Dear colleagues, We are pleased to share our recent open access publication: Nicole L. Sears, Stephen D. McCulloch, Holli C. Eskelinen, and Brian C. Balmer, Seasonal distribution, occurrence, and site fidelity of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.) in the upper Florida Keys. Aquatic Mammals 52.1 (2026), https://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/52.1_Sears.... Abstract: Since the late 1800s, the Everglades has been extensively impacted by a suite of anthropogenic activities, including water drainages and diversions. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) was initiated in 2000 to restore the Everglades while sustaining water supply for South Florida’s growing human population. The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops spp.) population(s) that inhabit the Everglades and waters below (Florida Bay) have been studied since the 1990s. This top-level predator has been used extensively worldwide as a sentinel to assess environmental change. Monitoring population(s) of bottlenose dolphins that inhabit the waters in and around the Everglades provides insights into ecosystem health during and post CERP implementation. From 2018 to 2024, photographic-identification surveys were conducted in the Upper Florida Keys to assess dolphin distribution, occurrence, and site fidelity. A total of 487 distinctive individuals were identified over the course of the survey period. The discovery curve has not yet plateaued, and with a high number of single-sighted individuals identified, it is likely that there is a mix of both estuarine and coastal animals in the study area. Site fidelity classifications, based on the total number of sightings for each individual, identified similar patterns across seasons. Over the seven years of photo-ID effort, 18 individuals were classified as having high site fidelity, followed by 96 individuals with moderate site fidelity and 373 individuals with low site fidelity. This research establishes baseline population parameters for dolphins inhabiting the Upper Florida Keys that may be influenced by the effects of ongoing anthropogenic stressors and CERP projects designed to restore historical functionality in the Everglades. Based upon the results synthesized from the seven years of photo-ID data, winter would be the optimal season to develop and conduct systematic capture-recapture photo-ID surveys for a robust assessment of dolphin population(s) throughout the Everglades and Florida Bay ecosystems. Best all - S Steve McCullochDolphin LifeDirector, Stranding Investigations Mobile: 772-234-0070 E-Mail: dolphinrescue@yahoo.com.DOI: https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.52.1.2026.33 Protect Wild Dolphins AllianceFounder and Program Manager Ocean Experience InternationalPrincipal Investigator, Population Ecologyhttp://www.rescuedolphins.org