These compromised dolphins would be in such poor health that they would be poor candidates for reproduction under feral circumstances. This unique body chemistry may cause hormonal fluctuations that influence repreduction. Any animal, male or female, that has its fat reserves challenged by changes in the environment is benefited by not having to expend resources trying to raise offspring under austere conditions. With tens of millions of years of evolutionary advantage over humans it is possible that the described conditions could create hormonally based infertility. Yet these conditions permeate the captivity of dolphins.
Study is needed.
Implications Without food deprivation, operant conditioning is not cost effective for dolphin holding facilities. When the dolphin is not hungry, it simply refuses to do what the trainer wants unless the dolphin has another reason to behave in that manner. The effect would be to transfer the frustration of operant conditioning from the dolphin to the trainer and by extension to the management of the dolphin holding facility. Deadlines and shows could not be met or produced. A Congressional ban on the use of operant conditioning at dolphin holding institutions would severely limit the motivations of those institutions to hold dolphins captive.