PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
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.
摘要：
由于个人主要从近亲那里学习，因此以医学亲属为基础的社会鼓励狭窄的保守行为，促进行为同质性。然而,比亲属更弱的社会关系，在行为多样化的社会环境中，可能足以引起变异和更大的生态位宽度。我们调查了一个由457只来自挪威的照片识别的虎鲸组成的网络（2008-2021年有548只遭遇），并提供了饮食数据（46只混合饮食的个体以鱼和哺乳动物为食，和411个独家食鱼者)来量化饮食组内和组间的关联模式，并确定潜在的相关性。我们对106只鲸鱼的子集进行了基因分型，以评估遗传分化的模式。我们的结果表明，亲属关系是凝聚力社会单位内部和之间社会纽带的主要驱动力，虽然饮食很可能是反映文化传播的结果，而不是司机。生态多样的社会单位内部和之间的灵活关联导致了高度连接的网络，减少饮食群体之间的社会和遗传差异。我们的研究指出了社会连通性的作用，结合个体行为变化，影响虎鲸种群生态。
