How Do Hurricanes Affect Dolphins?

September 1, 2012 in Daily Bulletin, Signature

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On land hurricanes create devastation and destruction. But what effects do they have on our intelligent friends under the ocean? Jason G. Goldman reported on a study that attempted to answer the question:

  • In the years after Hurricane Katrina there was a massive increase in the number of (bottlenose) dolphins.
  • This might be because the hurricane caused the destruction of boats; and since dolphins don’t appear to like boats this meant that they could spend more time hunting and eating.
  • The destruction of boats also meant that the rate of fishing was lower, meaning that there was more food available for the dolphins, increasing their numbers.

To read other factors that might explain the surprising result, click here.

Source: Scientific American