The social network was less differentiated and more compact with increased and stronger associations between individuals (Ansmann et al. 2012). Although there were similar association changes within the clusters of the spotted dolphin community, the clusters and the overall community structure remained intact. Together these results indicate that changes in demography, environment and human behavior can influence dolphin associations. The

effects on social and community structure may vary, depending on many factors, including the nature of the disturbance/change, the species, the previously established social structure of the population or community and the social needs and flexibility of the individuals. One of the most interesting differences between the spotted dolphin community and a similarly demographically altered chimpanzee community was that Neratinib price strong and/or Selleck LY294002 long-lasting mixed sex associations were predominant in the latter (Lehmann and Boesch 2004), but not in the spotted dolphins. Generally strongest and/or long-term associations were between members of the same sex (Wells et al. 1987; Connor et al. 2000; Rogers et al. 2004; Elliser and Herzing 2011; Elliser and Herzing, in press). These sex preferences also remained evident posthurricane in the sympatric bottlenose

dolphins, and may have been the driving force for the changes in social structure

that emerged because acceptance of immigrants differed between the sexes (Elliser and Herzing 2011). Despite the loss of individuals and decreasing community size, sex preferences still strongly influenced association patterns in this spotted dolphin community, further supporting that sex preferences have a primary role in cetacean social organization. The loss of individuals had little effect on the association patterns of the female spotted dolphins in this community. Their associations varied little from that of prehurricane years (Elliser and Herzing, in press). Associations with other females continued to be constrained within the clusters, strong associations were often between reproductively active females, MCE公司 strong associations were not limited to same age class pairs and strong mother/offspring relationships continued past weaning, sometimes into adulthood. The high female mean CoA seen posthurricane indicated increased cohesiveness and may be related to female reproduction and sociality. The stress of losing so many individuals, and the lower birth rate observed in these years (DLH and CRE, unpublished data), may have initiated a social tightening between females within clusters. Females generally associate with others in the same stage of life (Wells et al. 1987, Herzing and Brunnick 1997).