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Marine Mammal Life History
Data collected from stranded and bycaught marine mammals are critical to understanding their life history
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Ovaries are examined to study reproduction in dolphins. Sexually immature dolphins have smooth ovaries (left) while those of mature dolphins have visible scars of ovulation (middle) or occasionally a corpus luteum, which is a large gland that secretes hormones during pregnancy (right). Photo credit: Morgan Lynn/NOAA Fisheries.
Life history studies describe the reproductive and survival characteristics of a species, including
how long individuals live
the age at which they become sexually mature and first reproduce
how often they breed
how long they nurse their young
where they forage
what they eat
Combining this data for many individuals of a species enables us to understand the lives of marine mammals and their growth rate potential, which is a critical factor in developing plans for effective management and conservation. Current life history studies at SWFSC are focused on short-beaked common dolphins, long-beaked common dolphins, and bottlenose dolphins that live offshore of California.
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Tidal wetlands in the Nisqually River Basin, where restored habitat fosters growth of juvenile salmon and steelhead on their way to the ocean.
A NOAA aerial survey crew gathers in front of a NOAA Twin Otter aircraft during a stop in Astoria, Oregon in 2014. From left: Lt. Michael Sandor Silagi, Office of Marine and Aviation Operations; Joel Schumacher, Scott Benson, and Tomoharu Eguchi, Southwest Fisheries Science Center; Camryn Allen, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Dan Prosperi, Southwest Fisheries Science Center; and Lt. Shanae Coker, Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.
Tidal wetlands in the Nisqually River Basin, where restored habitat fosters growth of juvenile salmon and steelhead on their way to the ocean.
A NOAA aerial survey crew gathers in front of a NOAA Twin Otter aircraft during a stop in Astoria, Oregon in 2014. From left: Lt. Michael Sandor Silagi, Office of Marine and Aviation Operations; Joel Schumacher, Scott Benson, and Tomoharu Eguchi, Southwest Fisheries Science Center; Camryn Allen, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Dan Prosperi, Southwest Fisheries Science Center; and Lt. Shanae Coker, Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.
