Sociality – the suite of socially learned behaviors specific to a group of animals – is increasingly recognized as a survival strategy that is integral to the evolutionary ecology of many non-human animals. This is especially true in marine environments, where there are few barriers to dispersal, and top predators must find other ways to segregate and identify their niche space.
In this presentation, Dr. Van Cise will share four examples of recent research that incorporate the lens of sociality into our understanding of the evolutionary ecology of cetaceans as top marine predators. From evolutionary trajectories to population health to management implications, understanding the effects of sociality can provide important insight relevant to both the ecology and conservation of top marine predators. |