Observational analysis establishes links between social cohesion and signature whistles in Gippsland Lakes dolphins, suggesting improved conservation management strategies.
Key Points
To explore the connection between signature whistles and visual identification in Burrunan dolphins.
Utilized photographic identification and hydrophone recordings from 2021–2024.
Analyzed 57 individual dolphins and 236 whistles.
Employed conditional probability and cluster analyses to assess whistle associations.
Identified 22 unique signature whistle contours.
Found associations of whistles with clusters of dolphins, indicating social cohesion.
Demonstrated potential for passive acoustic monitoring in conservation efforts.