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Group structure and kinship in beluga whale societies
Greg O'Corry-Crowe1, Robert Suydam2, Lori Quakenbush3
1Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, 5600 US. 1 North, Fort Pierce, FL, 34946, USA. gocorryc@fau.edu.
Scientific Reports
|July 12, 2020
Summary
Beluga whale social groups are dynamic and include both relatives and non-relatives, challenging previous assumptions about matrilineal structures in whale societies. These findings suggest complex evolutionary drivers for beluga sociality.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Mammalian sociality is often explained by inclusive fitness benefits derived from associating with close kin.
- Whale societies, particularly toothed whales like killer and sperm whales, are often characterized by matrilineal structures.
- This matrilineal model has influenced research into the social structures of less-studied cetaceans, such as beluga whales.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the group structure and kinship patterns in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas).
- To test the hypothesis that beluga social groupings are primarily organized around close maternal relatives.
- To explore the evolutionary mechanisms shaping beluga sociality and its implications for species management and menopause evolution.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of beluga whale group structures and behaviors across various populations and habitats.
- Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite profiling to determine genetic relatedness.
- Network analysis to examine social relationships and group composition.
Main Results:
- Beluga whales form a limited number of distinct group types with consistent observations across different environments.
- Group membership is dynamic, with certain behaviors associated with specific group types.
- Contrary to predictions, most social groupings were not predominantly maternal kin; they included both kin and non-kin, with significant paternal relatedness and associations of unrelated adult males.
Conclusions:
- Beluga whale social organization is more complex than a simple matrilineal structure, involving kin and non-kin relationships.
- Evolutionary mechanisms likely include reciprocity, mutualism, and kin selection.
- These findings have implications for beluga whale management and understanding the evolution of menopause in social species.
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