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