Dolphins & Porpoises
Dolphins and porpoises are at the top of the food chain and play an important role in the overall balance of the marine environment. They belong to a group of marine mammals called cetaceans. Marine mammals in the cetacean family include whales, dolphins, and porpoises. These animals are often referred to as “sentinels” of ocean health providing insight into marine ecosystem dynamics. Numerous studies have explored the effects of noise and chemical pollution, habitat degradation, and changes in climate on these animals.
Dolphins and porpoises tend to be social and live in groups. They exhibit complex methods of communication and echolocation making squeaks, buzzes, whistles, and clicks that can be heard from miles away. They are also thought to communicate by slapping the water’s surface with their tails or bodies. They range in size from the small, critically endangered vaquita porpoise to the iconic killer whale—the largest member of the Delphinidae, or dolphin family.
All dolphins and porpoises are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and some are also listed under the Endangered Species Act. Together with our partners, we work to study, protect, and conserve these fascinating species and their habitats.
Species News
Multimedia
Research
2024 Northeast Spring Ecosystem Monitoring Cruise Completed
Sampling was expanded off the Mid-Atlantic to capture more plankton for studying ocean acidification.
Quantifying the Abundance and Survival Rates of Island-Associated Spinner Dolphins Using a Multi-State Open Robust Design Model
The first systematic mark-recapture effort to assess the abundance and survival rates of highly…
Passive Acoustic Technologies
We record sounds in the ocean to learn about marine mammals and other ocean species, working with partners around the globe.
Click Detection Rate Variability of Central North Pacific Sperm Whales From Passive Acoustic Towed Arrays
Understanding the factors affecting their click rates provides important information for acoustic…
Understanding Sound in the Ocean
Levels of underwater noise from human activities—including from ships, sonar, and drilling—have increased dramatically.