Research Scientist
Core Program
Ocean Health
Research Program
Marine Mammal Stranding & Rescue Response
Education
B.S., Psychology with a minor in Biology, University of Central Florida
Teresa Jablonski plays a critical role in the Marine Mammal Stranding Program at Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, providing 24/7 response to stranded whales and dolphins along 40% of Florida’s east coast. With over 20 years of experience, her research advances understanding of marine mammal health, human-related impacts, and the population dynamics of estuarine dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon and Halifax River. She contributed to the first comprehensive aerial and vessel surveys and the most extensive tracking studies of Indian River Lagoon dolphins, directly informing conservation efforts. Teresa has coauthored numerous scientific publications and actively engages the local community through outreach and training. Her hands-on work has contributed to the rescue of dozens of dolphins, including “Winter,” the inspiration behind Dolphin Tale. Teresa’s dedication to marine conservation drives ongoing research and rescue efforts to protect vulnerable species and preserve Florida’s marine ecosystems for the future.
Publications
Greenfield M. R, Durden, W.N., Moreland, L., Jablonski, T., Fabry, A., Gemma, L. and Clifford, H. In press. Nursery groups influence juvenile associations for common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Florida. Journal of Mammalogy.
Greenfield, M., Jablonski, T., Panike, A., Rotstein, R.S., St. Leger, J., Durden, W.N. 2021. Fatal Blowhole Obstruction by Eel in Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Florida. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 57(4): 959-963.
Durden, W.N., Stolen, E.D., Jablonski, T., Moreland, L., Howells, E., Sleeman, A., Denny, M., Biedenback, G. and Mazzoil, M. 2021. Robust design capture-recapture analysis of abundance and demographic parameters of Indian River Lagoon common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus truncatus). Plos One PLoS ONE 16(4): e0250657
Durden, W.N., O’Corry-Crowe, G., Shippee, S., Jablonski, T., Rodgers, S. Mazzoil, M. Howells, E., Hartel, E., Potgieter, B., Londono, C., Moreland, L., Townsend, F., McCulloch, S. and Bossart, G. 2019. Small-scale movement patterns, activity budgets, and association patterns of radio-tagged Indian River Lagoon bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Aquatic Mammals, 45(1): 66-87. doi: 10.1578/AM.45.1.2019.66
Rousselet, E., M. Stolen, W.N. Durden, T. Jablonski, N. Stacy, and D. Rotstein. 2018. Bilateral polycystic kidneys and focal renal cystadenoma in a pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. doi: 10.7589/2018-01-019.
Durden, W.N., E.D. Stolen, T. Jablonski, S. Puckett, and M.K. Stolen. 2017. Monitoring seasonal abundance of Indian River Lagoon bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) using aerial surveys. Aquatic Mammals.43 (1): 90-112