Groundbreaking research from  Florida Atlantic University’s  Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute is the first to demonstrate that just like human societies, beluga whales appear to value culture as well as their ancestral roots and family ties. 

 

Through a detailed genetic study of kinship published in  PLOS One, an international team of collaborators has demonstrated that related whales returned to the same locations year after year, and even generation after generation. This inter-generational inheritance of where to go and when probably involves some form of social learning from members of the same species, most likely from mother to calf.

Findings from this study pin down the fundamental structure of the building blocks of beluga whale society and provide compelling evidence that migratory culture is inherited. Not only do these whales know where to go and where not to go, they also are passing on this information from one generation to the next. The study is expanding the understanding of how sophisticated non-primate societies can be and how important culture is for the survival of these species and how they are going to adapt to dramatic environmental changes. 

The research was featured on Newsweek  here. Read the press release  here.

The Harbor Branch Student Association's (HBSA) recently held a Student Showcase on campus which displayed student posters and offered pizza and games. The HBSA highlighted that this year's members have been awarded at least $112,373 in grants and scholarships, attended 26 conferences, presented 18 posters, given 22 oral presentations, won 8 presentation awards and published 2 papers!

The HBSA works to unify Harbor Branch campus students, and establish a connection to all FAU Campuses. They hold social, community service, and professional development events throughout the year.