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Observations of Risso Dolphins, Grampus Griseus

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Observations of Risso Dolphins, Grampus Griseus S s s s ’ s ’ s Help Volumes Main Menu MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE, 11(2):23 l-240 (April 1995) 0 1995 by the Society for Marine Mammalogy OBSERVATIONS OF RISSO DOLPHINS, ’ GRAMPUS GRiseuS WITH GRAY WHALES, ESCHRICHTIUS ROBUSTUS There are no published accounts of Risso dolphins (Grampus griseus) in- teracting with gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus). However, there have been numerous observations of Risso dolphins associating with Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), northern right whale dolphins (Lisso- delphis borealis), pilot whales (Globicephala spp.), Dall porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli), and on occasion sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) and fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) (Hubbs 1960, Fiscus and Niggol 1965, Leatherwood et al. 1982, Dohl et al. 1983). This report describes eleven sightings of Risso dolphins in the company of gray whales in the waters off Monterey, California, within the last 13 yr (1981-1994) (Table 1, Fig. 1). s The majority of sightings were provided by charter vessels operating in the waters off Monterey during the southbound and northbound gray whale mi- gration. Census records collected by the National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML) from shore-based stations operating during the southbound migration (1960, 1967-1981, 1984-1986, 1988, 1993-1994), and from aerial surveys flown during the census (1988, 1993-1994), were also searched for sightings. Searches of field logs maintained by other researchers conducting surveys along ’ the California coastline did not yield any additional sightings. Because Risso dolphins were often not the focal animal of these surveys, it is possible that sightings may have only been gathered on an opportunistic basis or not reported at all. The increase in the number of interactions between these two species over the past few years may be explained in part by the return of the gray whale population to prewhaling size (Buckland et al. 1993) and an increase in the number of Risso dolphins observed in the Monterey area over the last 20 yr (Leatherwood et al. 1980, Shane 1994). Help Volumes Main Menu Table 1. Eleven encounters observed between Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) and gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in the waters off Monterey and Carmel, California. Map Encounter key date Animals present Behavior(s) observed A 17 Jan 8 1 130+ Risso’s dolphins Dolphins encircled 2 gray whales, some riding their bow waves. Whales stayed close lOO+ northern right whale dolphins together (touching), sometimes rolling ventrum up, other times facing ventrum to 60 + Pacific white-sided dolphins ventrum. Risso’s were highly “excited”, dividing time between the vessel and 2 gray whales whales (loo-yard distance), Interactions ended when the whales swam under the vessel and made a sounding dive (D. Cheeseman and G. Cheeseman, personal communication). B 3 1 Jan 81 33 Risso’s dolphins Three pods of Risso’s (numbering 6, 12, and 15) chased, encircled, and stopped 2 2 gray whales migrating gray whales. The whales rolled ventrum up. The Risso’s divided time between the whales and the research vessel (A. Baldridge and D. L. Shearwater). C 30 Jan 82 130+ Risso’s dolphins A pod of Risso’s chased and encircled 3 gray whales (penis visible, possible copula- 3 gray whales tion). The whales kept close together, rolled ventrum up, and occasionally splashed flukes. One whale departed the group, SWimrning rapidly east, creating a wake of white water. The remaining 2 began SWnnming’ away but were again encircled by the dolphins. The whales stopped and rolled ventrum up. Platform: vessel (A. Baldridge and D. L. Shearwater). D 17 Jan 86 30+ Risso’s dolphins Eleven southbound gray whales encountered a northbound pod of Risso’s. The Risso’s 13 gray whales encircled the whales. The whales splashed pectorals and flukes, rolled ventrum up, changed direction, and swam northeast. Six Risso’s encircled a second pod of gray whales, also turning them northeast. One whale swam rapidly toward a kelp bed with 4 Risso’s giving chase. The whale followed the kelp line north into breaking surf, flanked on each side by 2 Risso’s. The pod of 11 whales was seen near shore continuing their southbound migration 15 min later. Platform: shore (M. E. Dahl- heim, personal communication; NMFS, unpublished data). E 13 Jan 87 15 Risso’s dolphins Two trios of gray whales (penis visible, possible copulation) were flanked by dolphins. SO+ northern right whale dolphins Risso’s were participating at a “more intense level” than the other dolphins. Plat- 6 gray whales form: vessel (D. L. Shearwater, personal communication). Help Volumes Main Menu Table 1. Continued. Map Encounter