Evidence for a postreproductive phase in female false killer whales Pseudorca crassidens.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A substantial period of life after reproduction ends, known as postreproductive lifespan (PRLS), is at odds with classical life history theory and its causes and mechanisms have puzzled evolutionary biologists for decades. Prolonged PRLS has been confirmed in only two non-human mammals, both odontocete cetaceans in the family Delphinidae. We investigate the evidence for PRLS in a third species, the false killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens, using a quantitative measure of PRLS and morphological evidence from reproductive tissues.

Results

We examined specimens from false killer whales from combined strandings (South Africa, 1981) and harvest (Japan 1979-80) and found morphological evidence of changes in the activity of the ovaries in relation to age. Ovulatio

SUBMITTER: Photopoulou T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5479012 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature