Why study Mega Fauna?

Mega fauna are usually the final stage in a food web. As top consumers and often, by necessity of sheer size, voracious eaters, they are dependent on a healthy food web below them to sustain their populations. As ocean food webs are increasingly disrupted, especially by the activities of commercial fishing and pollution, the populations of marine mammals and other large animals such as sharks and turtles are likely to be affected. Thus their population dynamics may be a useful barometer for overall ocean health.

Migratory Orcas pass the island	Spinner dolphins are commonly seen

At UCME we are interested in the populations and behaviours of all the toothed whale species that frequent the islands waters. These include likely resident populations of rough-tooth dolphin (Steno bredanensis) and long snouted spinner dolphins and migratory species that pass close to Utila's north shore such as bottlenose dolphin and orcas. We are also studying the islands other large seasonal visitor, the whale shark (Rhincodon typus).