My name is Lydia Morgan, and in the summer of 2023, I had the incredible opportunity to work with Oceanomare Delphis Onlus to study the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) local population in the Cuma Canyon between Ischia and Ventotene, Italy.
Over the course of several weeks, I assisted in collecting and analyzing data to better understand how human activities — such as increased ship traffic, habitat degradation, and climate change — are impacting the distribution and long-term survival of these dolphins.
After two years of continued research, analysis, and writing, I presented my senior thesis at Whitman College on the decline and shifting distribution of striped dolphins in this region. My work explored not only the ecological implications of these changes but also proposed conservation strategies aimed at safeguarding both dolphin populations and the health of the Mediterranean and Tyrrhenian Seas.
I am deeply grateful to Oceanomare Delphis Onlus for their mentorship, guidance, and for the inspiring work they continue to do!