Surface behavior of bottlenose dolphins is related to spatial arrangement of prey

We tested the hypothesis that spatial arrangement and movements of bottleno se dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are related to the spatial arrangement of their prey. From 65 groups we: (1) classified feeding behavior of dolphins according to spatial arrangement and movements of individuals; (2) assessed spatial arrangement and location of prey from direct observations, numbers of associated seabirds, and echosounder recordings; and (3) related feedin g behavior of dolphins to spacial arrangement and location of prey. Four fe eding categories were defined from cluster and principal component analyses : (1) moving rapidly with no diving, (2) milling with no diving, (3) diving in several locations, and (4) diving in one location. These feeding catego ries were related to spatial arrangement and location of prey.