Vizeu-Pinheiro, M., Rogan, E., Cid, A., Castro, J., Borges, F.O. (2025). Environmental influence on Bottlenose dolphin (ππΆπ³π΄πͺπ°π±π΄ π΅π³πΆπ―π€π’π΅πΆπ΄) abundance in Southern Portugal. ππ¦π¨πͺπ°π―π’π ππ΅πΆπ₯πͺπ¦π΄ πͺπ― ππ’π³πͺπ―π¦ ππ€πͺπ¦π―π€π¦, Volume 91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104569
This study analyzed nine years of AIMMβs data (2015β2023) on sightings of bottlenose dolphins in the Algarve region to understand how ocean conditions affect different age groups. Our Masterβs student, Margarida Vizeu Pinheiro found that higher chlorophyll-a levels (a sign of greater productivity) increased adult dolphin abundance, while warmer sea surface temperatures benefited neonates but reduced numbers of adults and juveniles.
The results suggest that warmer eastern waters may serve as a key nursery area for young dolphins, highlighting the need for targeted conservation in this region.