INTRASPECIFIC VARIATION OF THE GREEN TURTLE, Chelonia mydas (CHELONIIDAE), IN THE FORAGING AREA OF GORGONA NATURAL NATIONAL PARK (COLOMBIAN PACIFIC)

In highly mobile philopatric species, defining the scale of natal homing is fundamental to characterizing population dynamics and effectively managing distinct populations. Genetic tools have provided evidence of regional natal philopatry in marine turtles, but extensive sharing of maternally inherited mitochondrial control region (CR) haplotypes within regions (<500 km) often impedes identification of population boundaries. Previous CR-based analyses of Florida (USA) green turtle Chelonia mydas nesting sites detected at least 2 populations, but the ubiquity of haplotype CM-A3.1 among southern rookeries decreased the power to detect differentiation. We reassessed population structure by sequencing the mitochondrial microsatellite (short tandem repeat, mtSTR) in 786 samples from 11 nesting sites spanning 700 km from Canaveral National Seashore through Dry Tortugas National Park. The mtSTR marker subdivided CM-A3.1 into 12 haplotypes that were structured among rookeries, demonstrating independent female recruitment into the Dry Tortugas and Marquesas Keys nesting populations. Combined haplotypes provided support for recognition of at least 4 management units in Florida: (1) central eastern Florida, (2) southeastern Florida, (3) Key West National Wildlife Refuge, and (4) Dry Tortugas National Park. Recapture data indicated female nesting dispersal between islands <15 km apart, but haplotype frequencies demonstrated discrete natal homing to island groups separated by 70 km. These isolated insular rookeries may be more vulnerable to climate change-mediated nesting habitat instability than those along continental coasts and should be monitored more consistently to characterize population status. Broader application of the mtSTR markers holds great promise in improving resolution of stock structure and migratory connectivity for green turtles globally.

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Intake passage time, digesta composition and digestibility in East Pacific green turtles (Chelonia mydas agassizii) at Gorgona National Park, Colombian Pacific

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology ◽

10.1016/j.jembe.2008.04.009 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 360 (2) ◽

pp. 117-124 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Diego F. Amorocho ◽

Richard D. Reina

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Passage Time ◽

Green Turtles ◽

East Pacific ◽

Chelonia Mydas Agassizii ◽

Colombian Pacific

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Jaguars (Panthera onca) increase kill utilization rates and share prey in response to seasonal fluctuations in nesting green turtle (Chelonia mydas mydas) abundance in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica

Mammalian Biology ◽

10.1016/j.mambio.2014.11.005 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 80 (2) ◽

pp. 65-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

James Guilder ◽

Benjamin Barca ◽

Stephanny Arroyo-Arce ◽

Roberto Gramajo ◽

Roberto Salom-Pérez

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Green Turtle ◽

National Park ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Panthera Onca ◽

Seasonal Fluctuations

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Pengaruh Kedalaman Sarang Penetasan Penyu Hijau (Chelonia mydas) terhadap Masa Inkubasi dan Persentase Keberhasilan Penetasan di Pantai Sukamade, Taman Nasional Meru Betiri, Banyuwangi Jawa Timur [Effect of Nesting Site Depth of Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) on the Incubation Period and Hatching Success Percentage in Sukamade Beach, Meru Betiri National Park, Banyuwangi in East Java]

Jurnal Ilmiah Perikanan dan Kelautan ◽

10.20473/jipk.v7i2.11206 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 195

Author(s):

Abang Aldhian R. Putera ◽

Laksmi Sulmartiwi ◽

Wahju Tjahjaningsih

Keyword(s):

Incubation Period ◽

Green Turtle ◽

National Park ◽

Hatching Success ◽

Sea Turtles ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

The Other ◽

Green Turtles ◽

Egg Incubation ◽

Range Test

Abstract Indonesia is an archipelago that is rich in diversity of flora and fauna. One of these is a wealth of fauna species of sea turtles. All species of sea turtles in the world by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) put in Appendix I as endangered and protected and not allowed to be traded. The purpose of this study was to determine effect the ratio of the depth from nest egg incubation and hatching percentage of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) nests at different depths in Sukamade, Betiri Meru National Park, Banyuwangi, East Java. The design of the study is a randomized block design (RGD). The groups as replicates for RGD, between groups or experimental material media are considered uniform. The results showed that the average incubation period was 58.87 +0.39 days, then the results were followed by Duncan's multiple range test, which showed that the highest yield obtained by the depth of 50 cm wasn’t significantly different (p> 0.05) with depth of 30 cm and 70 cm. While the results obtained at the lowest depth of 90 cm was significantly different (p <0.05) with the other depth (30 cm, 50 cm and 70 cm). While the percentage of hatching success obtained in average hatching was 88.12 + 0.38%. The Duncan's multiple range test analysis, showed that at a depth of 70 cm were not significantly different (p <0.05) from depth of 50 cm, but 70 and 50 cm depth was significantly different (p> 0.05) from another depth. Whereas the lowest hatching results obtained on depth of 90 cm are significantly different (p> 0.05) from the other depth (30 cm, 50 cm and 70 cm). The conclusion of this study was different depth of green turtle nests affect the egg incubation period and the percentage of egg hatching success of green turtles.

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Effects of a power plant closure on home ranges of green turtles in an urban foraging area

Endangered Species Research ◽

10.3354/esr01027 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 ◽

pp. 265-277 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

T Eguchi ◽

J Bredvik ◽

S Graham ◽

R LeRoux ◽

B Saunders ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Power Plant ◽

Green Turtle ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Utilization Distribution ◽

Green Turtles ◽

Foraging Area ◽

San Diego Bay ◽

Conservation Actions ◽

Satellite Transmitters

A natural experiment was conducted to determine effects of a fossil-fueled power plant on home ranges of east Pacific green turtles Chelonia mydas in an urban foraging ground. The power plant, located in south San Diego Bay, California, USA, co-existed with a resident foraging aggregation of ~60 green turtles for ~50 yr. It was decommissioned during a long-term green turtle monitoring study, thus providing a rare opportunity to evaluate how the cessation of warm-water effluent affected turtle movements and habitat use in the area. During pre- and post-decommissioning of the power plant, 7 and 23 green turtles, respectively, were equipped with GPS-enabled satellite transmitters. Useful data were obtained from 17 turtles (4 for pre- and 13 for post-decommissioning). Core use areas (50% utilization distribution [UD]) increased from 0.71 to 1.37 km2 after the power plant decommissioning. Increase in post-power plant 50% UD was greater during nighttime (0.52 to 1.44 km2) than daytime (1.32 to 1.43 km2). Furthermore, UDs moved from the effluent channel to an area closer to seagrass pastures, a presumed foraging habitat of the turtles. The observed expansion of green turtle home ranges may increase turtle-human interactions, such as boat strikes, within the foraging ground; this underscores how seemingly innocuous human actions contribute to inadvertent consequences to wildlife. Possible management and conservation actions include increasing awareness of the public regarding turtle presence in the area through signage and education as well as legislating for a reduction in boat speeds in select areas of the bay.

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