Shared Reproductive State Enhances Female Associations in Dolphins
Joint Authors
Harcourt, Robert G.
Möller, Luciana M.
Source
Issue
Vol. 2008, Issue 2008 (31 Dec. 2008), pp.1-5, 5 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2008-02-17
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
5
Main Subjects
Natural & Life Sciences (Multidisciplinary)
Biology
Abstract EN
Female bottlenose dolphins (genus Tursiops) usually associate at moderate level with other females within social clusters called bands or cliques.
It has been suggested that reproductive state may play the predominant role in determining associations within female T.
truncatus bands.
Here, we test the hypothesis that reproductive state correlates with associations of female Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (T.
aduncus).
We found that females in similar reproductive state, which included females from late pregnancy to the first year of their calves' life or females from early pregnancy to their calves' newborn period, had higher-association coefficients with each other than they did with females in different reproductive states (females with older calves or without calves).
This was observed both within and across social clusters suggesting that reproductive state, at least for pregnant females and those with young calves, plays an important role in determining who to associate with.
However, a female's most frequent associate was not always with another in similar reproductive state.
We suggest that several factors, including reproductive state, may be of importance in determining associations of female bottlenose dolphins.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Möller, Luciana M.& Harcourt, Robert G.. 2008. Shared Reproductive State Enhances Female Associations in Dolphins. Research Letters in Ecology،Vol. 2008, no. 2008, pp.1-5.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-476497
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Möller, Luciana M.& Harcourt, Robert G.. Shared Reproductive State Enhances Female Associations in Dolphins. Research Letters in Ecology No. 2008 (2008), pp.1-5.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-476497
American Medical Association (AMA)
Möller, Luciana M.& Harcourt, Robert G.. Shared Reproductive State Enhances Female Associations in Dolphins. Research Letters in Ecology. 2008. Vol. 2008, no. 2008, pp.1-5.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-476497
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-476497