A groundbreaking study led by Cayetano Espinosa-Miranda (Yaqu Pacha Chile), supported by YAQU PACHA and the Nuremberg Zoo, has revealed alarming evidence of environmental stress among dolphins along the Chilean coast of Patagonia. By analyzing the skin microbiomes of Chilean dolphins and Peale’s dolphins, the researchers discovered that individuals living in areas heavily impacted by aquaculture and urbanization exhibit a striking loss of microbial diversity—replaced by opportunistic bacteria such as Vibrio and Halomonas.
These changes may serve as early warning signs of compromised health and point to the hidden toll that human activities take on marine animals. The dolphin skin microbiome is proving to be a valuable, non-invasive indicator for monitoring the health of wild populations and the ecosystems they inhabit.
YAQU PACHA and the Nuremberg Zoo are committed to supporting and expanding this important field of research. To protect endangered species and their habitats, we urgently need to step up our scientific efforts to monitor the health of the oceans.
Read the article: Habitat Anthropization Shapes the Skin Microbiome of Dolphins: A Red Flag for Health
