scholarly journals Ecological Vulnerability of Adult Female Marine Turtles as Indicators of Opportunities for Regional Socioecosystem Management in the Southern Gulf of Mexico

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 184
Author(s):  
María de los Angeles Liceaga-Correa ◽  
Abigail Uribe-Martínez ◽  
Eduardo Cuevas
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Natural Protected Areas ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
Ecological Vulnerability ◽  
Southern Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Functional Components

Planning for marine ecosystems management demands spatially explicit information about structural and functional components, in a tradeoff between including the most taxa and keeping it functional. Sentinel, umbrella, and surrogate taxa are strategic for developing indexes that account for other associated species and contribute to a sustainable administration of our seas. Marine turtles feature the former species descriptions, and the knowledge on their ecology contributes to design conservation and restoration strategies in regions they occupy, such as the Gulf of Mexico. Several administrative tools exist to govern marine territories for biodiversity conservation, and assessing how these tools interact with the ecological vulnerability of endangered species is crucial for improving public policies. We assessed the spatial interactions among ecological sensitivity, vulnerability, and the potential impacts on four marine turtle species in the southern Gulf of Mexico and northwestern Caribbean Sea with territorial management tools (natural protected areas, marine priority sites, and ecoregions). A small percentage of the most vulnerable areas is inside natural protected areas, while marine priority sites include a higher percentage. We identified spatial covering gaps that need to be addressed to ensure the conservation and recovery of these endangered species in the Gulf of Mexico and proposed key regions for maximizing territorial conservation.

scholarly journals Critical In-Water Habitats for Post-Nesting Sea Turtles from the Southern Gulf of Mexico

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 793
Author(s):  
Abigail Uribe-Martínez ◽  
María de los Angeles Liceaga-Correa ◽  
Eduardo Cuevas
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Marine Ecosystem ◽  
Satellite Telemetry ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
The Bahamas ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Southern Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Large Marine Ecosystem ◽  
Physical Features

Marine turtles are globally endangered species that spend more than 95% of their life cycle in in-water habitats. Nevertheless, most of the conservation, recovery and research efforts have targeted the on-land habitats, due to their easier access, where adult females lay their eggs. Targeting the large knowledge gaps on the in-water critical habitats of turtles, particularly in the Large Marine Ecosystem Gulf of Mexico, is crucial for their conservation and recovery in the long term. We used satellite telemetry to track 85 nesting females from their beaches after they nested to identify their feeding and residency habitats, their migratory corridors and to describe the context for those areas. We delimited major migratory corridors in the southern Gulf of Mexico and West Caribbean and described physical features of internesting and feeding home ranges located mainly around the Yucatan Peninsula and Veracruz, Mexico. We also contributed by describing general aggregation and movement patterns for the four marine turtle species in the Atlantic, expanding the knowledge of the studied species. Several tracked individuals emigrated from the Gulf of Mexico to as far as Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Bahamas. This information is critical for identifying gaps in marine protection and for deciphering the spatial connectivity in large ocean basins, and it provides an opportunity to assess potential impacts on marine turtle populations and their habitats.

scholarly journals Plastic ingestion by freshwater turtles: a review and call to action

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam G. Clause ◽  
Aaron J. Celestian ◽  
Gregory B. Pauly
Keyword(s):  
Marine Species ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Freshwater Turtle ◽  
Freshwater Turtles ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Implementation Quality ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
Conservation Concern

AbstractPlastic pollution, and especially plastic ingestion by animals, is a serious global issue. This problem is well documented in marine systems, but it is relatively understudied in freshwater systems. For turtles, it is unknown how plastic ingestion compares between marine and non-marine species. We review the relevant turtle dietary literature, and find that plastic ingestion is reported for all 7 marine turtle species, but only 5 of 352 non-marine turtle species. In the last 10 years, despite marine turtles representing just 2% of all turtle species, almost 50% of relevant turtle dietary studies involved only marine turtles. These results suggest that the potential threat of plastic ingestion is poorly studied in non-marine turtles. We also examine plastic ingestion frequency in a freshwater turtle population, finding that 7.7% of 65 turtles had ingested plastic. However, plastic-resembling organic material would have inflated our frequency results up to 40% higher were it not for verification using Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, we showcase how non-native turtles can be used as a proxy for understanding the potential for plastic ingestion by co-occurring native turtles of conservation concern. We conclude with recommendations for how scientists studying non-marine turtles can improve the implementation, quality, and discoverability of plastic ingestion research.

scholarly journals Natal foraging philopatry in eastern Pacific hawksbill turtles

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (8) ◽  
pp. 170153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander R. Gaos ◽  
Rebecca L. Lewison ◽  
Michael P. Jensen ◽  
Michael J. Liles ◽  
Ana Henriquez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Research ◽  
Eastern Pacific ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Natal Philopatry ◽  
Eretmochelys Imbricata ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
Complex Processes ◽  
Natal Homing ◽  
Hawksbill Turtles

The complex processes involved with animal migration have long been a subject of biological interest, and broad-scale movement patterns of many marine turtle populations still remain unresolved. While it is widely accepted that once marine turtles reach sexual maturity they home to natal areas for nesting or reproduction, the role of philopatry to natal areas during other life stages has received less scrutiny, despite widespread evidence across the taxa. Here we report on genetic research that indicates that juvenile hawksbill turtles ( Eretmochelys imbricata ) in the eastern Pacific Ocean use foraging grounds in the region of their natal beaches, a pattern we term natal foraging philopatry. Our findings confirm that traditional views of natal homing solely for reproduction are incomplete and that many marine turtle species exhibit philopatry to natal areas to forage. Our results have important implications for life-history research and conservation of marine turtles and may extend to other wide-ranging marine vertebrates that demonstrate natal philopatry.

Integrating science and management on coastal marine protected areas in the Southern Gulf of Mexico

1999 ◽  
Vol 42 (2-4) ◽  
pp. 319-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Yáñez-Arancibia ◽  
A.L. Lara-Domı́nguez ◽  
J.L. Rojas Galaviz ◽  
D.J. Zárate Lomeli ◽  
G.J. Villalobos Zapata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Coastal Marine ◽  
Southern Gulf Of Mexico

Mapping ecological vulnerability to fire for effective conservation management of natural protected areas

2015 ◽  
Vol 295 ◽  
pp. 163-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Aretano ◽  
Teodoro Semeraro ◽  
Irene Petrosillo ◽  
Antonella De Marco ◽  
Maria Rita Pasimeni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Conservation Management ◽  
Natural Protected Areas ◽  
Ecological Vulnerability ◽  
Effective Conservation

scholarly journals Marine turtles on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea

Oryx ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Butynski
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Additional Research ◽  
Population Trends ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Equatorial Guinea ◽  
Conservation Action ◽  
Bioko Island ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
The People

Four endangered species of marine turtle nest on the southern beaches of Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. The turtles and their eggs are an important traditional source of food for the people of the area and turtle populations have apparently declined considerably, probably because of overexploitation. This paper reviews what is known about Bioko's marine turtles, their nesting seasons, population trends, use by humans, conservation status and recent conservation efforts. Recommendations are made for additional research and conservation action.

scholarly journals Assessing coastal artificial light and potential exposure of wildlife at a national scale: the case of marine turtles in Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 1135-1152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liliana P. Colman ◽  
Paulo H. Lara ◽  
Jonathan Bennie ◽  
Annette C. Broderick ◽  
Juliana R. de Freitas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Brazilian Coast ◽  
Light Pollution ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
Light Levels ◽  
Nesting Beaches

AbstractCoastal areas provide critical nesting habitat for marine turtles. Understanding how artificial light might impact populations is key to guide management strategies. Here we assess the extent to which nesting populations of four marine turtle species—leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and two subpopulations of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) turtles—are exposed to light pollution across 604 km of the Brazilian coast. We used yearly night-time satellite images from two 5-year periods (1992–1996 and 2008–2012) from the US Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Programme (DMSP) to determine the proportion of nesting areas that are exposed to detectable levels of artificial light and identify how this has changed over time. Over the monitored time-frame, 63.7% of the nesting beaches experienced an increase in night light levels. Based on nest densities, we identified 54 reproductive hotspots: 62.9% were located in areas potentially exposed to light pollution. Light levels appeared to have a significant effect on nest densities of hawksbills and the northern loggerhead turtle stock, however high nest densities were also seen in lit areas. The status of all species/subpopulations has improved across the time period despite increased light levels. These findings suggest that (1) nest site selection is likely primarily determined by variables other than light and (2) conservation strategies in Brazil appear to have been successful in contributing to reducing impacts on nesting beaches. There is, however, the possibility that light also affects hatchlings in coastal waters, and impacts on population recruitment may take longer to fully manifest in nesting numbers. Recommendations are made to further this work to provide deeper insights into the impacts of anthropogenic light on marine turtles.

scholarly journals Drivers of realized satellite tracking duration in marine turtles

