Dolphins Under Pressure Chronic Stress, Neuro-Immune Dysregulation, and Marine Mammal Health

Abstract Marine mammals occupy acoustically, chemically, and socially complex environments increasingly shaped by anthropogenic stressors. This paper applies the HATI framework to coastal dolphin populations, synthesising evidence linking chronic stress exposure to neuro-immune dysregulation, behavioural anomalies, infection susceptibility, and reproductive disruption. Drawing on non-invasive observational literature and sanctuary-aligned conservation ethics, we demonstrate that dolphin health outcomes parallel terrestrial stress-immune collapse patterns, supporting the generalisability of homeostatic failure signatures across ecological media.