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Simantiris N. The impact of climate change on sea turtles: Current knowledge, scientometrics, and mitigation strategies. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 923:171354. [PMID: 38460688 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
Sea turtles are one of the most significant groups of marine species, playing a key role in the sustainability and conservation of marine ecosystems and the food chain. These emblematic species are threatened by several natural and anthropogenic pressures, and climate change is increasingly reported as one of the most important threats to sea turtles, affecting sea turtles at all stages of their life cycle and at both their marine and coastal habitats. The effect of climate change is expressed as global warming, sea-level rise, extreme storms, and alterations in predation and diseases' patterns, posing a potentially negative impact on sea turtles. In this systematic review, the author presented the current knowledge and research outcomes on the impact of climate change on sea turtles. Moreover, this study determined trends and hotspots in keywords, country collaborations, authors, and publications in the field through a scientometric analysis. Finally, this article reviewed proposed mitigation strategies by researchers, marine protected area (MPA) managers, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to reduce the impact of climate change on the conservation of sea turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Simantiris
- MEDASSET (Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles), Likavittou 1C, Athens, 10632, Greece; Ionian University, Department of Informatics, Corfu, 49132, Greece.
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Barbour N, Bailey H, Fagan WF, Mustin W, Baboolal V, Casella F, Candela T, Gaspar P, Williamson S, Turla E, Shillinger GL. Satellite Tracking of Head-Started Juvenile Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) Reveals Release Effects and an Ontogenetic Shift. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13071218. [PMID: 37048474 PMCID: PMC10093175 DOI: 10.3390/ani13071218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Juveniles of marine species, such as sea turtles, are often understudied in movement ecology. To determine dispersal patterns and release effects, we released 40 satellite-tagged juvenile head-started green turtles (Chelonia mydas, 1–4 years) from two separate locations (January and July 2023) off the coast of the Cayman Islands. A statistical model and vector plots were used to determine drivers of turtle directional swimming persistence and the role of ocean current direction. More than half (N = 22) effectively dispersed in 6–22 days from the islands to surrounding areas. The January turtles radiated out (185–1138 km) in distinct directions in contrast to the northward dispersal of the July turtles (27–396 km). Statistical results and vector plots supported that daily swimming persistence increased towards the end of tracks and near coastal regions, with turtles largely swimming in opposition to ocean currents. These results demonstrate that captive-reared juvenile greens have the ability to successfully navigate towards key coastal developmental habitats. Differences in dispersal (January vs. July) further support the importance of release timing and location. Our results inform conservation of the recovering Caymanian green turtles and we advise on how our methods can be improved and modified for future sea turtle and juvenile movement ecology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Barbour
- Department of Environmental Biology, SUNY College of Environmental and Forest Sciences, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Solomons, MD 20688, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Upwell, Monterey, CA 93940, USA
| | - Helen Bailey
- Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Solomons, MD 20688, USA
| | - William F. Fagan
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Walter Mustin
- Cayman Turtle Conservation and Education Centre, Grand Cayman 1303, Cayman Islands
| | - Vandanaa Baboolal
- Cayman Turtle Conservation and Education Centre, Grand Cayman 1303, Cayman Islands
| | - Francesca Casella
- Cayman Turtle Conservation and Education Centre, Grand Cayman 1303, Cayman Islands
| | - Tony Candela
- Upwell, Monterey, CA 93940, USA
- Mercator Ocean International, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | | | - Sean Williamson
- Upwell, Monterey, CA 93940, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Australia
- FAU Marine Science Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Emily Turla
- FAU Marine Science Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
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Abreo NAS, Aurelio RM, Kobayashi VB, Thompson KF. 'Eye in the sky': Off-the-shelf unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) highlights exposure of marine turtles to floating litter (FML) in nearshore waters of Mayo Bay, Philippines. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 186:114489. [PMID: 36549238 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Litter is a serious threat to the marine environment, with detrimental effects on wildlife and marine biodiversity. Limited data as a result of funding and logistical challenges in developing countries hamper our understanding of the problem. Here, we employed commercial unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as a cost-effective tool to study the exposure of marine turtles to floating marine litter (FML) in waters of Mayo Bay, Philippines. A quadcopter UAV was flown autonomously with on-board camera capturing videos during the flight. Still frames were extracted when either turtle or litter were detected in post-flight processing. The extracted frames were georeferenced and mapped using QGIS software. Results showed that turtles are highly exposed to FML in nearshore waters. Moreover, spatial dependence between FML and turtles was also observed. The study highlights the effectiveness of UAVs in marine litter research and underscores the threat of FML to turtles in nearshore waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Angelo S Abreo
- Marine Litter Project, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Laboratory - Environmental Studies Group, University of the Philippines Mindanao, Philippines; Institute of Advanced Studies, Davao del Norte State College, Panabo City, Philippines.
