What information is gained from necropsies of stranded marine mammals?
If a stranded marine mammal has recently died, then a significant amount of valuable information can be gained from it. For instance complete pathology to investigate diseases and parasites can be performed on these animals. In addition, dead animals provide the opportunity to collect and validate reproductive biology data, life history (what does the animal eat; how long do they live; how many calves do they have; how old are they when they first reproduce), pollution, and normal biology and physiology parameters. These types of sampling opportunities also provide validation and increased understanding and interpretation of data collected from wild populations. Through necropsies we have learned a significant amount about the basic physiology and biology of animals that are not accessible in the wild or through any other means. Finally necropsies have provided data on the incidence of human interactions including ship strikes, entanglements, hooks, and marine debris ingestions.
