US EditionWhales Who Are Better Singers Are More Successful at Mating
Older male humpback whales gain reproductive advantage by refining songs and tactics, with their success increasing as population age structure shifts, researchers say.
- Recently, the Sea Mammal Research Unit at the University of St Andrews found older male humpback whales are increasingly successful at siring offspring as populations recover, based on nearly two decades of data from the New Caledonia breeding grounds.
- Decades after commercial whaling ended, its legacy still shapes which males reproduce, as population recovery led female humpback whales to favour older males with stronger traits.
- Long-Term observations and new lab tools revealed the team combined Opération Cétacés' behavioural monitoring with genetic paternity analysis and an epigenetic `molecular clock` to estimate male humpback whales' ages.
- Dr. Ellen Garland said, `Mating behavior, and who was successful at mating, changed with these shifts in age structure.`
- Study authors note that as whale populations recover, males need time to refine singing and tactics, with new analytical tools helping understand whaling's lasting impact.
32 Articles
32 Articles
Older Male Whales More Successful at Mating Because They’re Better Singers, Shows Study
Older male whales are more successful at mating than their younger rivals because they are better singers, suggests new research. The older singing whales are increasingly successful at birthing offspring compared to younger males, with the findings suggesting that the humpbacks may need time to learn and refine their singing and competitive tactics—giving experienced males […] The post Older Male Whales More Successful at Mating Because They’re…
The whaling has brought several populations to the edge of extinction. Slowly they recover. The fact that there are more animals again obviously also changes how they behave.
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Whales who are better singers are more successful at mating
New research reveals older singing male whales are increasingly successful at siring offspring compared to younger males.
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