Dolphin Watch
Winning at weaning
By ANN WEAVER
Article published on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007
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| Photo by ANN WEAVER |
| Dolphin watching and marine mammalogy takes detective work, looking for clues to solve the mysteries of life. |
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Is it strange that there's always a Sherlock Holmes, Sam Spade, Thin Man, Inspector Clousseau and even Guy Noir around? Probably not. Perhaps people are detectives at heart.
There's great detective work behind those 'ology' classes in school. Marine mammalogy is collecting clues and building a likely case. I'm going to tell you about one case we've solved ... at least tentatively.
The case of the missing PC
PC stands for P's Calf. Born late, PC brought up the rear of 2005's summer cohort of calves. It stood out for me like the babysitter keeps an extra eye on the baby of the family.
But P and PC certainly didn't need our help. PC's mother P is a remarkable dolphin (Mystery at MacDonald's ). She is strong, smooth and scar-free. This suggests high status.
Other dominant dolphins I've known show little evidence of combat. The truly powerful are not reduced to physical fights. P rarely changes behavior when other dolphins, even large scarred strangers, come by. P extends her smoothness of self to boats, rarely failing to swing by our boat before resuming her activities. You gotta love a wild animal like that.
Dolphin calves look like clones. Most are only "reliably" identified by their constant company with mom. But PC was atypically distinct: Its dorsal fin wrinkled at the base of its trailing edge. We could always tell it was safely with P.
If you study infant development, you study weaning. Weaning is breaking your habit of mother's milk. It is not a simple event. It is a process. Mammals are generally long-term infants who depend on mom psychologically and nutritionally.
Weaners rarely enjoy being weaned. Consequently, weaning ebbs and flows as do the tides. The attentiveness of mothers with young babies, shown through quick and smooth changes of behavior to address infant needs, gradually wanes as baby grows. The more attentive the mother, the more courage the baby develops. After all, you can take more chances if you can rely on mom. P was reliable (Ocean commotion). PC's courage grew and grew.
As autumn breezes eased this summer's heavy heat, we saw signs of PC's weaning. One evening, P swung by the boat (Just swinging by ) and resumed foraging. For the first time, we didn't see PC. As we gawked around the waters, time stretched until we contemplated sickening scenarios about PC's fate.
Suddenly, PC torpedoed in from distant waters. It was very excited, leaping and dancing around the boat in a big circle. Relief turned to consternation as PC made us work for photo data. Dolphin detective work is rife with emotion.
PC's forays grew in distance and time. On the significant day of Sept. 9, P appeared to drop off PC at our boat so we could baby sit while she foraged at a great distance. PC played catch off our bow until P returned; they converged and headed south.
The last time we saw PC for sure was just before Halloween.
November was dizzy with detective work. Socializing escalated as if the dolphins, feeling the waters cool, doubled their social rounds before scattering for the winter. Cameras clicked and data accrued.
Through Christmas, we were never sure we'd seen PC. Clues taunted us. P was around but never with PC. We had three wrinkly candidates who could've been PC. There was a new little lone dolphin with a hint of trailing edge wrinkles, occasionally with familiar dolphins but never with P.
Between classes, students and shopping, I poured over the data to identify PC among the three wrinkly candidates. The frustration was indescribable. Was PC alive or not? Did it have a sudden growth spurt upon final weaning like monkeys?
Finally, we got the picture that settled the question. PC was the little lone dolphin with a hint of trailing edge wrinkles.
The case closed brightly one stormy Sunday in February. A dozen dolphins had been investigating several new construction barges that now block a favorite (for boaters and dolphins) channel. P zinged and rolled among pairs of bulls in the manner of female flirting.
Another group of dolphins approached, PC among them.
P shot over to PC. With great energy, they rolled, disappeared, surfaced as one, wound around each other, sunk from sight. Afterwards, PC burst into the skies, leaping repeatedly in the manner of excited dolphins.
Had we just witnessed a maritime mother and child reunion?
For the moment, PC is tentatively winning at weaning. Give those 'ology' classes a shot. Even if not marine mammalogy, they can lead to a mesmerizing life of delicious detective work.
Dr. Weaver studies wild dolphins under federal permit GA1088-1815, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Send her an e-mail at acweaver@tampabay.rr.com.
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Article published on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007
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