Why research dolphins?

Besides the fact, that dolphins are exceptionally interesting animals, for which it is known, that thery're also very intelligent (out of many sources scientifically proven fact) and, which have mastered the aquatic environment down to the smallest bit, they're also very good indicators for the ecological state of the sea. They are at the end of the food chain, so called »top predators«. What does this mean? Fitoplankton represents the basis - the beggining of the food chain and it's the food for zooplankton. The latest is the food for small fish, which are again the food for larger fish etc. All to the last link in the food chain, i. e. to the last predator. It is clear, that when only one of the links in the chain is missing, there are no furhter following, because the chain is broken.

vivamar.dobravila.si/files/vivamar_3-cuzg_resized_thumb.jpg" border="0" alt="cms_object_id_22" width="100" height="75" />Therefore dolphins, from the ecological point of view, can be called also »bioindicators«. If they are present in the given environment, there is obviously enough food (fishes) which they consume, so they can exist. Certainly, there are other important factors, which influence the presence of dolphins in the given habitat (living space), one of them being antropological factor, which is burdening the marine ecosystems more and more intensely! Likewise - at least part of the habitat has to be peaceful enough, so that the animals can rest or breed, give birth etc. When the ecological balance is destroyed and there is f.ex. no food available, or other disturbing factors are present, there will be no dolphins in such an area. Dolphins are therefore indirect indicators of the ecological state of the sea. With monitoring of the population status of dolphins, reagrding time and in particular environment or habitat, we can find out what is happening with the sea as an ecosystem. In biology we often use »bioindicators« to find out about certain parameters and its influences in the ecosystem (simple case are lichens - for the air quality control etc.)