Variability of Hormonal Stress Markers Collected from a Managed Dolphin Population

LONG-TERM GOALS Quantifying physiological indicators of stress in wild marine mammals and the interrelationships between different stress markers can be used to estimate the impact of anthropogenic stressors on marine mammal populations. The United States Navy, as part of its environmental stewardship, can utilize stress markers to assess the acute and chronic impacts that its actions might have on marine mammals. This approach would permit better mitigation of potential impacts and ensure that Navy activities do not come at a deleterious cost to marine mammal populations.