Social Clusters in Tool-Using Dolphins
In a recent study conducted by marine biologists researching the behavior of Australian bottlenose dolphins, it has been found that the dolphin “social network” is subject to strong and weak ties, much like the social network of humans. The study, which was conducted over a span of 22 years and consisted of 15,000 dolphins, established that these marine mammals exhibit stronger ties with those who share similar behaviors or interests. Specific to this study is the use of marine sponges to forage for food. Only 4% of the dolphin population in the study displayed this behavior. After an extensive social network analysis, it was revealed that the “sponger” dolphins formed a cluster of strong ties outside the dolphin network. This is said to be the first definitive example of a non-human subculture.
With prior knowledge of the complex social network of dolphins, I wanted to see if there existed any application of network theories to discern the characteristics of such a network. Within seconds of my search, I came across this article. This article, however, brings up another interesting point—strong ties and clusters are created between individuals with similar behaviors or interests. It even goes so far as to calling these clusters “cliques,” a word normally associated with the labels placed on students in a typical high school and/or college environment. The strong similarities between the dolphin social network to that of humans is evidence of the advanced intellect of the marine mammal. It would be interesting to see how other network theories also apply to the dolphin network and the conclusions that can be drawn from such applications.
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/5850/tool-using-dolphins-form-subculture
-Sunshine