Dialect change in resident killer whales: implications for vocal learning and cultural transmission

摘要: Variation in vocal signals among populations and social groups of animals provides opportunities for the study mechanisms behavioural change their importance generating maintaining variation. We analysed two call types made by matrilineal resident killer whales, Orcinus orca, over 12-13 years. used a neural network-based index acoustic similarity to identify differentiation. A test structural modification calls detected significant changes one type both groups, but not other. For modified type, rate divergence between was significantly lower than within either group showing that were similar fashion groups. An analysis parameters no strong directionality change. The pattern could have been caused maturational or, if whale dialects are learned traits, cultural drift structure together with horizontal transmission modifications Such matching members different matrilines would suggest learning is limited vertical from mother offspring, which has important implications models gene-culture coevolution. Copyright 2000 Association Study Animal Behaviour.