Groundbreaking study reveals whales and dolphins regularly play with each other
The research, published in the journal Discover Animals, investigated hundreds of videos and images taken by members of the public, tourism operators, and scientists to better understand playful behaviour among whales and dolphins.
In all, Australia researchers analysed 19 whale and dolphin species involved in 199 separate and unrelated interactions at 17 locations around the world.
They found a quarter of the interactions could be defined as mutually playful. 'In particular for humpback whales, we found that for one-third of the events the behavioural responses towards the dolphins appear positive,' Olaf Meynecke, an author of the study, said.
'The humpback whales were rolling from side to side, undertaking belly presentation and other behaviours that are associated with courtship or friendly socialising.'
In each of the observed interactions, researchers noted the location, date and time, species and number of animals involved, age class, and position of the dolphins in relation to the whale's main body parts.
They found that whale species responded differently to dolphin behaviour.
The documented interactions involved 425 baleen whales from six species. Humpback whales accounted for 68 per cent of the interactions, grey whales 16 per cent, and fin whales 7 per cent.
Of the 1,570 dolphins observed, 51 per cent were bottlenose dolphins, 17 per cent common dolphins and 15 per cent Pacific wide-sided dolphins, the study noted.
Researchers also documented the reactions and responses of whales since dolphins sometimes harassed and annoyed them.
'Whales also strategically moved slowly in the direction of the dolphins with their head and rostrum,' Dr Meynecke said. 'The vast majority of the observed interactions did not show avoidance behaviour.'
Researchers observed that the common whale-dolphin interaction involved dolphins swimming near the whale's rostrum – or the beak – akin to bow riding, likely indicating a form of one-sided play by dolphins.
Two videos also showed bottlenose dolphins following humpback whales not only on the surface but also to the ocean floor, where they continued engaging in close quarters, including what seemed like touching and social play.
'While social play is cooperative and reciprocal, there is also one-sided play or interaction, with only one participant perceiving the interaction as playful, as seen in cases of teasing or harassment by dolphins during feeding events,' Dr Meynecke said.
Researchers hope the findings can serve as a foundation for future studies into the complex social structures of marine ecosystems and inter-species interactions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
44 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Urgent warning to vapers as scientists discover vape mouthpieces are SWARMING with fungi that harm airways
Vaping is often sold as a cleaner, healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes. But a new study shows that vapers might be getting a lot more than a nicotine hit when they take a puff from an e-cigarette. Scientists from the University of Florida found that vape mouthpieces are swarming with harmful fungi. With their enclosed, plastic design and frequent warming from regular use, vapes are a perfect environment for fungi to develop. This is made much worse by the fact that the majority of users reported never cleaning their vapes. While very few vapes harbour bacteria, more than half of the disposable vapes tested by researchers were 'abundantly colonised' by fungi. Of these, over 80 per cent were capable of causing ill health, including pathogens which can cause lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis. The most common of these species is a fungus called Cystobasidium minutum, which can cause blood infections in people with weakened immune systems. E-cigarettes work by heating a battery-powered coil submerged in liquid containing nicotine, producing a vapour that users can inhale. Although vaping is generally regarded as safer than smoking tobacco, research into the long-term health effects is still in its infancy. Typically, previous research has focused on the toxicity of the e-liquids themselves and the effect that exposure to the vapour has on lung cells. For example, a study published last year found that the chemicals used to give e-liquids their sweet flavour could lead to lung damage. The study found that exposure to flavoured vapour harmed the defensive cells which patrol our lungs and keep them free of bacteria, leading to a higher risk of infection. However, scientists haven't paid much attention to the microbes that might be hitching a ride into your airways along with the nicotine vapour. To investigate this, researchers recruited 25 participants who used disposable vapes every day and took swabs of their e-cigarettes' mouthpieces. The scientists then cultured these samples, allowing them to grow on petri dishes, to see what microbes were lurking. This revealed that the mouthpiece of your vape