Skip to main content

Killer whale predation on marine mammals at Punta Norte, Argentina; food sharing, provisioning and foraging strategy

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology volume 29, pages 197–204 (1991)Cite this article

Summary

The social dynamics of killer whales (Orcinus orca) that hunt marine mammals are apparently highly flexible, though strong individual associations do exist. The killer whales at Punta Norte offer an unusually detailed view of association patterns and foraging behaviour, and suggest a pattern of behaviour that optimizes hunting efficiency with exception only to strong associations between some individuals and the provisioning and training of offspring. The main points from this paper are as follows: First, hunting effort was concentrated where the capture rate was greatest. All pods selectively attacked the prey type for which they had the highest capture rate. The amount of southern sea lion prey captured was approximately equal to the estimated minimum energetic requirement for killer whales based on weight. Secondly, one whale in each pod did the majority of the hunting, and then provisioned the others in the pod. It was clear on numerous occasions that food was shared. A review of reported incidences of killer wales taking marine mammal prey suggests that it is common for a subset of the individuals in a pod to hunt. These results are discussed in the context of the evolution of foraging behaviour.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Arnbom T, Papastavrou V, Weilgart LS, Whitehead H (1987) Sperm whales react to an attack by killer whales. J Mammal 68:450–453

    Google Scholar 

  • Baird RW, Stacey PJ (1988) Foraging and feeding behaviour of transient killer whales. Whalewhatcher. J Am Cetation Soc 22:11–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Balcomb KC, Boran JR, Osborne RW, Haenel NJ (1980) Observations of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in greater Puget Sound, State of Washington. NTISPB80-224728, US Dep Comm

  • Baldridge A (1972) Killer whales attack and eat a grey whale. J Mammal 53(4):898–900

    Google Scholar 

  • Barr N, Barr L (1972) An observation of killer whale predation on Dall's porpoise. Can Field Nat 86:170–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Bigg MA, MacAskie IB, Ellis G (1976) Abundance and movements of killer whales off eastern and southern Vancouver Island with comments on management. Prelim Rep Arctic Biol Station Ste Anne de Bellevue, Quebec

    Google Scholar 

  • Bigg MA, Ellis GM, Ford JKB, Balcomb KC (1987) Killer whales. Phantom Press, Nanaimo, British Columbia

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown DH, Norris KS (1956) Observations of captive and wild cetaceans. J Mammal 37:120–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Campagna C (1985) The breeding cycle of the southern sea lion, Otario byronia. Mar Mammal Sci 3:210–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Caraco T, Wolf LL (1975) Ecological determinants of group sizes of foraging lions. Am Nat 109:343–352

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark CW (1987) The lazy, adaptable lions: a Markovian model of group foraging. Anim Behav 35:361–368

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark CW, Mangel M (1986) The evolutionary advantages of group foraging. Theor Popul Biol 30:45–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Condy PR, Ararde RJ Van, Bester MN (1978) The seasonal occurrence and behaviour of killer whales, Orcinus orca, at Marion Island. J Zool 184:449–464

    Google Scholar 

  • Giraldeau L-A, Gillis D (1985) Optimal group size can be stable: a reply to Silby. Anim Behav 33:666–667

    Google Scholar 

  • Gittleman JL (1989) Carnivore group living: comparative trends. In: Gittleman JL (ed) Carnivore behavior, ecology and evolution, Chapman & Hall, London, pp 183–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Hancock D (1965) Killer whales kill and eat a minke whale. J Mammal 46(2):341–342

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoelzel AR (1989) Behavioural ecology and population genetics of killer whales. PhD thesis. University of Cambridge

  • Hoyt E (1984) The whale called killer, 2nd edn. Dutton, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Jonsgard A (1968) A note on the attacking behavior of the killer whale (Orcinus orca). Norsk Hvalfangst-tidende 57(4):84–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleinenberg SE, Yablokov AV, Bel'kovich BM, Tarasevich MN (1969) Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas). Investigations on the species. Israel program for scientific translation, Jerusalem

