Dolphins are much more like us humans in their social behavior than previously thought. Forming multiple levels of strategic alliances has long been considered a unique feature of human societies. Scientists have now discovered that bottlenose dolphins are forming very similar partnerships on Australia’s west coast.
According to the study, the goals of the smart marine mammals differ significantly from those of humans. So the animals are not concerned with economic benefits or military operations – but only with access to the females.
An international team of researchers led by the University of Bristol examined the social networks of 121 male Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, 800 kilometers north of Perth. The astonishing result: “All 121 men are directly or indirectly connected in social groups in the largest alliance network known outside of humans,” the scientists report in the “Proceedings” of the American Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Marine mammals form three alliance levels
Male dolphins form three levels of alliances or “orders” in competition for females: First-order alliances between two or three males are about coexistence with individual females. The second-order alliances include four to a maximum of 14 unrelated men who compete with other alliances for access to women. In third-order alliances, entire second-order groups work together.
“Collaboration among allies is pervasive in human societies and one of the hallmarks of our success,” explains co-lead author Stephanie King. “Our ability to form strategic, cooperative relationships at multiple social levels, such as trade or military alliances — both national and international — was once considered unique to our species.”
Collaboration increases reproductive success
Such multi-level alliance networks would also be used by dolphins – and on a large scale. In addition, the research has shown that bottlenose dolphins depend not only on size, but especially on the cooperation between the individual groups when it comes to spending more time with the females. This ultimately increases reproductive success, King emphasized.
So far, efforts to understand human social evolution have been limited almost exclusively to comparisons with other primates, especially chimpanzees and baboons, the study continues. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that important insights can also be obtained through comparisons between humans and further related beings.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
