A baby dolphin is born into the ocean, which is a fairly cold environment. Water has a high heat conductivity, so the thermal re
gulation of a newborn dolphin is quite important. It has been known for a long time that baby dolphins' blubber is different in composition and quantity from the blubber of adults. Does this make the babies better protected from the cold compared to adults? One measure of the effectiveness of blubber is its "conductance". This value as calculated on 5 newborn dolphins and 6 adults dolphins (Dunkin et al. 2005).
Yes, the difference in composition and quantity from the blubber of baby dolphins in comparison to that of adults allows them to regulate and maintain their body temps much more efficiently. This in term allows baby dolphins to have a much higher probability of survival as opposed to if their blubber was the same as adults. Once they reach a certain age the composition begins to change since they are able to more easily adapt to their environment.
