ACS Monterey Bay Program for August 2009
Coastal Dolphin Project
 Bottlenose dolphin |
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What a lucky day it is to see DOLPHINS swimming in the ocean! Whether
you are on the beach seeing dolphins swimming just beyond the surf line
or on a boat watching them "bow ride", dolphins always seem to conjure
up pleasurable feelings of delightful enthusiasm. But if you look more
closely, you will find that some of these beautiful and graceful cetaceans,
including the California coastal bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
have serious challenges with which to contend.
The California coastal bottlenose dolphins are truly coastal, living their
lives within 1 kilometer of the coast. This group is generally considered
distinct with a total of about 450 to 500 individuals and about 200 of
these spend a lot of time in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
(MBNMS).
Living so close to the shore, California bottlenose dolphins can be affected
by coastal contaminations. For example, dead strandings of this dolphin
species have had alarmingly high concentrations of PCBs and DDT. However,
such strandings are not that common. To make significant findings, research
needs to be done on living dolphins in their natural habitat. Such research
could also be helpful to others, including the human population.
Recent findings reveal that, among other things, the California bottlenose
population is suffering a high rate of skin disease which could be related
to near-shore contamination. This is also an area of concern for our speaker.
Daniela has been studying this dolphin species for nearly 10 years and
so is very familiar with them. In addition to contributing to a catalog
for identification of individual members of this group of dolphins she
is involved in the investigation of near-shore contamination in the MBNMS
and its effects on the California bottlenose dolphin. Please join us for
a revealing and informative presentation about this ongoing cetacean research
in the Sanctuary.
Related web pages:
- Back to list of previous meetings.
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Last updated September 4, 2009