Social structure of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) off northern Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
Cetacean social structures include fluid and stable elements. Long-finned pilot whales ( Globicephala melas ) live in units that interact forming labile groups. In this study conducted off Cape Breton Island, between 1998–2011, we confirm unit membership predicts associations between individuals. We...
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crbrillap:10.1163/1568539x-00003432 2024-05-12T08:02:02+00:00 Social structure of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) off northern Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia Augusto, J.F. Frasier, T.R. Whitehead, H. 2017 http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1568539x-00003432 https://brill.com/view/journals/beh/154/5/article-p509_1.xml https://data.brill.com/files/journals/1568539x_154_05_s001_text.pdf unknown Brill Behaviour volume 154, issue 5, page 509-540 ISSN 0005-7959 1568-539X Behavioral Neuroscience Animal Science and Zoology journal-article 2017 crbrillap https://doi.org/10.1163/1568539x-00003432 2024-04-18T06:53:30Z Cetacean social structures include fluid and stable elements. Long-finned pilot whales ( Globicephala melas ) live in units that interact forming labile groups. In this study conducted off Cape Breton Island, between 1998–2011, we confirm unit membership predicts associations between individuals. We determine how units are structured and interact. We delineated 21 nearly-stable social units, with an average 7 members. For units where multiple individuals are sexed, both sexes are present. Most units showed long-term stability, while one showed evidence of splitting. Three units shared individuals with the largest unit (K, average size = 29). Splitting is likely triggered by size and difficulties maintaining associations between all individuals. Pilot whales face many pressures driving sociality at a range of temporal and social scales producing a multilevel society. While we have produced a more detailed model of long-finned pilot whale social structure, there are still unanswered questions, particularly whether units are strict matrilines. Article in Journal/Newspaper Breton Island Brill Breton Island ENVELOPE(141.383,141.383,-66.800,-66.800) Behaviour 154 5 509 540 |
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Open Polar |
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Behavioral Neuroscience Animal Science and Zoology |
spellingShingle |
Behavioral Neuroscience Animal Science and Zoology Augusto, J.F. Frasier, T.R. Whitehead, H. Social structure of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) off northern Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia |
topic_facet |
Behavioral Neuroscience Animal Science and Zoology |
description |
Cetacean social structures include fluid and stable elements. Long-finned pilot whales ( Globicephala melas ) live in units that interact forming labile groups. In this study conducted off Cape Breton Island, between 1998–2011, we confirm unit membership predicts associations between individuals. We determine how units are structured and interact. We delineated 21 nearly-stable social units, with an average 7 members. For units where multiple individuals are sexed, both sexes are present. Most units showed long-term stability, while one showed evidence of splitting. Three units shared individuals with the largest unit (K, average size = 29). Splitting is likely triggered by size and difficulties maintaining associations between all individuals. Pilot whales face many pressures driving sociality at a range of temporal and social scales producing a multilevel society. While we have produced a more detailed model of long-finned pilot whale social structure, there are still unanswered questions, particularly whether units are strict matrilines. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Augusto, J.F. Frasier, T.R. Whitehead, H. |
author_facet |
Augusto, J.F. Frasier, T.R. Whitehead, H. |
author_sort |
Augusto, J.F. |
title |
Social structure of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) off northern Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia |
title_short |
Social structure of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) off northern Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia |
title_full |
Social structure of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) off northern Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia |
title_fullStr |
Social structure of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) off northern Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia |
title_full_unstemmed |
Social structure of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) off northern Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia |
title_sort |
social structure of long-finned pilot whales (globicephala melas) off northern cape breton island, nova scotia |
publisher |
Brill |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1568539x-00003432 https://brill.com/view/journals/beh/154/5/article-p509_1.xml https://data.brill.com/files/journals/1568539x_154_05_s001_text.pdf |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(141.383,141.383,-66.800,-66.800) |
geographic |
Breton Island |
geographic_facet |
Breton Island |
genre |
Breton Island |
genre_facet |
Breton Island |
op_source |
Behaviour volume 154, issue 5, page 509-540 ISSN 0005-7959 1568-539X |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1163/1568539x-00003432 |
container_title |
Behaviour |
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154 |
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5 |
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509 |
op_container_end_page |
540 |
_version_ |
1798844127975047168 |