Very little is known about the common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops trunctaus) that inhabit the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River. Yet reports of dolphins in the area date back to the 1800s, with one sighting as far up the Potomac as Washington, DC! While the PCDP research is broadly concerned with better understanding all aspects of these animal's biology, we are focusing our initial efforts on a
few key areas: abundance and distribution, population structure, and social behavior and disease risk. Additionally, as part of our mission to better understand and protect the Potomac-Chesapeake bottlenose dolphins and their ecosystem, we make it a priority to promote environmental stewardship through sound education and community outreach. This portion of our project is just getting started, and we have big plans for the future! Check out our Instagram and Twitter accounts at
