article_snippet: This is because the older females are using the older females greater experience to help the group find food, say Female killer whales.
article_snippet: Dr Lauren Brent, a behavioural biologist at the University of Exeter who was the lead author of the research, said: Our results show that postreproductive females may boost the fitness of kin through the transfer of ecological knowledge. '
article_snippet: Sons have a higher reproductive potential and Sons mate outside the group, thus Sons offspring are born into another gruop and do not compete for resources within the mother's matriline.'
highlights_snippet: Post-reproductive females tend to lead groups when hunting for salmon .
  
highlights_snippet: Post-reproductive females are more likely to lead during lean times when salmon are hard to find .
  
highlights_snippet: Scientists at the University of Exeter say the older females are imparting the older females knowledge and experience for the benefit of the rest of the older females family .
  