An oil spill can have both lethal and sub-lethal effects on dolphins. Multiple research efforts are on-going to study the potential impact(s) on dolphins of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which occurred during April – July 2010, . Bottlenose dolphins are the most common cetacean in inshore waters in the southeastern United States, but little [...]
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill and several Unusual Mortality Events (UMEs) in the Gulf of Mexico have shown that knowledge of bottlenose dolphins in much of the Gulf is insufficient to meet the mandates of the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. In much of the Gulf, stock boundaries have been assigned arbitrarily based on geography [...]
In the past two decades, we have observed that harmful algal blooms, or red tides, of the toxic algal species Karenia brevis appear to have varying effects on bottlenose dolphin populations. Red tides have been associated with several large-scale mortality events of dolphins in the Florida Panhandle, whereas dolphin populations in central-west Florida, including Sarasota [...]
Dolphins in Sarasota Bay, Fl and elsewhere are vulnerable to cetacean morbilliviruses. These are viruses that can cause large scale mortalities, referred to as Unusual Mortality Events. New research has looked at dolphin “herd” immunity levels along the southeastern coast of the US to identify viral disease risk factors. Blood and tissue samples were analyzed [...]
Algae blooms contain neurotoxins that may have chronic effects on the health of bottlenose dolphins. The dinoflagellate Karenia brevis produces neurotoxic brevetoxins, which are known to be harmful to aquatic organisms and humans (as well as local economies). Known as “Florida red tide,” wave action may cause K. brevis cells to burst, releasing the toxins [...]
Recent media reports suggest that 2011 is a record year for numbers of dolphin deaths in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Is it true that more dolphins are dying? What’s the story? What’s the cause? To get more information on these questions, I asked the SDRP Director, Dr. Randy Wells. Randy is the Chair of [...]
In the past decade, four Unusual Mortality Events (UMEs) of bottlenose dolphins have been attributed to Karenia brevis, the red tide algal species that produces neurotoxic brevetoxins.
Analysis of archived DRCI dolphin health assessment samples has detected the presence of both toxins in live dolphins dating back to 2000.
Intensive photo-identification and radio tracking studies during 2004-2007 have provided insight into the potential effects of multiple Unusual Mortality Events in and around St. Joseph Bay. However, the recovery rate of bottlenose dolphin populations along the Florida Panhandle cannot be determined without long-term photo-identification surveys in this region. In collaboration with the Florida Department of [...]
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