Composition and Dynamics of Humpback Whale Competitive Groups in the West Indies

Clapham, Phillip J.; Palsbøll, Per J.; Mattila, David K.; Vásquez, Oswaldo

doi:10.1163/156853992x00507

Cited by 134 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…It may be inferred that the intense surface activity exhibited by humpback whales during the breeding season must have an extremely important role for their social organization. In humpback whales the social ordering seems to be transitory and characterized for fluid associations among individuals (Darling et al, 1983;Baker and Herman, 1984;Mobey and Herman, 1985;Clapham et al, 1992;Felix andHaase, 2001a, Valsecchi, 2002), in most cases limited to moments of courtship, male competence and mating, The dynamics that characterizes groups of humpback whales during the breeding season would show the "prospecting" and aggressive behavior that mature males display when looking for receptive females (Mobey and Herman, 1985). Those who invested the most would be males looking for an opportunity to mate with females having the largest reproductive potential (Tyack and Whitehead, 1983;Craig et al, 2002).…”

Section: Social Structure Influencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Herman and Tavolga mentioned some possible explanations to these displays including, exhibition, play, male competition, intimidation, sexual stimulation, food detection, and responses to wounds or irritation. Although the reproductive behavior of humpback whales has been extensively studied in their breeding grounds (e.g., Herman and Antinoja, 1977;Tyak and Whitehead, 1983; Darling et al, 1983;Baker and Heman 1984;Silber, 1986;Clapham et al, 1992), the specific role of these displays in different social contexts is still poorly known.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For this reason one of the aspects most studied in humpback whales is the competition among males for receptive females. During pursuits, males exhibit threatening and aggressive displays such as charges, tail-slashing, head lunging, bubbling, and different types of vocalizations that may lead to agonistic fights (Tyak and Whitehead, 1983;Baker and Herman, 1993;Darling et al, 1983;Silber, 1986;Clapham et al, 1992). For this behavior involving much physical contact, short-range percussion sounds produced when hitting the surface with flippers and flukes may be important to define hierarchies, establish alliances or guide other whales.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of the level of surface activity in humpback whales during the breeding season

Félix¹

2004

Lat. Am. J. Aquat. Mamm.

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-Between 1991 and, the reproductive behavior of the humpback whale was studied during the breeding season off the coast of Ecuador, South America (02°S, 81°W). During the sighting period the level of surface activity exhibited by the whales was assessed according to the type of display performed and its frequency. Five displays that produce percussion sounds and used likely for communication were considered: breaching, head-lapping, tail-slapping, flipper-slapping and tail slashing. A total of 289 selected sightings were included in one of four levels according to a scale of intensity designed for the purpose. To determine what social conditions increased or reduced the activity, groups were organized according to their size and age-class composition. Singletons and groups of three and four whales showed a significantly higher surface activity than pairs or larger than four for the highest intensity level (P<0.05). Differences were also found when age-classes were compared, with subadults showing significantly higher surface activity than other classes (P<0.01). Groups that increased members showed a significant difference respect to decreasing groups at the lowest level of intensity of the scale (P<0.05). Competitive groups showed a significant higher occurrence at intensity level 2 than other groups (P<0.05). No relationship was found between whale speed and surface activity. The possible influence of environment factors such as day hour, sea state, moon phase and "El Niño", was also assessed; none of which showed a clear trend to affect the intensity of whale surface activity. A discussion about the implications of these findings is provided as well as interpretations of possible meanings of some displays under different social contexts. This analysis indicates that social aspects rather than environment factors drive the surface activity of the humpback whales during the breeding season.Resumen -Entre 1992 y 2002, se estudió el comportamiento de las ballenas jorobadas durante su temporada de reproducción en la costa de Ecuador, Sudamérica (02°S,81°W). Para ello se analizó la actividad de superficie exhibida por las ballenas de acuerdo al tipo de pautas mostradas y su frecuencia. Cinco pautas que producen sonidos de percusión y que son utilizadas probablemente como una forma de comunicación fueron evaluadas: salto de espaldas, salto de vientre, golpe de cola, golpe de aleta pectoral y latigazos con la cola. Un total de 289 avistamientos fueron usados en el análisis. Con el afán de determinar que condiciones sociales fueron causantes del incremento o la ausencia de la actividad de superficie, los grupos fueron organizados de acuerdo al tamaño del grupo y al tipo de individuos presentes. Los individuos solitarios así como los grupos formados por tres y cuatro ballenas mostraron un nivel de actividad de superficie significativamente más alto (P<0.05). Diferencias significativas también fueron encontradas cuando se comparó los grupos por clases de edades, siendo los subadultos quienes mostraron el mayor ...

