Social Structure of Long-finned Pilot Whales from Photo-identification Techniques (Globicephala Melas) [microform] PDF Download

Author: C. Andrea (Carolyn Andrea) Ottensmeyer
Publisher: National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada
ISBN: 9780612675568
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 272

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Author: Catherine Meyer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Animal population genetics
Languages : en
Pages : 149

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Despite frequently stranding on New Zealand’s beaches, there remains a paucity of information about free-ranging long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas edwardii) in these waters. The purpose of this study was to assess the demographics, social structure and interspecific associations of pilot whales frequenting eastern New Zealand waters. Photo-identification images and associated demographic data of pilot whale groups were collected opportunistically from tour operators and research vessels from the Bay of Islands to Kaikoura between January 2003 and July 2019. Group size ranged from 5 – 250 whales (median = 50, IQ = 30 – 80), with neonates and/or calves present in the majority of encounters (79%, n = 64). Pilot whales were most frequently encountered in mixed-species groups (79% n = 64), primarily accompanied by oceanic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). A total of 145 individuals were photo-identified, establishing the New Zealand Long-Finned Pilot Whale Identification Catalogue. The mark rate (i.e. proportion of individuals with long-term or permanent dorsal fin notches and/or nicks; 13.4%) and the re-sight rate (31%) for the sampled population were low, with most (82.2%) re-sights occurring at one study location, the Bay of Islands. Patterns of pilot whale occurrence suggest some degree of seasonal site fidelity, possibly influenced by prey availability or the peak calving season. The low re-sight rate suggests either a large population, high transience and/or large individual home ranges. Social structure analysis was carried out using the program SOCPROG to determine the strength and temporal stability of associations between pilot whales from northeastern New Zealand. Individuals associated randomly and there was no evidence to suggest the existence of preferred long- or short-term dyadic associations, however, there were differences in individual gregariousness. Some strong dyadic associations were evident, with hierarchical cluster and social network analyses supporting the division of the study population into multiple social clusters of between three and eight individuals. Dyadic associations were irregular, with individuals disassociating on two different time scales. This indicates that pilot whales may have a hierarchical society, where small social clusters form groups of casual acquaintances, as seen in populations elsewhere. A similar analysis of social structure investigated the possibility of an interspecific social network based on dyadic associations between oceanic bottlenose dolphins iv and pilot whales encountered off the Bay of Islands. There was no evidence of temporally stable interspecific associations, most likely due to the small sample size. However, repeat associations between individuals of both species on variable temporal scales suggests that there may be an underlying pattern worthy of future investigation. This study revealed the value of opportunistic datasets in understanding the demographics and social behaviours of a species that remains poorly-studied in New Zealand and the southern hemisphere in general. Considering that our knowledge of pilot whales in New Zealand waters is largely based on studies of stranded individuals, this research has revealed important information about the lives of freeranging pilot whales.

Author: Joana Augusto
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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The long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) is an intensely social species. I describe the social structure of the population off Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, using 12 years of individual association and behavioural data, adding molecular analyses and investigating alloparental care. Previous studies on the social structure of the species point to pilot whales being organized into social units that associate in labile groups. Units were thought to be matrilineal and comprised of both males and females, with individuals showing bisexual phylopatry. So, social structure for this species was thought to be similar to that of 'resident' killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the northwest Pacific. The results of my research suggest a somewhat different structure. I confirmed that pilot whales live in social units comprised of both sexes. I found 21 units in this population, with an average size of 7 individuals. One of the units, the K complex, became very large and started breaking apart over the duration of the study. I found that, over and above membership of the same unit, behavioural state influences how individuals associate with each other. Genetic analysis of microsatellites found no greater relatedness of individuals within the same unit rather than in different units. It seems that unit membership is more fluid than previously thought. I could not assess matrilineality using analysis of mitochondrial DNA due to low haplotype diversity, with only 3 haplotypes identified. I tried to create a model to sex individuals based on dorsal fin shape and photo identification characteristics, but found no correlation between any of those identifiers and individuals' gender. Alloparental care is common in this population, with more than half the calves being cared for by non-parents. Both sexes care for calves, and carers and calves can be from different social units. There were no cases of reciprocal care, although it is possible reciprocity is occurring outside of the studied 3-year time frame. In conclusion, this population showed some features of social structure that were expected, including the existence of social units, their size and the prevalence of alloparental care. The study also highlighted aspects that were not expected, such as dispersal between units shown by the microsatellite data and a broad distribution of potential alloparental carers for a calf.

Author: Gregory P. Donovan
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Globicephala
Languages : en
Pages : 504

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Papers arising out of a field programme to examine catches of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephal melas) taken in the North Atlantic in the Faroese fishery. The papers discuss characteristics such as age and growth parameters, genetic studies and social organisation, reporductive biology, feeding and energetics, pollution and parasitology.

Author: Dorete Bloch
Publisher:
ISBN: 9789171050526
Category : Globicephala melaena
Languages : en
Pages : 21

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Author: Meaghan Jankowski
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Globicephala melaena
Languages : en
Pages : 248

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Author: Bernd Würsig
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3030166635
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 508

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This book concentrates on the marine mammalian group of Odontocetes, the toothed whales, dolphins, and porpoises. In 23 chapters, a total of 40 authors describe general patterns of ethological concepts of odontocetes in their natural environments, with a strong bent towards behavioral ecology. Examples are given of particularly well-studied species and species groups for which enough data exist, especially from the past 15 years. The aim is to give a modern flavor of present knowledge of ethology and behavior of generally large-brained behaviorally flexible mammals that have evolved quite separately from social mammals on land. As well, the plight of populations and species due to humans is described in multiple chapters, with the goal that an understanding of behavior can help to solve or alleviate at least some human-made problems.

Author: Karen Jessica Fullard
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 420

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Author: Elizabeth Zwamborn
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) are matrilineal group-living cetaceans. They often produce repeated call sequences: the same call type repeated three or more times, roughly evenly spaced with six seconds or less between calls. I used recordings from 1998-2014 from a population off Cape Breton, Canada, to examine repeated call sequence function. I found no evidence that these calls were specific to individuals or social units or could be used to allocate social units into clans. However, there was some evidence for the horizontal transmission of call types between social units. Modifications of calls (both embellishment and morphing) were common within repeated call sequences. The rate of production of repeated calls increased with group size but not with calf presence and varied with group behaviour and between years. Thus these sequences are likely not individual or unit identifiers, or primarily mother-calf contact calls, instead possibly functioning as group contact calls.

Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Globicephala macrorhynchus
Languages : en
Pages : 422

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