Item – Theses Canada

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OCLC number
248935036
Link(s) to full text
LAC copy
LAC copy
Author
Gero, Shane,1980-
Title
Fundamentals of sperm whale societies : care for calves.
Degree
M. Sc. -- Dalhousie University, 2006
Publisher
Ottawa : Library and Archives Canada = Bibliothèque et Archives Canada, [2007]
Description
2 microfiches
Notes
Includes bibliographical references.
Abstract
The matrilineal society of the sperm whale functions to provide protection for calves at the surface while mothers make deep dives for food. Sperm whale females do have a system of babysitting, but details are unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the behaviour involved in sperm whale allocare, in particular who babysits whose calf; whether or not suckling from a non-parent occurs; and to describe sperm whale suckling behaviour. Using photo-identification and behavioural calf-follows, I examined patterns of adult-infant interaction for 22 sperm whale calves in the Sargasso and Caribbean Seas. In the Caribbean, a preferred babysitter provided most of the allocare but did not nurse the calf; whereas in the Sargasso, multiple nursing escorts provided care for the young. Furthermore, I found that peduncle dives by calves under adults, surface behaviour previously thought to indicate suckling, are laterally asymmetrical and may not always indicate milk acquisition through the mouth.
ISBN
9780494165751
0494165758