Social and genetic connectivity despite ecological variation in a killer whale network
Philopatric kin-based societies encourage a narrow breadth of conservative behaviours owing to individuals primarily learning from close kin, promoting behavioural homogeneity. However, weaker social ties beyond kin, and across a behaviourally diverse social landscape, could be sufficient to induce...
Published in: | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.0524 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspb.2024.0524 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rspb.2024.0524 |
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crroyalsociety:10.1098/rspb.2024.0524 2024-06-02T08:09:51+00:00 Social and genetic connectivity despite ecological variation in a killer whale network Jourdain, Eve Karoliussen, Richard Fordyce Martin, Sarah L. Langangen, Øystein Robeck, Todd Borgå, Katrine Ruus, Anders Foote, Andrew D. H2020 European Research Council Norges Forskningsråd Sea World & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund 2024 http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.0524 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspb.2024.0524 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rspb.2024.0524 en eng The Royal Society http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences volume 291, issue 2021 ISSN 0962-8452 1471-2954 journal-article 2024 crroyalsociety https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.0524 2024-05-07T14:16:15Z Philopatric kin-based societies encourage a narrow breadth of conservative behaviours owing to individuals primarily learning from close kin, promoting behavioural homogeneity. However, weaker social ties beyond kin, and across a behaviourally diverse social landscape, could be sufficient to induce variation and a greater ecological niche breadth. We investigated a network of 457 photo-identified killer whales from Norway (548 encounters in 2008–2021) with diet data available (46 mixed-diet individuals feeding on both fish and mammals, and 411 exclusive fish-eaters) to quantify patterns of association within and between diet groups, and to identify underlying correlates. We genotyped a subset of 106 whales to assess patterns of genetic differentiation. Our results suggested kinship as main driver of social bonds within and among cohesive social units, while diet was most likely a consequence reflective of cultural diffusion, rather than a driver. Flexible associations within and between ecologically diverse social units led to a highly connected network, reducing social and genetic differentiation between diet groups. Our study points to a role of social connectivity, in combination with individual behavioural variation, in influencing population ecology in killer whales. Article in Journal/Newspaper Killer Whale Killer whale The Royal Society Norway Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 291 2021 |
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Open Polar |
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The Royal Society |
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crroyalsociety |
language |
English |
description |
Philopatric kin-based societies encourage a narrow breadth of conservative behaviours owing to individuals primarily learning from close kin, promoting behavioural homogeneity. However, weaker social ties beyond kin, and across a behaviourally diverse social landscape, could be sufficient to induce variation and a greater ecological niche breadth. We investigated a network of 457 photo-identified killer whales from Norway (548 encounters in 2008–2021) with diet data available (46 mixed-diet individuals feeding on both fish and mammals, and 411 exclusive fish-eaters) to quantify patterns of association within and between diet groups, and to identify underlying correlates. We genotyped a subset of 106 whales to assess patterns of genetic differentiation. Our results suggested kinship as main driver of social bonds within and among cohesive social units, while diet was most likely a consequence reflective of cultural diffusion, rather than a driver. Flexible associations within and between ecologically diverse social units led to a highly connected network, reducing social and genetic differentiation between diet groups. Our study points to a role of social connectivity, in combination with individual behavioural variation, in influencing population ecology in killer whales. |
author2 |
H2020 European Research Council Norges Forskningsråd Sea World & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Jourdain, Eve Karoliussen, Richard Fordyce Martin, Sarah L. Langangen, Øystein Robeck, Todd Borgå, Katrine Ruus, Anders Foote, Andrew D. |
spellingShingle |
Jourdain, Eve Karoliussen, Richard Fordyce Martin, Sarah L. Langangen, Øystein Robeck, Todd Borgå, Katrine Ruus, Anders Foote, Andrew D. Social and genetic connectivity despite ecological variation in a killer whale network |
author_facet |
Jourdain, Eve Karoliussen, Richard Fordyce Martin, Sarah L. Langangen, Øystein Robeck, Todd Borgå, Katrine Ruus, Anders Foote, Andrew D. |
author_sort |
Jourdain, Eve |
title |
Social and genetic connectivity despite ecological variation in a killer whale network |
title_short |
Social and genetic connectivity despite ecological variation in a killer whale network |
title_full |
Social and genetic connectivity despite ecological variation in a killer whale network |
title_fullStr |
Social and genetic connectivity despite ecological variation in a killer whale network |
title_full_unstemmed |
Social and genetic connectivity despite ecological variation in a killer whale network |
title_sort |
social and genetic connectivity despite ecological variation in a killer whale network |
publisher |
The Royal Society |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.0524 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspb.2024.0524 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rspb.2024.0524 |
geographic |
Norway |
geographic_facet |
Norway |
genre |
Killer Whale Killer whale |
genre_facet |
Killer Whale Killer whale |
op_source |
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences volume 291, issue 2021 ISSN 0962-8452 1471-2954 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.0524 |
container_title |
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |
container_volume |
291 |
container_issue |
2021 |
_version_ |
1800755639848271872 |