Quincy A. Gibson

My primary research interests are behavioral development, maternal care strategies, individual variation, and social complexity of marine mammals. My dissertation research was focused on the development of social patterns in wild bottlenose dolphin calves in Shark Bay, Western Australia. In particular, I examined when sex-specific socio-ecological strategies emerge, predictors of individual variation in sociality, and the possible function(s) of sociality from the calf’s perspective. My results indicated that calves form distinct social patterns while still dependent on their mothers. Although calf patterns of association do not yet match those of the sexually segregated adult society, early social patterns of male and female calves do differ. The observed sex-specific patterns foreshadow strategies that are likely to be successful for males (alliance formation) and females (integration in to maternal social network) in the future. By examining in detail the early social experiences of calves, this study offers comparative insight in to the challenges of developing within a complex social environment. In addition, because reproductive success (i.e. calf survival) may be linked to social factors, the disruption of the natural social system may result in reduced fitness. Thus, the identification of factors that affect the social patterns of the most vulnerable members of the population (i.e. calves) may therefore lead to better management practices.

As Director of Research for Pacific Whale Foundation (2007-2009) I led a research program primarily focused on answering management based questions. Our long-term investigations of southern hemisphere humpback whale population dynamics, site fidelity, and migratory pathways provided critical data to government management agencies as well as the International Whaling Commission. In addition, I incorporated my interest in maternal care strategies and reproductive dynamics into our work by examining calving intervals and rates as well as the association patterns of mother-calf pairs. This avenue of research has been largely neglected in humpback whales and maintains a clear conservation focus because reproductive dynamics drive population recovery.

Here at UNF, my team conducts weekly boat-based photo-identification and behavioral surveys of estuarine bottlenose dolphins in the Jacksonville area. Since March 2011, we have identified over 500 individual dolphins in the St. Johns River, approximately half of which are year-round residents.  We are currently investigating the social structure of this dolphin community, with an emphasis on the complexity of male mating strategies. Our research program also incorporates management minded efforts to determine population abundance, distribution, and reproductive rates while also identifying potential threats to the population.