Habitat use of culturally distinct Galápagos sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus clans

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorEguiguren, Ana
dc.contributor.authorPirotta, Enrico
dc.contributor.authorCantor, Maurício
dc.contributor.authorRendell, Luke
dc.contributor.authorWhitehead, Hal
dc.contributor.funderDalhousie Universityen
dc.contributor.funderConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológicoen
dc.contributor.funderKillam Trustsen
dc.contributor.funderScottish Funding Councilen
dc.contributor.funderNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canadaen
dc.contributor.funderNational Geographic Societyen
dc.contributor.funderCetacean Society Internationalen
dc.contributor.funderInternational Whaling Commission
dc.contributor.funderWhale and Dolphin Conservation Society, United Kingdom
dc.contributor.funderGreen Island Foundation
dc.date.accessioned2019-02-19T11:33:29Z
dc.date.available2019-02-19T11:33:29Z
dc.date.issued2019-01-17
dc.date.updated2019-02-18T18:38:23Z
dc.description.abstractEcological niche is traditionally defined at the species level, but individual niches can vary considerably within species. Research on intra-specific niche variation has been focussed on intrinsic drivers. However, differential transmission of socially learned behaviours can also lead to intra-specific niche variation. In sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus, social transmission of information is thought to generate culturally distinct clans, which at times occur sympatrically. Clans have distinct dialects, foraging success rates, and movement patterns, but whether the niches of clan members are also different remains unknown. We evaluated the differences in habitat use of clans off the Galápagos Islands, using data collected over 63 encounters between 1985 and 2014. During encounters, we recorded geographic positions, determined clan identity through analysis of group vocalizations and individual associations, and used topographical and oceanographic variables as proxies of sperm whale prey distribution. We used logistic generalized additive models, fitted with generalized estimating equations to account for spatiotemporal autocorrelation, to predict clan identity as a function of the environment descriptors. Oceanographic variables marginally contributed to differentiating clans. Clan identity could be predicted almost entirely based on geographic location. This fine-scale, within-region spatial partitioning likely derives from whales preferring areas where members of their clans occur over temporal scales of a few months to a few years. By identifying differences in clans’ space use, we have uncovered another level of sperm whale life that is likely influenced by their cultural nature.en
dc.description.sponsorshipDalhousie University (Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship; Patrick F. Lett Graduate Students’ Assistance Bursary); Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (202581/2011-0; 153797/2016-9); Scottish Funding Council (grant reference HR09011)en
dc.description.statusPeer revieweden
dc.description.versionAccepted Versionen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.citationEguiguren, A., Pirotta, E., Cantor, M., Rendell, L. and Whitehead, H. (2019) 'Habitat use of culturally distinct Galápagos sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus clans', Marine Ecology Progress Series, 609, pp. 257-270. doi:10.3354/meps12822en
dc.identifier.doi10.3354/meps12822
dc.identifier.endpage270en
dc.identifier.issn0171-8630
dc.identifier.issn1616-1599
dc.identifier.journaltitleMarine Ecology Progress Seriesen
dc.identifier.startpage257en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/7517
dc.identifier.volume609en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherInter-Researchen
dc.relation.urihttps://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v609/p257-270/
dc.rights© 2019, Inter-Research. All rights reserved.en
dc.subjectHabitat preferenceen
dc.subjectCetaceanen
dc.subjectCultureen
dc.subjectGeneralized additive modelen
dc.subjectGAMen
dc.subjectGeneralized estimating equationen
dc.subjectGEEen
dc.subjectGalápagosen
dc.titleHabitat use of culturally distinct Galápagos sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus clansen
dc.typeArticle (peer-reviewed)en
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Eguiguren_et_al._2019_habitat_use_Galapagos_sperm_whale_clans.pdf
Size:
641.01 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Published Version
Download
Thumbnail Image
Name:
MEPS201709046-R1.pdf
Size:
760.97 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Accepted Version
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
2.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences - Journal Articles