is crawling with up to 35 different types of fungi, the vast majority of which have the capability to cause illness. The samples were also compared to cultures taken from the participants' mouths, which revealed that the pathogens weren't coming from the individuals themselves. That means the harmful fungi must be coming from somewhere else in the environment. Some of these fungi may come from the air, our hands, or the general dirt around us, but others might have already been in the vape liquids when they were purchased. Co-author Dr Jason Smith, of the Emerging Pathogens Institute, told New Scientist: 'The residues left behind inside the vape device may provide a food source for moulds to grow.' In their pre-print paper, the researchers argue that 'fungal contamination of e-cigarette devices' contributes to the development of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This disease includes a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties, shortness of breath, and a persistent chesty cough. In the study, a third of participants involved said that they had respiratory symptoms such as coughing. To get a better understanding of how vaping these fungi might affect people's lungs, the researchers had mice inhale the most common pathogen, C. minutum. Lead author Dr Borna Mehrad says: 'We found that the fungus that was most prevalent in the vape samples caused features of chronic bronchitis in mice.' This condition is defined as inflammation of the airways, which leads to flu-like symptoms, and is one of the conditions which lead to COPD. The researchers urge vape users to clean their vape mouthpieces regularly to avoid the buildup of fungi. However, they stress that there currently isn't enough research to show that these fungi are in high enough numbers to cause illness in most users. What is an e-cigarette and how is it different to smoking tobacco? An electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) is a device that allows users to inhale nicotine by heating a vapour from a solution that contain nicotine, propylene and flavourings. As there is no burning involved, there is no smoke like a traditional cigarette. But while they have been branded as carrying a lower risk than cigarettes, an increasing swell of studies is showing health dangers. E-cigarettes do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, but the vapor does contain some harmful chemicals. Nicotine is the highly addictive chemical which makes it difficult for smokers to quit. Nearly three million people in Britain use e-cigarettes, and more than nine million Americans. TYPES: 1. Standard e-cigarette Battery-powered device containing nicotine e-liquid. It vaporizes flavored nicotine liquid. 2. Juul Very similar to normal e-cigarettes but with sleeker design and, in the US, a higher concentration of nicotine. In the UK and EU limited to 20 mg/ml. Thanks to its 'nicotine salts', manufacturers claim one pod delivers the amount of nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. It is composed of an e-cigarette (battery and temperature control), and a pod of e-liquid which is inserted at the end. The liquid contains nicotine, chemicals and flavorings. Like other vaping devices, it vaporizes the e-liquid. 3. IQOS by Philip Morris Pen-shaped, charged like an iPod. Vaporizes tobacco. It is known as a 'heat not burn' smokeless device, heating tobacco but not burning it (at 350C compared to 600C as normal cigarettes do).
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
ADHD medication reduces risk of suicide and criminal behaviour, study finds
Medication prescribed to people with ADHD not only helps them focus but it also reduces the risk of suicidal behaviours, substance misuse, transport accidents and criminality, a study has found. It's estimated 2.6 million people in the UK live with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which affects around 5 per cent of children and 2.5 per cent of adults worldwide. But in the UK, just over half are prescribed medication for it. Researchers compared the impacts of medicating ADHD on those who have been recently diagnosed. Using data from Swedish national registers between 2007 and 2020 researchers at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, were able to examine the effects of ADHD drug treatment in 148,581 individuals aged between six and 64-years-old over two years. Just over half (57 per cent) of participants had started drug treatment for ADHD, with methylphenidate – a type of stimulant – being the most commonly prescribed (88.4 per cent). However, the other people who were also newly diagnosed did not receive medication. The study, published by the BMJ, assessed how often those with ADHD had suicidal behaviours, substance misuse, accidental injuries, transport accidents, and criminality, over two years after their diagnosis. After accounting for factors including age, sex, education level, psychiatric diagnoses and medical history, ADHD medication was associated with a 17 per cent reduction for suicidal behaviour, 15 per cent for substance misuse, 12 per cent for transport accidents, and 13 per cent for criminality. However, the reduction was not statistically significant for a first-time accidental injury. But amongst people with recurrent events, the rate reductions associated with ADHD medication were seen for all five outcomes: a 15 per cent reduction for suicidal attempts, 25 per cent for substance misuse, 4 per cent for accidental injuries, 16 per cent for transport accidents, and 25 per cent for criminality. Samuele Cortese Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Southampton and study author, highlighted that people need to be educated on the long-term risks of ADHD. 