Maladaption: Self-Stranding

Maladaptive behaviour is a concept that has come about because of cultural evolution; this is the choice to adapt poorly to situations and to even deny adaptation. Maladaptive behaviour is most commonly the effect of cultural evolution, but it can also be related back to genetic evolution and individual learning. As humans, we have many maladaptive behaviours that are embedded into our culture; smoking for example. The most common maladaptive behaviour in whales is self-stranding or beaching. Self-stranding, or beaching, is the idea of purposely going onto the shore and stranding themselves until the die. This action is done intentionally and it is harmful and most likely fatal. In some cases, people have tried to save the whales by bringing them back to the water and pointing them towards the ocean, but the whales just turn around and beach themselves. Scientists do not know why whales persist in the act, however, one of the theories is the idea of conformist cultures. Like humans, whales are vulnerable to the ideas and actions of one another. And if this maladaptive culture is one that they have experienced through a large part of their lives, they will adopt it. Whales in these conformist groups share a strong identity and social unity. Whales, such as orcas, pilot, and sperm, with strong social structures are prone to conformist cultures. This strong connection is why pods of whales are found stranded on beaches. However, it isn't really thought that this action is done for mainly suicide. Yes, they are killing themselves but it is because on of them may be hurt already or have made a mistake. Whatever the reason, these whales feel a need to pursue this maladaptive behaviour.

For orca whales the act of self-stranding is commonly linked to the behaviours they are taught as a calf; the idea is to purposely beach themselves so they can catch food on shore. To them, this is normal and a part of their culture; play. However, depending on how the calf was thought this hunting technique, young orcas end up permanently beaching themselves, instead of returning back to the water. This could influence the amount of whales participating in maladaptive behaviours.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vmnq5dBF7Y

Ever wonder how they got rid of whales when they have died on the sandy beaches? The video above is a copy of an original broadcast in 1970. This is when people believed that the best option to dispose of the whale is by blowing it up. This video also displays why one shouldn't blow up a whale. Now a days, when a whale is beached they aren't disposed of. They are left on the beaches to decompose naturally and with the aid of scavenger animals. However, if the whale is causing a disturbance, the whale will be disposed of by federal ecological departments with anti-climactical methods.

http://whitelab.biology.dal.ca/lr/culture.pdf

http://whitelab.biology.dal.ca/hw/Cult_cons.pdf