Adaptive prolonged postreproductive life span in killer whales

TY - JOUR

T1 - Adaptive prolonged postreproductive life span in killer whales

AU - Foster, Emma A

AU - Franks, Daniel W

AU - Mazzi, Sonia

AU - Darden, Safi K

AU - Balcomb, Ken C

AU - Ford, John K B

AU - Croft, Darren P

PY - 2012/9/14

Y1 - 2012/9/14

N2 - Prolonged life after reproduction is difficult to explain evolutionarily unless it arises as a physiological side effect of increased longevity or it benefits related individuals (i.e., increases inclusive fitness). There is little evidence that postreproductive life spans are adaptive in nonhuman animals. By using multigenerational records for two killer whale (Orcinus orca) populations in which females can live for decades after their final parturition, we show that postreproductive mothers increase the survival of offspring, particularly their older male offspring. This finding may explain why female killer whales have evolved the longest postreproductive life span of all nonhuman animals.

AB - Prolonged life after reproduction is difficult to explain evolutionarily unless it arises as a physiological side effect of increased longevity or it benefits related individuals (i.e., increases inclusive fitness). There is little evidence that postreproductive life spans are adaptive in nonhuman animals. By using multigenerational records for two killer whale (Orcinus orca) populations in which females can live for decades after their final parturition, we show that postreproductive mothers increase the survival of offspring, particularly their older male offspring. This finding may explain why female killer whales have evolved the longest postreproductive life span of all nonhuman animals.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84866133639&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1126/science.1224198

DO - 10.1126/science.1224198

M3 - Article

C2 - 22984064

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 337

SP - 1313

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 6100

ER -