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Comparative Study
. 2008 Apr 23;4(2):189-91.
doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2008.0006.

Mortality rate acceleration and post-reproductive lifespan in matrilineal whale species

Andrew D Foote  1
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Mortality rate acceleration and post-reproductive lifespan in matrilineal whale species

Andrew D Foote. Biol Lett. .

Abstract

The strength of selection to increase the span of a life stage is dependent upon individuals at that stage being able to contribute towards individual fitness and the probability of their surviving to that stage. Complete reproductive cessation and a long post-reproductive female lifespan as found in humans are also found in killer whale (Orcinus orca) and short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), but not in the long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melaena). Each species forms kin-based, stable matrilineal groups and exhibits kin-directed behaviours that could increase inclusive fitness. Here, the initial mortality rate and mortality rate-doubling time of females of these three closely related whale species are compared. The initial mortality rate shows little variation among pilot whale species; however mortality rate accelerates almost twice as fast in the long-finned pilot whale as it does in killer whale and short-finned pilot whale. Selection for a long post-reproductive female lifespan in matrilineal whales may therefore be determined by the proportion of females surviving past the point of reproductive cessation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Age-dependent survivorship and fertility of (a) the long-finned pilot whale; the dotted line indicates the proportion of females surviving (Bloch et al. 1993) and the solid line indicates the proportion of females that were pregnant (Martin & Rothery 1993); (b) the short-finned pilot whale; the dotted line indicates the proportion of females surviving and the solid line indicates the proportion of females that were pregnant (Kasuya & Marsh 1984); (c) killer whale; the dotted line indicates the proportion of females surviving and the solid line indicates the number of viable calves produced per female (Olesiuk et al. 1990).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Female mortality rates as a function of the age of three matrilineal whale species, killer whale (triangles), long-finned pilot whale (diamonds) and short-finned pilot whale (squares), based on life tables from Kasuya & Marsh (1984), Olesiuk et al. (1990) and Bloch et al. (1993).
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