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First published online October 7, 2008
Journal of Experimental Biology 211, 3249-3257 (2008)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2008
doi: 10.1242/jeb.020610
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Thermal tolerance in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Laura C. Yeates1,* and Dorian S. Houser2

1 US Navy Marine Mammal Program, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, 53560 Hull Street, San Diego, CA 92152, USA
2 Biomimetica Santee, CA 92071, USA

* Author for correspondence (e-mail: yeates{at}biology.ucsc.edu)

Accepted 13 August 2008

Water and air temperature are potentially limiting factors to the pole-ward distributions of coastal bottlenose dolphins. This study assessed the lower critical temperature of captive bottlenose dolphins to air temperature (LCTa) and water temperature (LCTw) through the use of open flow respirometry. Five dolphins, ranging from 14 to 33 years of age and acclimated to the waters of the southern California coast (14.2–22.5°C), were subjected to water temperatures ranging from 0.2 to 18.0°C. Two of the animals were additionally subjected to air temperatures ranging from –2.4 to 17.8°C while maintaining water temperature approximately 3°C above their individual LCTw. The LCTw ranged from 5.5 to 10.6°C and generally decreased with increasing animal mass; for dolphins in excess of 187 kg, the LCTw ranged from 5.5 to 5.7°C. No LCTa could be determined across the range of air temperatures tested. Core body temperature remained within the limits of normal body temperatures reported for dolphins but demonstrated a direct relationship to water temperature in three subjects and varied across a range of 1.5°C. Air and water temperature had a minimal synergistic effect on dolphin thermoregulation, i.e. water temperature exerted the predominant impact on thermoregulation. For dolphins in excess of 187 kg, water temperature alone would appear to be insufficient to limit the use of habitat north of current bottlenose dolphin ranges along the coastal United States. However, thermal impacts to smaller dolphins, in particular adolescents, neonates and accompanying females, may work in concert with other factors (e.g. prey distribution, predator avoidance, social interactions) to influence coastal residency patterns and population structure.

Key words: bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, thermoregulation, energetics, lower critical temperature


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© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2008