Abstract This paper examines recent scientific discoveries about the origins of dolphins and whales. The paper begins by giving a brief description of these animals, followed by an analysis of their behavior. Special attention is given to their interaction in social groups. Finding from field studies about whales are presented according to various species of whales. A brief description of the origins of dolphins is also given. The paper concludes with a thorough discussion of prehistoric whales based on fossil findings, with an emphasis on whale evolution through the various epochs.
From the Paper "But, how did Whales and Dolphins evolve? In Nicholas Humphrey's essay "The social function of intellect," (Humphrey, 1976) said: "The open sea is an environment where technical knowledge can bring little benefit and thus complex societies - and high intelligence - are contraindicated (dolphins and whales provide, maybe, a remarkable and unexplained exception)" in 1976 and this began the Machiavellian intelligence" hypothesis," which says that more intelligent animals evolved into social or grouping and cooperating animals. This is now widely accepted, though it has received little attention in the controversies that may concern the evolution of whales except from a few cetologists."
A report on dolphins, describing their characteristics and qualities and human efforts to protect them, as well as the mistreatment they have suffered.
Abstract This paper explores some of those reasons why, in spite of dolphins being some of the most loved mammals in the world, they are still too often mistreated and abused. The paper also looks at some of the ways that many people and governments have, in fact, attempted to help dolphins to varying degrees, as well as presents results from a small survey taken to assess general attitudes toward dolphin protection efforts. The paper also formulates some conclusions about what other steps can be taken by people to minimize the harm we bring to this fine species. First, however, this paper describes some of the outstanding characteristics of dolphins so that the reader can understand what remarkable creatures they are.
From the Paper "Dolphins are one of the most widely-loved mammals that exist. People love the fact that they are actually mammals instead of fish; they love how playful dolphins can be, and how they always seem to be smiling; and they love to hear the mythology about how dolphins have helped so many ships in trouble. Dolphins are regularly shown at places like Sea World and in aquariums, where people can see how intelligent these animals truly are. Between their sleek beauty, their agility in the water, and their seemingly always-happy demeanor, dolphins are beloved perhaps more than most other animals."
Abstract This paper argues that, while many human rights activists argue against captivity of dolphins from an emotional, exaggerated, and subjective point of view, an objective analysis of the circumstances of captive dolphins indicates that these animals respond negatively to use as creatures of entertainment. It also explains that their living environments are simply inappropriate for their needs, and their exploitation for entertainment and profit communicates a negative message of man's right to dominate and abuse wild creatures, providing strong support for the passage of laws, which prohibit holding dolphins in captivity.
From the Paper "Man's inhumanity towards his fellow creatures takes many forms and falls into two categories: the obvious and the subtle. Humanity's confidence in its superiority over other creatures and attitude towards these creatures as not only sources of food and necessary clothing, but as luxury clothing, sports and entertainment has motivated various obvious acts of cruelty . Among these acts are hunting and killing wild animals for pleasure, slaughtering elephants for their ivory, trapping minks and skinning them for the fur, and using creatures such as white mice for lab testing, to name only a few. On the more subtle level, at least to the majority, cruelty takes the form of capturing wild animals, removing them from their natural habitats, locking them up in small cages or water tanks and using them for human entertainment. This treatment has given rise to a great battle between animal rights activists on one side, and zoos and water amusement parts on the other, with each apparently unwilling to compromise with the other. One of the creatures that is a subject of great debate is the dolphin. Animal activists, such as the biologist director of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Ben White, states that captured dolphins, trained to entertain people through cute tricks such as fetching Frisbees or jumping through rings, "are literally dying to amuse us," and that "to ignore dolphin suffering is like protesting child abuse but refusing to help a child being beaten before our eyes." Those who support holding dolphins in captivity, among them vets, animal trainers and biologists, such as Stoskopf, , argue that these creatures are offered a better quality of life than they have in the oceans and seas, "such as high-quality medical care, constant supply of food and freedom from predators" (Stoskopf qtd. in Riley and Faulkner). Careful evaluation of the nature of the dolphins as social, communicative and intelligent creatures who are transformed into captive tools for human entertainment, and assessment of the psychological reactions of the dolphins to their captivity, often motivating suicide, as observed by several animal experts such as Jean Cousteau (Riley and Faulkner) , illustrates that while some of the more reputable amusement parks such as Sea World, do treat captured dolphins well and offer them the best available care, dolphins must not be held as prisoners for human entertainment. While many human rights' activists do argue against captivity of dolphins from an emotional, exaggerated and subjective point of view, an objective analysis of the circumstances of captive dolphins, indicates that these animals respond negatively to use as creatures of entertainment, that their living environments are simply inappropriate for their needs, and their exploitation for entertainment and profit communicates a negative message of man's right to dominate and abuse wild creatures, providing strong support for the passage of laws which prohibit holding dolphins in captivity."
Abstract This essay begins by discussing the features of two marine mammals - dolphins and whale. The writer researches the behavior, lifestyle and evolution of these mammals, comparing them to other fish that live in the ocean and also other land mammals.
