Beluga whales show flexible mating patterns, study finds
7 reported2 unconfirmed
A long-term DNA study of beluga whales in Alaska’s Bristol Bay has revealed that both males and females regularly reproduce with multiple partners over their lifetimes. Researchers collected tissue samples from 623 belugas over 13 years and analyzed their genetic profiles. The findings, published in Frontiers in Marine Science, challenge predictions that a few dominant males would secure most matings. Instead, the study found moderate polygyny among males and frequent mate switching among females. The Bristol Bay beluga population, numbering about 2,000, showed high genetic diversity and low inbreeding, which researchers attribute to this flexible mating system. The study was led by Dr. Greg O’Corry-Crowe of Florida Atlantic University, with contributions from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Alaska Native subsistence hunters. Researchers caution that other beluga populations may not behave the same way.
What’s reported
Researchers collected tissue samples from 623 beluga whales in Bristol Bay, Alaska, over 13 years.
Both male and female belugas were found to have offspring with different partners over their lifetimes.
Male belugas showed moderate polygyny, not the extreme dominance researchers predicted.
Female belugas regularly switch mates across breeding seasons.
The Bristol Bay beluga population is about 2,000 individuals.
Genetic diversity in this population is comparable to much larger populations and has remained stable over time.
The study was published in Frontiers in Marine Science on June 4, 2026.
Open questions
Whether other beluga populations have different mating systems.
Whether females mate with multiple males within a single breeding season.
Key figures
Dr. Greg O’Corry-Crowe, lead author, Florida Atlantic University
L. Quakenbush, co-author
T. Ferrer, co-author
J. J. Citta, co-author
A. Bryan, co-author
Sources: ScienceDaily
