Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Wetterer, James K.

Thesis/Dissertation Co-Chair

Arrieta, Diane

Abstract

In 2013-2014, bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) experienced unusually high mortality along the East Coast of the US. Many deaths were attributed to Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV). My thesis research examined whether this high mortality could be attributed to the virus spreading more easily due to pollution, being picked up from a specific location, or unusual weather events. I found no evidence that pollutants or location corresponded with CeMV. There was the expected percentage of strandings based on the percentage of coastline therefore ruling out any linkage to location. Weather patterns appeared to have an effect on CeMV. When the temperatures were low, there were minimal strandings due to CeMV. Whereas, when temperatures were at their highest, there were also record numbers of CeMV. Thus, I concluded that high temperatures may have allowed increased spread of CeMV, which was compounded by increased movement of dolphins when waters are warmer.

Comments

Includes bibliography.

Extent

33 p.

Identifier

FA00003672

Download

Share

COinS