights” as sentient beings. Occasionally the diving to avoid gas bubbles in the blood (decompression popular press highlights an exciting research finding, sickness or “the bends”). Cetacean eyes have anatomical but until now no book has covered the state-of-the-art and molecular adaptations to the light limitations of the scientific discoveries across cetacean species. To this aquatic environment, including a highly spherical lens and end, some of the world’s authorities on cetacean corneal design that allows for acute vision in both air and n biology and behavior were invited to contribute to water. Their bones are dense—including the ear bones, o ti this book in their areas of expertise. Each chapter which aid in underwater hearing. Cetaceans lost outer c du focuses on a key theme, concept, or problem. Deep ears in favor of a streamlined physique, but they have fat o r Thinkers is dedicated to highlighting some of the pads in their jaws to aid in hearing. Because cetaceans t n I extraordinary features of cetaceans that have nurse underwater, they can curl their tongues to enable 8 entranced scientists and nonscientists alike. nursing from inside the mammary slit. Introduction 9
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