Cultural transmission of tool use combined with habitat specializations leads to fine-scale genetic structure in bottlenose dolphins
Authored by Anna M Kopps, Corinne Y Ackermann, William B Sherwin, Simon J Allen, Lars Bejder, Michael Kruetzen
Date Published: 2014
DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.3245
Sponsors:
No sponsors listed
Platforms:
No platforms listed
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
Socially learned behaviours leading to genetic population structure have
rarely been described outside humans. Here, we provide evidence of
fine-scale genetic structure that has probably arisen based on socially
transmitted behaviours in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) in western
Shark Bay, Western Australia. We argue that vertical social transmission
in different habitats has led to significant geographical genetic
structure of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes. Dolphinswith mtDNA
haplotypes E or F are found predominantly in deep (more than 10 m)
channel habitat, while dolphins with a third haplotype (H) are found
predominantly in shallow habitat (less than 10 m), indicating a strong
haplotype-habitat correlation. Some dolphins in the deep habitat engage
in a foraging strategy using tools. These ` sponging' dolphins are
members of one matriline, carrying haplotype E. This pattern is
consistent with what had been demonstrated previously at another
research site in Shark Bay, where vertical social transmission of
sponging had been shown using multiple lines of evidence. Using an
individual-based model, we found support that in western Shark Bay, socially transmitted specializations may have led to the observed
genetic structure. The reported genetic structure appears to present an
example of cultural hitchhiking of mtDNA haplotypes on socially
transmitted foraging strategies, suggesting that, as in humans, genetic
structure can be shaped through cultural transmission.
Tags
differentiation
landscape genetics
Population-structure
Multilocus genotype data
Tursiops sp.
Matrilineal whales
Western-australia
Killer whale
Shark bay
Truncatus