Author:
Balbuena J. A.,Raga J. A.
Abstract
The value of intestinal helminths as indicators of segregation and social structure of seven pods of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) caught in the Faeroe Islands was examined. A comparison of helminth abundances revealed significant overall differences across the pods. Although seasonal factors may partly account for such differences, the agreement of the results with previous pollutant and genetic studies suggests a certain degree of geographical, seasonal, or behavioural segregation of pods of Faeroese pilot whales. The evidence brought forward here, however, does not seem conclusive enough to confirm the presence of different stocks or populations in Faeroese waters. The exclusion of sexually mature males in the analyses had little effect on the patterns observed. However, adult males were more difficult to allocate to pods than the remainder, and the omission of these animals significantly improved the classification results in a canonical analysis. This evidence agrees with previous genetic studies suggesting that adult males avoid inbreeding by moving between pods. It is concluded that helminth parasites have potential value as biological indicators in population and behavioural studies of marine mammals.
Publisher
Canadian Science Publishing
Subject
Animal Science and Zoology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Cited by
28 articles.
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