    Google Scholar 

  • Klumov SK (1963) Feeding and helminth fauna of whalebone whales (Mystacoceti) in the main whaling grounds of the world ocean. Trends Inst Okeanol 71:94–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Kruuk H (1972) The spotted hyena. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Kruuk H (1975) Functional aspects of social hunting in carnivores. In: Baerends G, Beer C, Manning A (eds) Function and evolution in behaviour. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 119–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockyer C (1975) Estimates of growth and energy budgets for the sperm whale, Physeter catadon. FAO of the UN, Scientific Consultation of Marine Mammals, Bergen, Norway, ACMRR/ MM/SC/38

  • Lopez JC, Lopez D (1985) Killer whales of Patagonia and their behavior of intentional stranding while hunting nearshore. J Mammal 66(1):181–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Morejohn GV (1968) A killer whale — gray whale encounter. J Mammal 49:327–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris KS (ed) (1966) Whales, dolphins and porpoises. University of California Press, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • Nudds T (1978) Convergence of group size strategies by mammalian social carnivores. Am Nat 112:957–960

    Google Scholar 

  • Orsdol KG Van, Hanby JP, Bygott JD (1985) Ecological correlates of lion social organization (Panthera leo). J Zool Lond (A) 206:97–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Osborne RW (1986) A behavioral budget of Puget Sound killer whales. In: Kirkevald BC, Lockard JS (eds) Behavioral biology of killer whales. Liss, New York, pp 211–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Pulliam HR, Caraco T (1984) Living in groups: is there an optimal group size? In: Krebs JR, Davies NB (eds) Behavioural ecology: an evolutionary approach, 2nd ed. Sinauer, Sunderland, Mass, pp 122–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodman PS (1981) Inclusive fitness and group size with a reconsideration of group sizes of lions and wolves. Am Nat 118:275–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoener TW (1971) Theory of feeding strategies. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 2:368–404

    Google Scholar 

  • Seargent DE (1969) Feeding rates of cetacea. Fiskeridir Skr (Havunders) 15:246–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Silby RM (1983) Optimal group size is unstable. Anim Behav 31:947–948

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith TG, Siniff DB, Reichle R, Stone S (1981) Coordinated behaviour of killer whales (Orcinus orca) hunting a crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinphagus). Can J Zool 59:1185–1189

    Google Scholar 

  • Sokal RR, Rolf FI (1969) Biometry. The principles and practice of statistics in biological research. Freeman, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Steltner H, Steltner S, Sergeant DE (1984) Killer whale, Orcinus orca, prey on narwhals, Monodon monoceros: an eyewitness account. Can Field Nat 98(4):458–462

    Google Scholar 

  • Tarpy C (1979) Killer whale attack. National Geographic 155(4):542–545

    Google Scholar 

  • Voisin JF (1976) On the behaviour of the killer whale, Orcinus orca. Norw J Zool 24:69–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenzel F, Sears R (1988) A note on killer whales in the Gulf of St Lawrence, including an account of an attack on a minke whale. In: Sigurjonsson J, Leatherwood S (eds) North Atlantic killer whales. Rit Fiskideildar, vol XI, pp 202-204

  • Whitehead H, Glass C (1985) Orcas attack humpback whales. J Mammal 66:183–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimen E (1976) On the regulation of pack size in wolves. Z Tierpsychol 40:300–341

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics, Cambridge University, Downing Street, CB2 3EH, Cambridge, England

    A. Rus Hoelzel

  2. Centre for Population Biology, Imperial College, Silwood Park, Ascot, Berks

    A. Rus Hoelzel

Authors
  1. A. Rus Hoelzel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Offprint requests to: A.R. Hoelzel at the first address

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hoelzel, A.R. Killer whale predation on marine mammals at Punta Norte, Argentina; food sharing, provisioning and foraging strategy. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 29, 197–204 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00166401

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00166401

Keywords

  • Capture Rate
  • Marine Mammal
  • Prey Type
  • Killer Whale
  • Association Pattern