We’ve all heard that dogs are a man’s best friend, but our canine companions don’t make up the entirety of humankind’s friend circle. Humans have cooperated with wild animals throughout our evolutionary history, forming reciprocally beneficial relationships known to biologists as mutualisms.
One particularly piscine partnership that made headlines recently can be found in Brazil, where fishers catch nets full of fish with the aid of the local bottlenosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus gephyreus).
This team-up started over a century ago, probably when fishers first noticed that the presence of dolphins was a clue that fish were hiding in the murky water, says Mauricio Cantor, a behavioral ecologist at Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute in Newport.
“The dolphins are really good at detecting fish and herding them toward the coast,” he says, “and the fishers are really good at trapping the fish with their net.” Once the fish are mostly secured in the net, the dolphins are sure to snag a few for themselves.
In a study published January 30 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Cantor and colleagues used long-term data to show that the dolphins and fishers respond to cues from the other, and without experienced partners who know the right dance steps, the routine falls apart. “This is a really remarkable and impressive study,” says Pat Shipman, an anthropologist at Penn State University who was not involved with the research.
2023-02-03 17:05:05
Original from www.sciencenews.org
In the world of animal and human collaboration, dolphins and Brazilian fishermen are perhaps the most well-known examples. However, there are many other people-animal collaborations boasting innovative, effective and even heart-warming stories. Here are three other people-animal collaborations which explore the sometimes-treacherous boundaries between species.
The first story comes from the Netherlands, where a group of border guard dogs are being trained to identify not smugglers, but invasive plant species. The dogs have been trained to sniff out the presence of these invasive species which can be detrimental to local eco-systems. This innovative idea was conceived of as a way to speed up the process of botanical identification and removal of the non-native plants in the most effective and efficient way possible.
The second example of a human-animal partnership of note is the symbiotic relationship between shepherds and the Tibetan Mastiffs from Tibetan Plateau. Tibetan Mastiff sheepdogs have been integral to keeping the shepherds’ sheep safe from predators for centuries, with each dog staying with a particular family for generations. This culture of herding and mutual protection is one that has been passed on from parent to child, creating an inter-generational bond between dogs and shepherds.
The third example is more familiar to many – therapy dogs. Therapy dogs, especially service dogs, have been used to provide emotional and physical support to those suffering from a variety of physical and mental conditions. These dogs help to reduce stress and anxiety levels, can provide comfort and companionship, and can even provide a more active lifestyle for those with limited mobility. While it is a difficult task to measure the impact of such companionship on mental and emotional wellbeing, there is no doubt that these animals are making life much more bearable for their human counterparts.
These three people-animal collaborations are just a few of the many ways in which humans interact with animals across the world. Whether it is through working together, providing companionship or supporting each other, these amazing stories of interspecies collaboration are a testament to the power of the bond that can be forged between humans and animals.