Utjecaj obogaćivanja okoliša na agresivno ponašanje dobrog dupina (Tursiops truncatus) u zatočeništvu

master's thesis

• Title (english): Impact of environmental enrichment on aggressive behavior of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in captivity
• Author: Renato Katić
• Mentor: Duje Lisičić (mentor)
• Committee member: Duje Lisičić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Petar Kružić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Zoran Marčić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Sofia Ana Blažević (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Biology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2022-09-29, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Biology

Abstract

Dobri dupini (Tursiops truncatus) zbog svoje karizmatičnosti i popularnosti često se drže u
zatočeništvu za istraživanje, konzervaciju i edukaciju. Zbog dinamične društvene strukture,
mogu se pojaviti agresivne interakcije između dupina u obliku grube igre ili seksualnih povoda
koji uzrokuju ogrebotine na tijelu koji su pokazatelji agresivnog ponašanja. Obogaćenje okoliša
služi kao stimulacija i poticanje aktivnosti koji doprinose dobrobiti životinja u uvjetima
zatočeništva. U delfinariju u Meksiku primijećen je veliki broj ogrebotina jednog dupina u grupi
i uvedeni su plastični prstenovi s ciljem smanjenja ogrebotina i time smanjenju agresivnosti. Za
istraživanje su se metodom kvantifikacije ogrebotina odredila ukupan broj ogrebotina u
odsutnosti i prisutnosti prstenova, ali i na svakoj podijeljenoj regiji zasebno za dublju analizu i
svrhu ogrebotina. Rezultati pokazuju općenito značajno smanjenje ogrebotina u prisutnosti
prstenova, a pogotovo u području trbušnog pedunkuluma i trbuha, kao i na stražnjem dijelu tijela
kod navedenog dupina. Stoga prstenovi mogu poslužiti kao alat za smanjenje agresivnih
interakcija i smanjenju seksualnih agresija. Nadalje, rezultati se mogu koristiti za istraživanje
agresije dupina u prirodnom staništu što daje važnost istraživanjima u kontroliranim uvjetima i
suradnji između istraživača u kontroliranim i prirodnim uvjetima. Iako rezultati pokazuju
vrijedne informacije potrebno je napraviti više istraživanja zbog malog uzorka životinja za
dodatnu potvrdu zaključaka.

Abstract (english)

Due to their charisma and popularity, bottlenose dolphins are often kept in captivity for research,
conservation and education. Due to the dynamic social structure, aggressive interactions between
dolphins can occur in the form of rough play or sexual occasions that cause rake marks on their
body which are indicators of aggressive behavior. Environmental enrichment serves as a
stimulation and encouragement of activities that improve the welfare of animals in captivity. In a
dolphinarium in Mexico, a large number of rake marks on one dolphin in the group were noticed
and plastic rings were introduced with the aim of reducing rake marks and thus reducing
aggression. For research, the method of rake mark quantification determined the total number of
rake marks in the absence and presence of rings, but also in each divided region separately for
deeper analysis and purpose of rake marks. The results generally show a significant reduction in
rake marks in the presence of rings, especially in ventral peduncle and belly area, as well as on
the posterior side of the body in said dolphin. Therefore, rings can serve as a tool to reduce
aggressive interactions and reduce sexual aggression. Furthermore, the results can be used to
investigate dolphin aggression in a natural habitat, which gives importance to research in
controlled environment and collaboration between researchers in controlled and natural
environment. Although the results show that more research is needed due to the small sample of
animals to further confirm the conclusions.

• Keywords: agresija; ogrebotine; plastični prstenovi; socio-seksualne interakcije; podređenost
• Keywords (english): aggression; rake marks; plastic rings; socio-sexual interactions; subdominant
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:365372
• Study programme: Title: Experimental Biology; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra eksperimentalne biologije (magistar/magistra eksperimentalne biologije)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Embargoed access; Embargo expiration date: 2024-09-29
• Created on: 2022-10-17 07:58:27