Social Behaviors & Processes

Killer whale studies in Norway were initiated by colleagues in 1984. Researchers were keeping track of what animals were present, where and when at seasonal herring grounds. From 2014, we expanded this already massive effort by conducting fieldwork all year round in northern Norway and by collecting photo-id records from the public from all over Norway. Since killer whales have a long lifespan, decades of study are necessary to get an understanding of their life history, ecology and sociality. Long-term records of Norwegian killer whales in various ecological contexts are currently managed in a comprehensive database (spanning 1984-present) by Dr Eve Jourdain. Complementary data such as dietary markers and genetics generated from biopsies of known individuals, has led to a multi-disciplinary dataset and a unique opportunity to research killer whale society in relation with dynamic ecological conditions. Aerial observations collected with drone since 2015 provide further insights into social behaviors that may happen out of sight because underwater. Because social relationships affect cultural transmission of behaviors, our results help understanding the spread, persistence and diversity of feeding behaviors, of high importance to evaluate the adaptive potential of Norwegian killer whales to rapidly changing marine habitats.