key date Animals’ present Behavior(s) observed F 18 Jan 87 400+ Risso’s dolphins Three gray whales were encircled by a large mixed school of dolphins. One whale was 400+ northern right whale dolphins ventrum up. Platform: vessel (J. Vandevere, personal communication). lOO+ Pacific white-sided dolphins 3 gray whales G 16 Jan 93 200+ Risso’s dolphins Risso’s (4-5) were riding bow waves of 3 gray whales (2 were seen ventrum to ven- 3+ gray whales trum) a short distance from a larger group of Risso’s (200+). On two occasions a dolphin cut sharply in front of a whale, bumping up against the rostrum with its flukes. Whales reacted by rolling ventrum up, splashing flukes, and lifting pectoral Iins into the air. Platform: aircraft (K. E. W. Shelden and D. E. Withrow). H 14 Jan 94 15 + Risso’s dolphins Gray whales were rolling at the surface, often making body contact. A pod of Risso’s 2 gray whales (containing animals of varying length) approached and formed a tight circle around the whales. Whales reacted with lateral sweeps of their flukes and moved farther inshore. The interaction lasted for 30 min. Platform: vessel (J. Loomis, personal communication). I 16 Jan 94 lOO+ Risso’s dolphins Gray whales were migrating south in a tight group when they made a sudden 90” 3 gray whales turn to the west and rapidly swam offshore (following the approach of 6 Risso’s). A larger group of Risso’s (lOO+) remained at a distance of several hundred me- ters. The 6 Risso’s circled the whales closely. The whales did not show any addi- tional visible reaction to the dolphins presence. Fifteen minutes later the dolphins rejoined their main group. Platform: vessel (J. Vandevere, personal communica- tion) . J 17 Jan 94 lOO+ Risso’s dolphins A pod of gray whales (10) was seen headed south very rapidly, their heads almost 12 gray whales clearing the water and creating a wake of white water as they surfaced. About 200 m from the pod, a pair of gray whales were encircled by 6-8 Risso’s. The remain- der of the Risso’s group (loo+) was observed 300 m away. One of the gray whales was ventrum up, raising its head at a 45” angle out of the water and slap- Help Volumes Main Menu Table 1. Continued. Map Encounter key date Animals present Behavior(s) observed ping it .audibly on the surface at least 4 times in addition to making lateral sweeps across the surface with its flukes as the Risso’s circled. After 20 min of circling the whales, the Risso’s rejoined their main group. Platform: shore (A. Baldridge). K 17 Jan 94 20+ Risso’s dolphins Risso’s were rapidly circling 2 pods of gray whales. One dolphin breached 10 times in 6+ gray whales sequence. Whales were observed lifting their heads at a 45” angle out of the water, rolling ventrum up with pectoral fins held out of the water for 3-5 min, and spyhopping. One whale lifted its tail well out of the water and twisted its body sideways before crashing back down into the water. Another repeatedly slapped its flukes on the surface for 3 min. Another twisted its body on the surface, spiralling through the water. Observations ended when it suddenly became calm. Dolphins dispersed and there was no sign of the whales (animals were not seen swimming away or sounding). The interaction lasted 26 min. Platform: shore (K. E. W. Shel- den and .J. C. Cesarone). Help Volumes Main Menu NOTES 235 :.. :.. .:I:.. SERAiES PI-‘. ZANITE CANYON .. Figure 1, Locations of gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) and Risso’s dolphin (Gram- pus griseus) interactions observed in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Cal- ifornia, January 1981-1994. Help Volumes Main Menu 236 MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE, VOL. 11, NO. 2, 1995 Each of the encounters with Risso’s dolphins reported here occurred in January in an area where gray whales migrate across deep submarine canyons near Monterey and Carmel. These deep canyons are a preferred habitat of Risso’s dolphins (Leatherwood et al. 1980). These dolphins typically occur seaward of the 180-m depth contour and appear in coastal waters only where the continental shelf is relatively close to shore (Leatherwood et al. 1982, Kruse 1989). The Monterey and Carmel Canyons are among the few areas where the Risso’s dolphins’ affinity for very deep water overlaps with the gray whales’ neritic migration. For this reason these interactions may occur more frequently in this region than in other areas along the migration route; however, a lack of survey effort in other regions makes this impossible to prove at this time. Based on the sightings, Risso’s dolphins appear to be initiating many of these interactions (Table 1). In those cases where interactions were not already un- derway at the time of the observation, Risso’s dolphins were seen swimming up to and/or following after gray whales rather than the reverse. It is unclear which dolphins within the group were initiating contact, or the reasons why each species behaved as it did during the encounter.
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