Behavioral ecology of killer whales at Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands (2013-2019)

The dataseries encompasses a long-term study of killer whales at Sea Lion Island, a hotspot of killer whale sightings in the Falkland Islands, started in 2013. Killer whale sociality has been studied with a focus on social behaviour and association during predation events, that usually involve southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) as prey. The main findings are: 1) the basic social unit of Sea Lion Island killer whales is the mother-calf association, that can include up to three generations of calves; 2) multiple mother-calf pairs are often associated in pods, that are stable social units that last at least for the whole length of the season (September-March); 3) different pods, and non pod individuals, are often associated during predation events, that can involve up to 11 individuals; 4) transient killer whales, i.e. individuals that are recognized but are observed at Sea Lion Island for just a few hours to a few days, can be involved in predations events; 5) predations events involve complex social behaviours, including collaboration to keep the prey carcass floating, calf feeding facilitation by adults, and active prey sharing. Further information is available on the research group website, www.eleseal.org.