Bottlenose dolphin numbers declined by ‘12%’ following marine heatwave

Apr 4, 2019

A bottlenose dolphin baby swims with its mother the day after their public presentation at Barcelona's Zoo May 26, 2006. Two female bottlenose dolphins had babies this spring. - PBEAHUNNGCF

Dolphins in decline. Image: REUTERS/Albert Gea

Daisy Dunne

Science Writer, Carbon Brief

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Average number of dolphin calves born in Shark Bay, Australia per year before and after the 2011 marine heatwave (controlled for number of known mothers observed each field season). Grey shading shows the spread of the results and whiskers show uncertainty. Image: Wild et al. (2019)

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Bottlenose dolphin swimming with marine sponge. Image: Hubert Yann / Alamy Stock Photo.

Survival chances for “sponger” and “non-sponger” dolphins following the 2011 heatwave in Shark Bay, Australia. Image: Wild et al. (2019)

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