Population ecology matters - here's why
A dolphin population is a signal that the Indian River Lagoon is doing well and supporting animals that rely on healthy fish and invertebrate animals. Approximately 1,000 bottlenose dolphins call waters of the IRL home. The well being of the IRL's dolphin population can signal if there are environmental changes that could hurt wildlife and humans’ quality of life.
Immerse yourself in our research
Our team is committed to monitoring dolphin health and distribution along the Indian River Lagoon and the Halifax River Estuary. Survey efforts provide abundance estimates that are critical to monitoring and managing dolphin populations that are consistently exposed to unexplained mortality events and increasing prevalence of human impacts. Likewise, our efforts expand our knowledge of distribution patterns, habitat usage, calving success, as well as the impacts of human activities on local dolphins.