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Section: Social Structure Influencementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of the level of surface activity in humpback whales during the breeding season

Félix¹

2004

Lat. Am. J. Aquat. Mamm.

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“…Females come into oestrus during winter, and males exhibit a marked increase in spermatogenesis (Chittleborough 1958(Chittleborough , 1965. Aggressive intrasexual competition among males frequently occurs during this season (Tyack & Whitehead 1983;Baker & Herman 1984;Clapham et al 1992), and singing is virtually ubiquitous throughout the species' tropical breeding range.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acoustic monitoring on a humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) feeding ground shows continual singing into late spring

Clark

Clapham

2004

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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145

138

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Singing by males is a major feature of the mating system of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski). Although a few songs have been opportunistically recorded on the whales' high-latitude feeding grounds, singing in these regions was thought to be only sporadic. We report results from the first continuous acoustic monitoring of a humpback whale feeding ground (off Cape Cod, MA, USA) in spring. Using autonomous sea-floor recording systems, we found singing on a daily basis over the entire 25 day monitoring period, from 14 May to 7 June 2000. For much of the period, song was recorded 24 h per day. These results, combined with evidence for aseasonal conceptions in whaling catch data, suggest that the humpback whale breeding season should no longer be considered as confined to lower-latitude regions in winter. Rather, we suggest breeding extends geographically and temporally onto feeding grounds into at least spring and early summer. Singing at these times represents either low-cost opportunistic advertising by (perhaps relatively few) males to court females that failed to conceive during the winter, and/or possibly an intrasexual display.

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“…There, males sing long, complex songs (Payne & McVay 1971 ;Tyack 1981) the primary function of which is probably as a reproductive display to attract potential mates. In addition, males engage in often aggressive intrasexual competition for females (Tyack & Whitehead 1983 ;Baker & Herman 1984), perhaps sometimes in coalitions (Clapham et al 1992 ;Brown & Corkeron 1995). Female humpbacks invariably give birth to a single calf, which remains with its mother for a year (Clapham & Mayo 1990).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular analysis of paternity shows promiscuous mating in female humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae, Borowski)

Clapham

Palsbøll

1997

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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SUMMARYIt is widely assumed that the mating system of the humpback whale, Megaptera no aeangliae, is similar to that of most mammals in that it represents some form of polygyny or promiscuity, but this cannot be tested without observations of copulation or data on paternity of offspring. Microsatellite DNA markers were used to examine the paternity of calves born to individually identified mature female humpback whales from the Gulf of Maine. Skin biopsies were obtained from three females, and several (range : three to five) of their known offspring. Multiple paternity of offspring, indicated by the presence of at least three different paternal alleles, was evident in all three females at either three or four of the six microsatellite loci surveyed. Such promiscuous mating is expected given current knowledge of the social ecology of this species. It is also consistent with resightings of individually identified female humpbacks with different male associates during two or more breeding seasons.

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Composition and Dynamics of Humpback Whale Competitive Groups in the West Indies

Cited by 134 publications

References 25 publications

Assessment of the level of surface activity in humpback whales during the breeding season

Assessment of the level of surface activity in humpback whales during the breeding season

Acoustic monitoring on a humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) feeding ground shows continual singing into late spring

Molecular analysis of paternity shows promiscuous mating in female humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae, Borowski)

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