| | - Remie M Aurelio
- Center for the Advancement of Research in Mindanao, Office of Research, University of the Philippines Mindanao, Philippines
| | - Vladimer B Kobayashi
- Marine Litter Project, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Laboratory - Environmental Studies Group, University of the Philippines Mindanao, Philippines; Department of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science, College of Science and Mathematics, University of the Philippines Mindanao, Philippines
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Kynoch C, Fuentes MMPB, Dutton PH, LaCasella EL, Silver‐Gorges I. Origins of juvenile green sea turtles ( Chelonia mydas) in the Bahamas: A comparison of recent and historical rookery contributions. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9548. [PMID: 36447590 PMCID: PMC9702569 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Conservation of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) benefits from knowledge of population connectivity across life stages. Green turtles are managed at the level of genetically discrete rookeries, yet individuals from different rookeries mix at foraging grounds; therefore, rookeries may be impacted by processes at foraging grounds. Bimini, Bahamas, hosts an important foraging assemblage, but rookery contributions to this assemblage have never been resolved. We generated mitochondrial DNA sequences for 96 foraging green turtles from Bimini and used Mixed Stock Analysis to determine rookery contributions to this population using 817 and 490 base pair (bp) rookery baseline data. The MSA conducted with 817 bp data indicated that Quintana Roo, Mexico, and Central Eastern Florida contributed most to the Bimini population. The MSA conducted with 490 bp data indicated that Southwest Cuba and Central Eastern Florida contributed the most to Bimini. The results of the second MSA differ from a previous study undertaken with 490 bp data, conducted in Great Inagua, Bahamas, which suggested that Tortuguero, Costa Rica, contributed the most to that foraging assemblage. Large credible intervals in our results do not permit explicit interpretation of individual rookery contributions, but our results do indicate substantial relative differences in rookery contributions to two Bahamian foraging assemblages which may be driven by oceanic currents, rookery sizes, and possibly juvenile natal homing. Our findings may implicate a shift in contributions to the Bahamas over two decades, highlighting the importance of regularly monitoring rookery contributions and resolving regional recruitment patterns to inform conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Kynoch
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric ScienceFlorida State UniversityTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | | | - Peter H. Dutton
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries ServiceNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Erin L. LaCasella
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries ServiceNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Ian Silver‐Gorges
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric ScienceFlorida State UniversityTallahasseeFloridaUSA
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Turner Tomaszewicz CN, Avens L, Seminoff JA, Limpus CJ, FitzSimmons NN, Guinea ML, Pendoley KL, Whittock PA, Vitenbergs A, Whiting SD, Tucker AD. Age-specific growth and maturity estimates for the flatback sea turtle (Natator depressus) by skeletochronology. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271048. [PMID: 35857751 PMCID: PMC9299290 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
To address a major knowledge gap for flatback sea turtles (Natator depressus), a species endemic to Australia and considered ‘Data Deficient’ for IUCN Red List assessment, we present the first-ever skeletochronology-derived age and growth rate estimates for this species. Using a rare collection of bone samples gathered from across northern Australia, we applied skeletochronology and characterized the length-at-age relationship, established baseline growth rates from the hatchling to adult life stages, and produced empirical estimates of age-at- and size-at-sexual-maturation (ASM, SSM). We analyzed humeri from 74 flatback sea turtles ranging in body size from 6.0–96.0 cm curved carapace length (CCL), and recovered from Western Australia (n = 48), Eastern Australia (n = 13), central Australia (n = 8; Northern Territory n = 3, the Gulf of Carpentaria n = 5), and unknown locations (n = 5). We identified the onset of sexual maturity for 29 turtles, based on rapprochement growth patterns in the bones. Estimates for ASM ranged from 12.0 to 23.0 years (mean: 16.3 ± 0.53 SE), SSM ranged from 76.1 to 94.0 cm CCL (mean: 84.9 ± 0.90 SE), and maximum observed reproductive longevity was 31 years for a 45-year old male flatback. Growth was modeled as a smoothing spline fit