Science Sunday: Remember the Titans: Communication and Social Learning Among Northern Elephant Seals

Male northern elephant seals are known for their massive size (weighing upwards of 4,500 lbs) and epic battles on the beach. While males do sometimes fight for access to females, the costs of doing so are extremely high. As a result, male elephant seals establish ordered social networks during the breeding season that limit energy expenditure associated with male-male competition. This social network is supported by a practical system of communication that allows males to identify and remember one another, and to respond appropriately to others without the need for physical confrontation.

Among marine mammals, elephant seals may be the most accessible for study due to their predictable annual cycles and tolerance of human observers. For these and other reasons, elephant seals can be studied as a model system to improve our understanding of animal communication. This lecture will highlight discoveries made about elephant seals by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Their work is aimed at deciphering social behavior and communicative signals using a combination of methods including long-term tracking of individuals, assessment of competitive behavior, acoustic recording, and field experiments. Please join us to learn more about these coastal giants!

Speaker: Caroline Casey, Long Marine Lab