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Dolphin Vocalization & Acoustic Research
A science-driven initiative to understand how dolphins use sound, and how a changing ocean is altering what they hear.
Two areas, one picture
Dolphin communication
Vocal patterns, frequency ranges and behavioral context in wild populations.
Marine soundscapes
Background ocean noise, natural and human-generated, and its environmental impacts.
Dolphins live by sound
Dolphins depend on sound for navigation, foraging and social interaction. Rising vessel traffic, coastal development and environmental pressures are adding new, persistent noise to their habitat.
- Identify patterns in vocal behavior
- Assess human-generated noise impacts
- Support habitat evaluation and site selection
- Contribute to long-term ocean-health monitoring
Non-invasive and field-based
All data collection follows ethical wildlife observation standards.
Passive acoustic monitoring
Hydrophones capture sound without disturbing animals.
Environmental data
Temperature, salinity and pH.
Habitat tracking
Weather and habitat condition records.
Comparative analysis
Across locations and time periods.
Broader soundscape
Including fish, shrimp and vessel noise.
Mobile field approach
Flexible deployment across multiple coastal environments.
Equipment acquisition & preparation
Finalize equipment setup In progress
Research equipment configuration.
Prepare for field deployment
Calibration and readiness.
Plan initial locations
Choosing first data-collection sites.
Field data collection begins after equipment calibration and deployment readiness.
Fund the research
Support equipment, deployment and the data that guides sanctuary site selection.