Microplastics have been identified in hundreds of species, with evidence of trophic transfer via contaminated prey. Sarasota Bay common bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) serve as sentinels of coastal pollution, including plastics and chemical plasticizers. Previous research confirmed microplastic ingestion in these dolphins (100.0%, n = 7) and extensive contamination in 11 common prey species (96.5%, n = 86). This stu...

Exposure to freshwater is a pressing health issue for coastal bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops spp.). Environmental changes, including increased precipitation events and coastal infrastructure projects, are altering salinity within estuarine systems. Consequently, understanding effects of freshwater exposure on dolphins and developing tools to evaluate related health conditions is urgent. To address this need, a group of veterin...

In recent years, there has been an increasing need for climate information across diverse sectors of society. This demand has arisen from the necessity to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate variability and change. Likewise, this period has seen a significant increase in our understanding of the physical processes and mechanisms that drive precipitation and its variability across different regions of Africa. By levera...

Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) is the most abundant steroid in humans and some nonhuman primates. This adrenal androgen contributes to immune enhancement, neuroprotection, and reproduction. In humans and apes, DHEAS levels increase before puberty, a phenomenon called adrenarche. However, a postnatal increase in the levels of these hormones is not apparent in cercopithecoids. In marmosets, DHEAS is only synthesized from...

Introduction Exposure to phthalate esters has previously been documented in bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) inhabiting an urban estuary (Sarasota Bay, FL, USA; 2010-2019). Phthalates are chemicals commonly added to plastic products and consumer goods to enhance qualities such as flexibility, fragrance, and stability. Chemical leaching from products into the marine environment leaves wildlife vulnerable to reproducti...

Conservation measures require accurate estimates of density and abundance and population trend assessments. The bonobo ( Pan paniscus ) is considered Endangered in the IUCN Red List. This classification assumes that available population data are representative. However, with only 30% of the bonobo’s historic geographical range surveyed, reliable information is needed to assess the species' population status. Here, we use infor...