Juvenile social play predicts adult reproductive success in male bottlenose dolphins

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Holmes, Kathryn G.; Krutzen, Michael; Ridley, Amanda R.; Allen, Simon J.; Connor, Richard C.; Gerber, Livia; Stamm, Cindy Flaherty; King, Stephanie L.
• 署名单位: University of Western Australia; University of Zurich; University of Bristol; University of Massachusetts System; University Massachusetts Dartmouth; State University System of Florida; Florida International University; State University System of Florida; Florida International University; Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-12814
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2305948121
• 发表日期: 2024-06-18
• 关键词: tursiops sp.; group-size; behavioral-development; alliance formation; sex-differences; shark bay; PERSPECTIVES; affiliation; aggression; dominance

摘要

For over a century, the evolution of animal play has sparked scientific curiosity. The prevalence of social play in juvenile mammals suggests that play is a beneficial behavior, potentially contributing to individual fitness. Yet evidence from wild animals supporting the long - hypothesized link between juvenile social play, adult behavior, and fitness remains limited. In Western Australia, adult male bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops aduncus ) form multilevel alliances that are crucial for their reproductive success. A key adult mating behavior involves allied males using joint action to herd individual females. Juveniles of both sexes invest significant time in play that resembles adult herding- taking turns in mature male (actor) and female (receiver) roles. Using a 32 - y dataset of individual - level association patterns, paternity success, and behavioral observations, we show that juvenile males with stronger social bonds are significantly more likely to engage in joint action when play - herding in actor roles. Juvenile males also monopolized the actor role and produced an adult male herding vocalization (pops) when playing with females. Notably, males who spent more time playing in the actor role as juveniles achieved more paternities as adults. These findings not only reveal that play behavior provides male dolphins with mating skill practice years before they sexually mature but also demonstrate in a wild animal population that juvenile social play predicts adult reproductive success.