Study reveals decline in North Atlantic dolphin lifespan and population growth

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https://phys.org/news/2025-10-north-atlantic-dolphins-dying-younger.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawNcvZxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHsVmMeU4ZUJkXTv3OpwpSkbNWY5lj62aS4Vngg_q2NKnVA-UrTd6iC9Abc9j_aem_Jp-K1L-OptAspnFdhMkEwA
Common dolphins are among the ocean's most abundant mammals, but they are living shorter lives in the North Atlantic, according to a new study published in Conservation Letters.

The research team, led by the University of Colorado Boulder, discovered that the longevity of female common dolphins has declined by seven years since 1997, an alarming trend that the authors say threatens not only the species but also the marine ecosystem it helps maintain.

"There is an urgent need to manage the population better," said Etienne Rouby, a postdoctoral researcher in the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR). "Otherwise, there is a risk for decline and, ultimately, extinction."