'Commonly people think ADHD is over diagnosed but there are still many people who have ADHD that are not diagnosed, and many are exposed to these risks,' he said. 'Side effects of medication can include reduced appetite and difficulty falling asleep, but they usually get better over time or they can be managed.' Struggling to pay attention, having high energy levels and being impulsive are common symptoms of ADHD. Stimulants can work by increasing activity in the brain, particularly in areas that help control attention and behaviour, according to the NHS. Study authors say that by reducing impulsivity, it may also lower criminality by curbing aggressive behaviour, and enhance attention, which might decrease the risk of transport accidents by minimising distractions. 'These results provide evidence on the effects of ADHD drug treatment on important health related and social outcomes that should inform clinical practice and the debate on the drug treatment of ADHD,' study authors conclude.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Shark-like prehistoric whale with razor-sharp teeth discovered off Australia
Fossils unearthed along Victoria 's Surf Coast have led to the discovery of an ancient whale species with special adaptations for hunting, including large eyes and sharp teeth, shedding light on early marine mammal evolution. The species has been named Janjucetus dullardi after Victoria local resident Ross Dullard, who found the ancient whale's fossil fragments in 2019. Janjucetus dullardi is one of their earliest cousins of modern whales and roamed the seas around 26 million years ago, say researchers from Museums Victoria Research Institute. Unlike the modern gentle giants, Janjucetus dullardi w as a fast, sharp-toothed predator with a compact body about the size of a dolphin built for hunting, according to a new study published in the journal Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 'It's essentially a little whale with big eyes and a mouth full of sharp, slicing teeth ... Imagine the shark-like version of a baleen whale – small and deceptively cute, but definitely not harmless,' said Ruairidh Duncan, lead author of the study, The prehistoric whale had a short snout, large forward-facing eyes about the size of tennis balls and sharp slicing teeth, researchers say. The early whale ancestor would have been a compact, yet fearsome sight in the warm, shallow seas of ancient Victoria, scientists noted. The findings offer insight into the early evolution of baleen whales – the filter-feeding giant mammals cruising through modern oceans. It also sheds more light on the prehistoric region, now in modern-day Australia, which scientists say was 'once a cradle' for some of the most unusual whales in history. Researchers made the new species discovery based on a partial skull fossil with attached ear bone found in June 2019 by Victoria resident Mr Dullard while walking along the beach. After recognising its scientific importance, the Victoria resident donated the fossil to Museums Victoria, where researchers carefully studied it in detail. 'This kind of public discovery and its reporting to the museum is discovery has unlocked an entire chapter of whale evolution we've never seen before. It's a reminder that world-changing fossils can be found in your own backyard,' said study co-author Erich Fitzgerald, senior curator at Museums Victoria Research Institute. Scientists found that the fragments belonged to a juvenile specimen just over two metres long. They concluded that it belonged to a group of early whales known as mammalodontids that lived around 30 to 23 million years ago. The latest find marks the third known mammalodontid species from Victoria, and only the fourth found worldwide. It is also the first of its kind to preserve teeth and inner ear structures in detail, revealing how early whales fed, heard, moved and behaved in the water. Using advanced CT scans of the ear bones, researchers hope to further understand how the early species sensed its environment for hunting and navigating the oceans. 'This fossil opens a window into how ancient whales grew and changed, and how evolution shaped their bodies as they adapted to life in the sea,' Dr Fitzgerald said. 'We're entering a new phase of discovery. This region is rewriting the story of how whales came to rule the oceans, with some surprising plot twists!' he added,
