Dolphins and their Genetic and Social Interactions

Caroline Blacketer

ENGL 199E Vincent Oliveri January 29, 2014

Dolphins 2 Does it affect your success if your best friend is a successful? Humans are social beings, and many of our lives revolve around these social interactions. But, just what kind of effect do these interactions have on us, especially when combined with our genetic factors? A revolutionary study done by Frere et al at the University of
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steelmore/98391847/sizes/l/ Having good genetics and being social increases fitness

Washington investigates this interaction, between genetic and social factors, on a similar species to humansdolphins. Using dolphins that have been studied extensively in Western Australia, the study found that the social and genetic interactions influence female dolphin fitness. This study is the first of its kind to investigate both factorsnot just genetic and not just social interactions. Many studies have been conducted on whether genetic factors influence fitnesswhich is how successful an individual is on passing on their genesusually by comparing mathematic models of offspring from one generation to the next. Social interactions have been studied less extensively, using similar methods. By investigating both factors not only by themselves, but together, Frere could determine whether both of these interactions have an influence on the fitness of a female dolphin A female dolphins fitness was designated as the calving success of that dolphin. Calving success was defined in this study by how many calves the dolphin had that survived to three years, divided by the number of years it had been giving birth. For example, a female dolphin that has had six surviving calves over a period of six years, her calving success value would be one. This allowed for a numerical value of fitness which could then be further analyzed. By

Dolphins 3 studying the calving success of close relatives and friends of the dolphins that were not close relatives, researchers could determine the impact of both factors on said female dolphin. One factor that was studied was genetic variance. When comparing one dolphin to another, researchers needed to be able to have a reliable way to know how the dolphins were relatedif there was any relation at all. By testing the DNA of the dolphins that were studied and their preferred associates, researchers could determine if there was a close genetic relationship. By comparing the fitness of the dolphins with their close relatives, it was found that there was a minimal effect of genetic factors on calving success. The other factor that was studied was social variance. Using photographs of dolphins seen together, researchers could determine a dolphins preferred associates. If a dolphin was seen more than thirty times with the same dolphin, they were considered preferred associates. By comparing the fitness levels of the preferred associates to the dolphin itself, it was found that there were minimal effects on calving success. Alone, each factor played a minute part in the female dolphins calving success. However, these factors together did in fact play a substantial role in female dolphin calving success when the data was analyzed mathematically. These factors combined increased a female dolphins fitness, indicating that not only is it important for a dolphin to have friends, but it is also important to combine that factor with good genetics. What does this mean for you? It means that it is possible that having a successful friend, whether they are successful in their education, careers, or child bearing, can have an effect on you too. This study indicates that both genetic and social factors play a significant role in how fit, which is how successful they are at passing on their genes, a dolphin is. By having a

Dolphins 4 successful friend, you can also be more successful in life, and possibly pass those traits onto your children, which in turn can also lead them to have successful lives.