435
anic processes in a deeper approach, we will find in the humpback whale song a key
to last a long time with respect to this planet.
15.4.4 Mating System
Polygyny is a mating system in which one male mates with several females during
a breeding season. “Lek” is defined as a traditional display site where males gather
to defend small territories that lack resources useful to females, which nevertheless
visit the site to mate. Therefore, lek polygyny occurs when a polygynous male use
displays to attract several females to them at small display sites (Alcock 1993).
It is well studied for other mammals such those closely related to cetaceans, the
ungulates, beyond 35 bird species, frogs and even insects (see Krebs and Davies
1993; Alcock 1993). Clapham (1996) suggested the term ‘floating lek’ to the humpback whale mating system, emphasizing the high mobility of the singer males, in
contrast with the traditional lek which present a fixed territoriality.
In the present study, spatial (presence of multiple group composition) and behavioral (diverse repertoire while singing) features were found that may support the
“lek polygyny” as the mating system for the humpback whale. The singer male
distribution along the study area indicate that a broad area in the breeding ground is
being utilized for displaying, refusing lek influenced by “hotspot”, in which males
compete for the most attractive site to display, while fitting better to lek by “hotshot”
males, which may choose any place to sing and then attract females to mate and
more “satellite” males, coming to maximize their mate chances by staying as close
as the hotshot male (Krebs and Davies 1993; Alcock 1993).
Connor et al. (2000) discussing on male reproductive strategies in cetaceans,
state that humpback whale seems to follow the restrictive definition of lekking: (1)
no male parental care, (2) an arena where males gather and females come to mate,
(3) resource-free display sites, and (4) opportunities for females to exercise mate
choice (Clapham 1996). However, instead to emphasize only the male-male dominance and territoriality, Connor et al. (2000) also include a broader view in which
leking behavior is found in association with other male mating strategies, as the
example of male-male combat in competitive alternatively to displaying. Tyack
(2000) suggest that humpback whale song plays a role in both male-male competitions and female choice, showing attributes associated with both intra and intersexual
selection.
To determine a precise mating system for the humpbacks is a complex task, once
we still do not know many basic issues as the ideal breeding area size for any population. Thinking broader, the Brazilian population increase (Ward et al. 2006;
Zerbini et al. 2006; Andriolo et al. 2006) could lead to dispersion of young females,
whose would attract different males, then forming the floating lek, either by hotspot
or hotshot, and colonizing favorable adjacent areas.
15 The Spreading Message in a Noisy World: Song Behavior and Acoustic Ecology…
anic processes in a deeper approach, we will find in the humpback whale song a key
to last a long time with respect to this planet.
15.4.4 Mating System
Polygyny is a mating system in which one male mates with several females during
a breeding season. “Lek” is defined as a traditional display site where males gather
to defend small territories that lack resources useful to females, which nevertheless
visit the site to mate. Therefore, lek polygyny occurs when a polygynous male use
displays to attract several females to them at small display sites (Alcock 1993).
It is well studied for other mammals such those closely related to cetaceans, the
ungulates, beyond 35 bird species, frogs and even insects (see Krebs and Davies
1993; Alcock 1993). Clapham (1996) suggested the term ‘floating lek’ to the humpback whale mating system, emphasizing the high mobility of the singer males, in
contrast with the traditional lek which present a fixed territoriality.
In the present study, spatial (presence of multiple group composition) and behavioral (diverse repertoire while singing) features were found that may support the
“lek polygyny” as the mating system for the humpback whale. The singer male
distribution along the study area indicate that a broad area in the breeding ground is
being utilized for displaying, refusing lek influenced by “hotspot”, in which males
compete for the most attractive site to display, while fitting better to lek by “hotshot”
males, which may choose any place to sing and then attract females to mate and
more “satellite” males, coming to maximize their mate chances by staying as close
as the hotshot male (Krebs and Davies 1993; Alcock 1993).
Connor et al. (2000) discussing on male reproductive strategies in cetaceans,
state that humpback whale seems to follow the restrictive definition of lekking: (1)
no male parental care, (2) an arena where males gather and females come to mate,
(3) resource-free display sites, and (4) opportunities for females to exercise mate
choice (Clapham 1996). However, instead to emphasize only the male-male dominance and territoriality, Connor et al. (2000) also include a broader view in which
leking behavior is found in association with other male mating strategies, as the
example of male-male combat in competitive alternatively to displaying. Tyack
(2000) suggest that humpback whale song plays a role in both male-male competitions and female choice, showing attributes associated with both intra and intersexual
selection.
To determine a precise mating system for the humpbacks is a complex task, once
we still do not know many basic issues as the ideal breeding area size for any population. Thinking broader, the Brazilian population increase (Ward et al. 2006;
Zerbini et al. 2006; Andriolo et al. 2006) could lead to dispersion of young females,
whose would attract different males, then forming the floating lek, either by hotspot
or hotshot, and colonizing favorable adjacent areas.
15 The Spreading Message in a Noisy World: Song Behavior and Acoustic Ecology…