1. Herding: Dolphins are skilled at herding fish into dense schools. They use their powerful tails and bodies to create underwater barriers, trapping the sardines in a concentrated area.
2. Disruption: As dolphins herd the fish, they create commotion and panic in the water. This disruption causes sardines to swim in a more erratic manner, making them easier targets for the gannets.
3. Flushing: Dolphins sometimes force sardines to rise closer to the surface of the water. This "flushing" behavior brings the sardines within reach of the gannets, which can then dive down from the air to catch the fish.
4. Communication: Dolphins and gannets seem to have some level of communication or understanding during these hunting events. Some researchers believe that dolphins may emit specific vocalizations that signal to the gannets the location of the fish schools.
5. Shared Benefits: Both dolphins and gannets benefit from this cooperative hunting strategy. Dolphins gain access to a larger quantity of fish by concentrating them into smaller, easier-to-catch schools. Gannets, in turn, have a better chance of catching fish when they work in conjunction with the dolphins.
It's important to note that while these interactions are commonly observed, they are not universal and may vary depending on the species, location, and specific circumstances of the hunting event.