Case Study 17a

Yurk, Harald

doi:10.4159/harvard.9780674419131.c35

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…Similarly to great apes and other highly social terrestrial mammals, cetaceans exploit socioecological niches that have been selected for some convergent adaptations such as long lifespan, large brains and high encephalization quotients (Yurk et al, 2002;Marino et al, 2007). They have been depicted as highly sociable, with a complex, organized and cooperative sociality and endowed with advanced cognitive skills (see Marino, 2022) with unique group-specific behavioral signatures including vocal repertoires and hunting and foraging tactics that do not seem to be either ecologically determined or genetically inherited (Deecke et al, 2000;Yurk, 2003;Riesch et al, 2012;Krützen et al, 2014). In fact, cetaceans are often presented as representative species of potential non-human cultural traditions with group-specific vocal repertoires and motor behaviors (Rendell and Whitehead, 2001;Whitehead and Rendell, 2014).…”

Section: Cetacean Imitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multimodal imitative learning and synchrony in cetaceans: A model for speech and singing evolution

et al. 2023

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Multimodal imitation of actions, gestures and vocal production is a hallmark of the evolution of human communication, as both, vocal learning and visual-gestural imitation, were crucial factors that facilitated the evolution of speech and singing. Comparative evidence has revealed that humans are an odd case in this respect, as the case for multimodal imitation is barely documented in non-human animals. While there is evidence of vocal learning in birds and in mammals like bats, elephants and marine mammals, evidence in both domains, vocal and gestural, exists for two Psittacine birds (budgerigars and grey parrots) and cetaceans only. Moreover, it draws attention to the apparent absence of vocal imitation (with just a few cases reported for vocal fold control in an orangutan and a gorilla and a prolonged development of vocal plasticity in marmosets) and even for imitation of intransitive actions (not object related) in monkeys and apes in the wild. Even after training, the evidence for productive or “true imitation” (copy of a novel behavior, i.e., not pre-existent in the observer’s behavioral repertoire) in both domains is scarce. Here we review the evidence of multimodal imitation in cetaceans, one of the few living mammalian species that have been reported to display multimodal imitative learning besides humans, and their role in sociality, communication and group cultures. We propose that cetacean multimodal imitation was acquired in parallel with the evolution and development of behavioral synchrony and multimodal organization of sensorimotor information, supporting volitional motor control of their vocal system and audio-echoic-visual voices, body posture and movement integration.

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Section: Cetacean Imitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multimodal imitative learning and synchrony in cetaceans: A model for speech and singing evolution

et al. 2023

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“…It has been suggested that some killer whales exhibit evidence of culture, such as foraging specializations between sympatric fish-eating and mammal-eating populations as well as group-specific call dialects that are used by matrilines to stay in contact [59]. Killer whales in different parts of the world have unique foraging techniques that are apparently learned, including hunting of pinnipeds on beaches by intentional stranding [60] and "carousel feeding" techniques used by whales in Norway to herd and prey on herring (Clupea harengus) schools [59]. In many populations there are examples of substantial seasonal movements in search of prey, such as movements following herring out of fjords in Norway into the Atlantic Ocean.…”

Section: Killer Whales Cf Orcinus Orcamentioning

confidence: 99%

Social and Behavioural Factors in Cetacean Responses to Overexploitation: Are Odontocetes Less “Resilient” Than Mysticetes?

Wade

Reeves²,

Mesnick

2012

Journal of Marine Biology

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Many severely depleted populations of baleen whales (Mysticeti) have exhibited clear signs of recovery whereas there are few examples in toothed whales (Odontoceti). We hypothesize that this difference is due, at least in part, to social and behavioural factors. Clearly, a part of the lack of resilience to exploitation is explained by odontocete life history. However, an additional factor may be the highly social nature of many odontocetes in which survival and reproductive success may depend on: (a) social cohesion and organization, (b) mutual defence against predators and possible alloparental care, (c) inter-generational transfer of "knowledge", and (d) leadership by older individuals. We found little evidence of strong recovery in any of the depleted populations examined. Their relatively low potential rates of increase mean that odontocete populations can be over-exploited with take rates of only a few percent per year. Exploitation can have effects beyond the dynamics of individual removals. Four species showed evidence of a decrease in birth rates following exploitation; potential mechanisms include a deficit of adult females, a deficit of adult males, and disruption of mating systems. The evidence for a lack of strong recovery in heavily exploited odontocete populations indicates that management should be more precautionary.

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“…One of the most distinctive elements of cetacean culture is multiculturalism—groups with different cultures using the same habitat—which is known in bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, killer whales, and sperm whales. For example, killer whale populations of the eastern North Pacific are structured into several social tiers, which possess distinctive cultural attributes in vocal, social, feeding, and play behavior [67,68]. …”

Section: Cetacean Cognition and Behavior In The Wildmentioning

confidence: 99%