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Non‐geographically based population structure of South Pacific sperm whales: dialects, fluke‐markings and genetics
Author(s) -
Whitehead Hal,
Dillon Mary,
Dufault Susan,
Weilgart Linda,
Wright Jonathan
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of animal ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.134
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1365-2656
pISSN - 0021-8790
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2656.1998.00187.x
Subject(s) - sperm whale , coda , biological dispersal , biology , haplotype , repertoire , genetic structure , evolutionary biology , population , phylogeography , mitochondrial dna , zoology , population genetics , genetic variation , phylogenetic tree , genetics , demography , gene , genotype , biochemistry , physics , myoglobin , seismology , sociology , acoustics , geology
1. This study addresses the issue of structure in sperm whale ( Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus) populations and whether it is geographically based. 2. During a survey around the South Pacific Ocean, we collected sloughed skin for genetic analyses, recorded coda vocalizations, and photographed fluke markings. 3. Groups of female and immature sperm whales had characteristic mitochondrial haplotypes, coda repertoires, and fluke‐mark patterns, but there was no clear geographical structure in any of these attributes. 4. However, similarities of coda repertoire and mitochondrial haplotype distribution were significantly correlated among pairs of groups in a manner that was not geographically based. There was also a significant canonical correlation coefficient between coda repertoire and fluke‐mark patterns. 5. These results suggest that attributes (such as vocal repertoire and techniques of predator defence) which are acquired matrilineally, and probably culturally, are conserved during the fission and dispersal of groups.