Figure 7. Bottlenose dolphin blubber condition.

Conductivity (Wm⁻¹°C⁻¹) as a function of lipid content (%) of blubber for various species of cetaceans [30, G. W. unpubl. Data]. While healthy bottlenose dolphins showed normal seasonal changes in thermal conductivity (higher in summer when dolphin have lower fat insulation and lower in winter when they have more insulation), emaciated dolphins showed depleted lipid content and, therefore, the highest conductivity values.