FN Archimer Export Format
PT J
TI When does cultural evolution become cumulative culture? A case study of humpback whale song
BT 
AF Garland, Ellen C.
   Garrigue, Claire
   Noad, Michael J.
AS 1:1;2:2,3;3:4;
FF 1:;2:;3:;
C1 Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution, and Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK
   UMR ENTROPIE, (IRD, Université de La Réunion, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, IFREMER, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Excellence – CORAIL), 98848 Nouméa, New Caledonia
   Opération Cétacés, 98802 Nouméa, New Caledonia
   Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia
C2 UNIV ST ANDREWS, UK
   IRD, FRANCE
   OPERATION CETACES, FRANCE
   UNIV QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
UM ENTROPIE
IN WOS Cotutelle UMR
   copubli-france
   copubli-europe
   copubli-int-hors-europe
IF 6.3
TC 24
UR https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00741/85272/90301.pdf
   https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00741/85272/90302.docx
   https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00741/85272/90303.txt
LA English
DT Article
DE ;song;cultural evolution;cultural revolution;complexity;cetaceans;social learning
AB Culture presents a second inheritance system by which innovations can be transmitted between generations and among individuals. Some vocal behaviours present compelling examples of cultural evolution. Where modifications accumulate over time, such a process can become cumulative cultural evolution. The existence of cumulative cultural evolution in non-human animals is controversial. When physical products of such a process do not exist, modifications may not be clearly visible over time. Here, we investigate whether the constantly evolving songs of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are indicative of cumulative cultural evolution. Using nine years of song data recorded from the New Caledonian humpback whale population, we quantified song evolution and complexity, and formally evaluated this process in light of criteria for cumulative cultural evolution. Song accumulates changes shown by an increase in complexity, but this process is punctuated by rapid loss of song material. While such changes tentatively satisfy the core criteria for cumulative cultural evolution, this claim hinges on the assumption that novel songs are preferred by females. While parsimonious, until such time as studies can link fitness benefits (reproductive success) to individual singers, any claims that humpback whale song evolution represents a form of cumulative cultural evolution may remain open to interpretation. 
PY 2022
PD JAN
SO Philosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society B-biological Sciences
SN 0962-8436
PU The Royal Society
VL 377
IS 1843
UT 000729479600016
DI 10.1098/rstb.2020.0313
ID 85272
ER

EF