From the Paper "Cetaceans are unique marine mammals that depend solely on the ocean for their life needs. There are seventy-four extant species in this order. The species are split into two categories: toothed and baleen. Baleen cetaceans are all large whales, and toothed cetaceans include large and small whales, porpoises, and dolphins. Almost all species live in the world's oceans, but a few dolphins live in freshwater environments. Cetaceans are extraordinary in that they were once land animals who evolved features that allowed them to move back into the water to live. However, they are warm-blooded and nurse their young with milk (Scheffer, 1976)."
Abstract This paper examines how the social structures of primates, dolphins, and wolves are complex societies composed of sexual and foraging factors. It looks at how primates vary by species in regard to which mode of group structure they incorporate, but all are based on the process of reproduction. It examines how dolphins exist in cooperative pods, with all members equally contributing to a hunt. It shows how wolves have a strict hierarchy with dominant leaders and hunt as an efficient group.
Outline
Abstract
Introduction
Primate Social Structure
Dolphin Social Structure
Wolf Social Structure
Wolf Teamwork
Dolphin Teamwork
Primate Teamwork
Conclusion
From the Paper "Wolves live in cooperative breeding packs or family units of five to ten or as many as thirty individuals (Wolflore.com 2003). Pack to pack interactions are rare due to large, well defined territories. These interactions are often aggressive and violent when they occur. A pack is an extended family where every individual understands their position in the hierarchy. The highest ranking members, often the most senior mating pair, are called the alpha wolves. Other members will frequently surround him, howling and sticking muzzles in his face to reaffirm attachment and define the group. This dominant male keeps the pack emotionally centered (Fuller 2003). The next step down is the beta wolf, with both a male and female."
Abstract This paper details the way that dolphins communicate, including 'echolocation' which allows the dolphin to track objects and hone in on them, which has baffled scientists for years. It summarizes the amazing discoveries that scientists have made about the sounds and behavior of dolphins, and suggests that we could learn a lot from them.
From the Paper "Dolphins have a refined sense of awareness and intelligence that surpasses any other living thing in nature. They have mastered the art of communication with their inborn sonar system. Through this, they can locate, identify, and collect details on the locale of their prey, or any other organism present. They have baffled man for centuries, as people have struggled to understand the minds of these gentle mammals of the sea. "More than any other creatures on the planet, they call our assumed dominion over nature into question. With every contact, they promise both to satisfy our craving for communication with another species, and to intensify our sense of inadequacy" (May 5)."
Abstract This paper argues that higher mammals like primates, dolphins and whales are capable of and have evolved a complex language of their own. Towards this, the paper looks at the recent research done regarding the "whistling" and other auditory communication among dolphins. In arguing that this "whistling" constitutes and fulfills the functions of language, the paper uses the framework on the syntactic structures and the various aspects of language. Through an application of Chomsky's criteria, this paper argues that dolphins have evolved a communication system made of whistling sounds that serve many of the purposes of human language.
From the Paper "For Chomsky, human language is characterized first and foremost by structural principles like grammar, an underlying system of rules that govern the communication exchange. By understanding the rules that govern this communication, humans are able to develop a "creative ability" that allows them to speak or understand sentences that they have not heard previously (Chomsky 19-21)."
Abstract This paper examines how Herman, Pack and Hoffman-Kuhnt performed relatively rigorous experiments to determine the source of dolphin recognition of objects and how they wanted to discover, among other things, whether dolphins attained the shape discrimination (of objects) through associative learning or direct perception. It also looks at how Fukuzawa, Mills and Cooper sought to determine the mechanism by which domestic dogs responded to commands. Finally it examines how Greenberg wanted to discover the facts about depth perception in two species of Asian rodents, the Mongolian gerbil and two varieties of spiny mice.
Outline
Dolphins Dogs
Gerbils and Mice
Commentary
From the Paper "This experiment sought, above all else, to avoid a Pavlovian response in the dogs. In short, when setting up the experiment, Fukuzawa et al. went to enormous trouble to ensure that their subjects were not influenced in any way by reward, not even so small a reward as the warmth of a human voice. They first trained the dogs in the experiment to two commands-come and sit-and thereafter used a sort of disembodied voice to issue those commands in their experiments. The handler wore dark glasses so the dogs could not make eye contact and perform on that basis, and the commands themselves were issued by a voice recorder situated near the handler."
Abstract This paper explores the use of animals in the U.S. armed forces. Making reference to the dolphins used in the Navy and the chimps used by the army, the paper shows how using these animals has helped advance the efforts of the two bodies. The chimps were specifically used in space and air travel to explore the effects of short-term and long-term flights on the body, while dolphins in the Navy were useful in search and rescue, as well as for their sonar abilities.
From the Paper "Man's countless endeavors in the improvement of human civilization has encouraged him to further his research and studies about fields of study that are yet to be confronted by society. The United States government, in its attempt to increase its power and knowledge in different realms of life, has developed various programs geared towards the promotion of easier space flight and travel and improved "weaponry" for its war efforts as an example. These programs have been specifically formulated and implemented by the US government in its efforts to achieve enough knowledge about space travel and flight and an increased advantage over its enemies during times of war."
Tags: space, air, travel, nasa, monkey, animal, rights, war, sea
Abstract This paper looks at different coastal animals and examines their physical makeup and natural habitats as well as their mating and breeding habits.
From the Paper "Speckled Dolphins are also called Indo-Pacific Humpbacked dolphins. The former have the binomial name Sousa chinensis. The latter are called Sousa plumbea. Both species are the same; the name difference depends on location. Smaller than the bottlenose dolphins they are typically about seven to nine feet in length and weight just over 280 kilograms. They have a well-developed long beak. Their color is brown-gray, pale-gray and pink-white. They have a lighter underside and the skin has a mottled or speckled appearance, hence the name. The name is given because the dorsal fin is less pronounced and is situated on a hump. The dorsal fin is triangular. The flippers are well rounded. Another reason for the pronounced hump is the way these animals surface. The snout appears first and then the rest of the body curves accentuating the hump before the dolphin submerge."
From the Paper "Dolphins have long been known for their unique relationship with humankind. Like humans, they are mammals. Also, they are similar to humans in that they show signs of intelligence. At sea, dolphins often follow seagoing vessels as if they were seeking the company of human beings. In captivity, dolphins have exhibited the ability to cooperate with their trainers. However, despite the relationship which exists between the two, there has been some concern in recent years about the abuse of dolphins by humans. For example, the U.S. Navy has used dolphins in experiments which are geared toward implementing them in warfare activities. One such activity involves having the dolphin hit a target with an exploding device which kills the animal.
Another area of recent concern is found in the fishing industry. In particular, many dolphins get caught in nets which ... "
Abstract This paper debates whether humans are the only species to have advanced communication capabilities and whether it possible that animals can also have complex thoughts and have the ability to express their thoughts and emotions among their own species and possibly even with a different species. It looks at research done over the years on this topic from ape language experiments and dolphin communication to the relationship between man and his pet.
From the Paper "Koko, a 350 pound low-land gorilla, is probably the most famous subject of any known ape language experiment. Koko was the subject of Penny Patterson, and it was Eugene Linden who spent almost two years with Patterson observing her and Koko interacting together. "Watching Koko use ASL was entirely different from watching a chimpanzee engaged in the same process"Koko seemed more controlled and leisurely, more comfortable with the act of signing?, this is how Linden explained his first encounter with Koko (Linden 116). Koko was a five year old ape, which is relatively young as in humans, during the time of Linden's observations."
Abstract This paper examines how the interpretation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules in dispute settlements has shown both the limits and scope of how a rule-making body, with a legacy of compromise and negotiated outcomes, deals with environmental protection. It spells out the WTO position on the trade-environment linkage and then reviews the key provisions negotiated under the WTO framework that relate to environmental policies. Next, it details the scope and limit of these rules by analyzing a sample of environmental cases interpreted in the WTO dispute settlement body (DSB). These include the tuna-dolphin, shrimp-turtle, reformulated gasoline, and asbestos cases. It also looks at how the WTO rules compare to those established under other Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEAs) and how this relationship is significant as it highlights limits.
From the Paper "The preamble to the Marrakesh Agreement that establishes the WTO has referred to the importance of working towards sustainable development. The Members have recognized that "their relations in the field of trade and economic endeavor should be conducted with a view to....protect and preserve the environment and to enhance the means for doing so in a manner consistent with their respective needs and concerns at different levels of economic development" This statement contains an example of the legacy of compromise and the result of negotiated outcomes in the WTO. In the case of environmental protection there is a compromise of "sustainable development" embedded in the WTO Agreements and mandates that gives leeway to "creative ambiguities"."
Abstract This paper discusses the need for technological innovations at a holiday get-away. It discusses the innovations at the island resort community of Baderman Island. The paper specifically focuses on the Dolphin Boat by Innerspace Technology and how the introduction of this innovative technology will put Baderman Island ahead of the world competition and achieve a reputation of an innovator company.
Table of Contents:
The Dolphin Boat
Ecologically Friendly Experience
Managing the Customer
Managing the Internal Change
Conclusion
From the Paper "Baderman Island is an island resort community with vast potential to provide innovative services for continued competitive advantage. The core customer of an island retreat is seeking leisure, business, or an escape from the ordinary with offerings not found in typical vacation get-away. The technological innovations being offered need to be unique and add to the overall experience of the customer. Baderman Island has plans to make the island retreat a memorable vacation experience, not just a trip."
From the Paper "This paper will address how NAFTA's Side Agreement on the Environment was created. The discussion will explain how the environmental programs help to improve the infrastructure of NAFTA. Also, this paper will analyze three aspects of the Side Agreement: (1) the general principles, objectives and commitments, (2) the general structure and operation of the new Commission for Environmental Cooperation, and (3) the function and scope of the dispute settlement system. Moreover, the paper will examine some of the problems that the Side Agreement is intended to address, including the issues raised by the Tuna/Dolphin cases."
