The Monkey Mia and Shark Bay dolphins have been studied extensively since 1984. Research findings from long term study have contributed to the understanding of dolphins worldwide.

Dolphin behaviour, ecology, genetics, development, communication, social structure, predators and prey are all being researched at Monkey Mia and Shark Bay, making it one of the most important dolphin research sites in the world.

Long-term study is critically important with long-lived animals such as dolphins, chimpanzees, and elephants. The secret lives of dolphins can only be revealed though intensive study of individuals.

Much of what people know about bottlenose dolphin social structure and their social relationships comes from our research at Monkey Mia and Shark Bay.

Big brains and social living. Bottlenose dolphins, along with some other members of the dolphin family delphinidae, have the largest brains outside of humans, when body size is taken into account. Scientists have long puzzled over what dolphins do with such large, energetically expensive brains. The Monkey Mia, Shark Bay Dolphin Research Project has revealed that dolphins, like some large brained terrestrial mammals, lead highly complex social lives. Complex social relationships are thought to have played an important, if not primary, role in the evolution of large brains in elephants, apes, humans, and now it seems, dolphins. In fact, some aspects of the dolphin society in Shark Bay, such as multiple level male alliances, find their closest parallel in humans.

Knowledge as a force in conservation. Many people think that if dolphins are unusually intelligent, then the conservation of dolphins should be more than simply a numbers game--e.g., are there enough dolphins to sustain the population. Rather, we must be concerned about the welfare of dolphins as individuals. Without evidence, however, it is easy for some to maintain the opposite stance and dismiss the dolphins' large brain as an evolutionary anomaly--some scientists have suggested that dolphin brains are primitive in structure (like hedgehogs!) and only serve to improve 'visceral function'.

The astonishing complexity of social relationships among the Monkey Mia dolphins suggests otherwise, and links dolphins with a few species, including our own, where large brains and complex social living appear to have evolved hand-in-hand. As we continue to improve our knowledge of dolphin social lives, it becomes increasingly untenable for anyone to hold the belief that dolphins are essentially unsophisticated 'marine hedgehogs'. Inevitably, this knowledge will strengthen arguments for the protection of dolphins and their habitats.

Research and conservation of the Monkey Mia dolphins Research has also played a direct role in the management and conservation of the Monkey Mia and Shark Bay dolphins:

• Research demonstrated that calves born to provisioned females had twice the mortality than calves born to non-provisioned females. This was most likely due to over feeding and unregulated feeding. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) responded to our research by changing their feeding policies. Calves were no longer fed and since the changes were implemented in 1995, calf survivorship has improved.
  
  
• In addition, it has been shown that aquaculture may have an impact on dolphin ranging and behaviour. These data helped deter expansion of aquaculture in the Shark Bay area, benefiting dolphins and several other important marine species. These data are influencing aquaculture management in other parts of Australia and in New Zealand.

Our research team is productive in publishing findings in high quality scientific journals and books.This is the key measure of scientific contribution Journals include Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Animal Behaviour, Behavioral Ecology. The book 'Cetacean Societies' (edited and/or co-authored by Monkey Mia researchers: Dr Richard Connor, Dr Janet Mann and Dr Amy Samuels) was listed as Outstanding Scientific Title 2000, by Choice magazine. The royalties from the sale of this book go to the Cetacean Behaviour and Conservation Award for Graduate students, which is administered by the Animal Behaviour Society. To purchase a copy of Cetacean Societies click here.

Although scientific contributions are critical for building knowledge, the public also plays an important role. We insure the public has access to our findings through documentaries, radio interviews, popular articles, and public talks.

The research is commonly featured in magazines and nature documentaries (e.g. National Geographic, PBS-NOVA, BBC-Nature, ABC, Discovery ) and newspapers.