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen M. Hart ◽  
Jacquelyn C. Guzy ◽  
Brian J. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Sensor Data ◽  
Battery Life ◽  
Marine Animal ◽  
The Bahamas ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
Southern Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Specific Variation ◽  
Species Specific

Abstract Background Satellite tags have revolutionized our understanding of marine animal movements. However, tags may stop transmitting for many reasons and little research has rigorously examined tag failure. Using a long-term, large-scale, multi-species dataset, we evaluated factors influencing tracking duration of satellite tags to inform study design for future tracking studies. Methods We leveraged data on battery status transmitted with location data, recapture events, and number of transmission days to probabilistically quantify multiple potential causes of failure (i.e., battery failure, premature detachment, and tag damage/fouling). We used a combination of logistic regressions and an ordinary linear model including several predictor variables (i.e., tag type, battery life, species, sex, size, and foraging region). Results We examined subsets of data from 360 satellite tags encompassing 86,889 tracking days deployed on four species of marine turtles throughout the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Bahamas from 2008 to 2019. Only 4.1% of batteries died before failure due to other causes. We observed species-specific variation in how long tags remain attached: hawksbills retained 50% of their tags for 1649 days (95% CI 995–1800), loggerheads for 584 days (95% CI 400–690), and green turtles for 294 days (95% CI 198–450). Estimated tracking duration varied by foraging region (Caribbean: 385 days; Bahamas: 356; southern Gulf of Mexico [SGOM]: 276, northern Gulf of Mexico [NGOM]: 177). Additionally, we documented species-specific variation in estimated tracking duration among foraging regions. Based on sensor data, within the Gulf of Mexico, across species, we estimated that 50% of tags began to foul after 83 95% CI (70–120) days. Conclusions The main factor that limited tracking duration was tag damage (i.e., fouling and/or antenna breakage). Turtles that spent most of their time in the Gulf of Mexico had shorter tracking durations than those in the Bahamas and Caribbean, with shortest durations observed in the NGOM. Additionally, tracking duration varied by species, likely as a result of behaviors that damage tags. This information will help researchers, tag companies, permitting agencies, and funders better predict expected tracking durations, improving study designs for imperiled marine turtles. Our results highlight the heterogeneity in telemetry device longevity, and we provide a framework for researchers to evaluate telemetry devices with respect to their study objectives.

scholarly journals Using Aerial Photogrammetry to Assess Stock-Wide Marine Turtle Nesting Distribution, Abundance and Cumulative Exposure to Industrial Activity

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1116
Author(s):  
Sabrina Fossette ◽  
Graham Loewenthal ◽  
Lauren R. Peel ◽  
Anna Vitenbergs ◽  
Melanie A. Hamel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Chelonia Mydas ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Cumulative Exposure ◽  
Cumulative Impact ◽  
Industrial Activity ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
Aerial Photogrammetry ◽  
Nesting Activity

The lack of accurate distribution maps and reliable abundance estimates for marine species can limit the ability of managers to design scale-appropriate management measures for a stock or population. Here, we tested the utility of aerial photogrammetry for conducting large-scale surveys of nesting marine turtles at remote locations, with a focus on the flatback turtle (Natator depressus) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Aerial surveys were conducted between 29 November and 6 December 2016 to overlap with the peak nesting season for flatback turtles and collected imagery was used to examine marine turtle distribution, abundance, and cumulative exposure to industrial activity relative to overlap with protected areas. Two observers independently reviewed aerial georeferenced photographs of 644 beaches and recorded turtle tracks and other evidence of turtle nesting activity. A total of 375 beaches showed signs of nesting activity by either flatback, green (Chelonia mydas) or hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) turtles. Most of these beaches (85.3%) were located on islands, and the rest (14.7%) on the mainland. Half (n = 174) of the active beaches showed evidence of fresh (0–36 h. old) flatback nesting activity, with track abundance varying from 1.0 to 222.0 tracks·night−1. Six rookeries accounted for 62% of the Pilbara flatback stock. Remarkably, 77% of identified flatback rookeries occurred within protected areas. However, one-third (34%) of those were also located within 5 km of a major industrial site, including eight of the highest abundance beaches (50–250 tracks·night−1). Several key rookeries were also identified as being relatively unexposed to industry-related pressures but currently unprotected, highlighting the need for a cumulative impact assessment to be completed for this flatback stock. Finally, our aerial tallies and multiple ground-survey flatback track tallies were highly correlated and together with low intra- and inter-observer errors suggested that reliable data can be collected via aerial photogrammetry for nesting marine turtles. Such large-scale digitized surveys can therefore be used to assess the cumulative exposure of marine turtles to pressures, and to reveal new conservation opportunities.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document