Dear Colleagues,

    This is to announce a new paper in the current issue of Contributions of Zoology entitled " Dolphins and African apes: comparisons of sympatric socio-ecology " co-authored by myself and Craig B. Stanford.  

Abstract
Dolphins and African apes are distantly related mammalian taxa that exhibit striking convergences in their socioecology. In  both cetaceans and African apes, two or more closely related  species sometimes occur in sympatry. However, detailed reviews of the ways in which sympatric associations of dolphins  and apes are similar have not been done. As fi eld studies of  dolphins and apes have accumulated, comparisons of how the  two groups avoid direct food competition when in sympatry  have become possible. In this paper we review sympatric ecology among dolphins and African apes, and examine convergences  in species-associations in each taxa. We review evidence for  hypotheses that seek to explain avoidance of food competition,  and consider whether ape-dolphin similarities in this area may  be related to the way in which social groups in both taxa optimally exploit their food resources.

For a free PDF copy please visit:
http://dpc.uba.uva.nl/cgi/t/text/get-pdf?c=ctz;idno=7604a03
or send requests to: mbearzi@earthlink.net


    Regards,


Maddalena Bearzi

______________________________
Maddalena Bearzi, Ph.D.
Ocean Conservation Society, President
P.O. Box 12860
Marina del Rey, CA 90295 - USA
ph.310.8225205, fax 310.8225729
mbearzi@earthlink.net
http://www.oceanconservation.org