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In the icy waters of Alaska’s Bristol Bay, beluga whales survive through a surprising strategy: mating with multiple partners over several years. Researchers from FAU Harbor Branch, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and the North Slope Department of Wildlife Management used long-term genetic analysis and behavioral observations to show that both males and females share reproductive opportunities, creating numerous half-siblings and maintaining genetic diversity in this small, isolated population.

This polygynandrous system helps buffer the population against genetic drift, the random loss of genes in small groups. By spreading reproduction across many individuals over a long reproductive lifespan, belugas reduce inbreeding and preserve long-term resilience, highlighting the critical role of both male strategies and female mate choice in shaping the next generation.

“We cannot afford to be complacent. Small populations still face the dangers of genetic erosion. But we can be optimistic that beluga whale mating strategies provide evidence of nature’s resilience and offers hope for those working to save and recover small populations of any species,” said O’Corry-Crowe.

Read the press release.