PlumX Metrics
Embed PlumX Metrics

Identifying social clusters of endangered main Hawaiian Islands false killer whales

Endangered Species Research, ISSN: 1613-4796, Vol: 51, Page: 249-268
2023
  • 6
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 11
    Captures
  • 0
    Mentions
  • 0
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

  • Citations
    6
    • Citation Indexes
      4
    • Policy Citations
      2
      • Policy Citation
        2
  • Captures
    11

Article Description

The presence of distinct social groups within an animal population can result in heterogeneity in many aspects of its life history and ecology. The ability to accurately assess social group membership increases with the number of times individuals are identified, but obtaining sufficient sightings of rarely encountered species can be difficult. Three social clusters were previously identified for the endangered population of false killer whales Pseudorca crassidens around the main Hawaiian Islands, using modularity among associations within a 12 yr photographic dataset with no restrictions on the number of times seen. In this study, we used photo-identification data over a 23 yr period to reassess the number and membership of social clusters, restricted to individuals seen on at least 5 different days. We compared the robustness of clustering assignments from 6 community detection algorithms using modularity and found that the 3 highest-ranking algorithms all identified the same number (4) and membership of social clusters. Spatial use of clusters varied among the islands, with 3 of the 4 clusters encountered regularly only off 1 or 2 of the 3 main island study areas. Comparison of genetic differentiation among social clusters revealed significant differentiation in nuclear DNA. Furthermore, all individuals in 2 of the clusters possess the same mitochondrial DNA haplotype, while in the other 2 clusters, approximately 40% of animals possess a second haplotype. This level of clustering and associated heterogeneity within the population may have implications for mark−recapture abundance estimation, as well as for mitigating exposure to anthropogenic activities, including interactions with fisheries.

Bibliographic Details

Sabre D. Mahaffy; Robin W. Baird; Annette E. Harnish; Tori Cullins; Stephanie H. Stack; Jens J. Currie; Amanda L. Bradford; Dan R. Salden; Karen K. Martien

Inter-Research Science Center

Environmental Science

Provide Feedback

Have ideas for a new metric? Would you like to see something else here?Let us know