On behalf of my coauthors and myself, I am pleased to inform you that the following paper has been published: Félix, F., Castro, C., Van Bressem, M.-F., Barragán, L., Platt, M., & Van Waerebeek, K. (2025). From coastal to offshore: The case of an inshore bottlenose dolphin that joined an offshore pod. Marine Mammal Science, e13223. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13223. Abstract: We document an unprecedented case of ecological adaptation in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) off the coast of Ecuador, where a female inshore dolphin (ID: S20) integrated into an offshore pod. In August 2024, she was documented swimming with a group of 110-120 offshore dolphins near La Plata Island, approximately 100 km from her original habitat. This observation is particularly significant as it represents the first documented case of an inshore bottlenose dolphin successfully joining an offshore population. This case provides valuable insights into the ecological plasticity of bottlenose dolphins and suggests potential bidirectional gene flow between coastal and offshore ecotypes. Additionally, it raises important considerations regarding disease transmission between coastal and offshore populations and the adaptive strategies of dolphins from declining coastal communities. These findings have significant implications for understanding population dynamics, management strategies, and the conservation of bottlenose dolphins. Fernando Félix fefeli...@hotmail.com
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