to the size-at-age relationship and at the mean SSM (84.9 cm CCL) corresponded with a spline-predicted maturity age of 18 years (95% CI: 16 to 24), while mean nesting sizes reported in the literature (86.4 to 94 cm CCL) corresponded to estimated ages of 24+ years. A bootstrapped von Bertalanffy growth model was also applied and showed consistencies with the spline curve, yielding an estimated upper size limit, Linf, at 89.2 ± 0.04 cm (95% CI: 85.5 to 95.9 cm) with the intrinsic growth rate parameter, k, at 0.185 ± 0.0004 (0.16 to 0.22); at the same mean SSM (84.9 cm CCL) the estimated ASM was 16.3 ± 0.05 years (95% CI: 12.8 to 27.7 years). Lastly, four of the samples analyzed were collected from deceased adult females that had previous sizes known from on-going mark/recapture studies at nesting sites in Western Australia. The paired CCL data (measured at nesting and back-calculated) did not significantly differ (p = 0.875). This first skeletochronology study for flatback sea turtles generates valuable empirical estimates for ongoing conservation and management efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calandra N. Turner Tomaszewicz
- NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
- The Ocean Foundation, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Larisa Avens
- NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Beaufort, NC, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey A. Seminoff
- NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Colin J. Limpus
- Department of Environment and Science, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Scott D. Whiting
- Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Anton D. Tucker
- Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Perth, WA, Australia
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Gatto CR, Jones TT, Imlach B, Reina RD. Ontogeny and ecological significance of metabolic rates in sea turtle hatchlings. Front Zool 2022; 19:6. [PMID: 35123495 PMCID: PMC8818257 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-022-00451-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sea turtle hatchlings must avoid numerous predators during dispersal from their nesting beaches to foraging grounds. Hatchlings minimise time spent in predator-dense neritic waters by swimming almost continuously for approximately the first 24 h post-emergence, termed the ‘frenzy’. Post-frenzy, hatchling activity gradually declines as they swim in less predator-dense pelagic waters. It is well documented that hatchlings exhibit elevated metabolic rates during the frenzy to power their almost continuous swimming, but studies on post-frenzy MRs are sparse. Results We measured the frenzy and post-frenzy oxygen consumption of hatchlings of five species of sea turtle at different activity levels and ages to compare the ontogeny of mass-specific hatchling metabolic rates. Maximal metabolic rates were always higher than resting metabolic rates, but metabolic rates during routine swimming resembled resting metabolic rates in leatherback turtle hatchlings during the frenzy and post-frenzy, and in loggerhead hatchlings during the post-frenzy. Crawling metabolic rates did not differ among species, but green turtles had the highest metabolic rates during frenzy and post-frenzy swimming. Conclusions Differences in metabolic rate reflect the varying dispersal stratagems of each species and have important implications for dispersal ability, yolk consumption and survival. Our results provide the foundations for links between the physiology and ecology of dispersal of sea turtles.
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Mansfield KL, Wyneken J, Luo J. First Atlantic satellite tracks of 'lost years' green turtles support the importance of the Sargasso Sea as a sea turtle nursery. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210057. [PMID: 33947237 PMCID: PMC8103231 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In-water behaviour and long-term movements of oceanic-stage juvenile sea turtles are not well described or quantified. This is owing to technological or logistical limitations of tracking small, fast-growing animals across long distances and time periods within marine habitats. Here, we present, to our knowledge, the first long-term offshore tracks of oceanic green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in western North Atlantic waters. Using a tag attachment technique developed specifically for young (less than 1 year old) green turtles, we satellite-tracked 21 oceanic-stage green turtles (less than 19 cm straight carapace length) up to 152 days using small, solar-powered transmitters. We verify that oceanic-stage green turtles: (i) travel to and remain within oceanic waters; (ii) often depart the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre currents, orienting towards waters associated with the Sargasso Sea; (iii) remain at the sea surface, using thermally beneficial habitats that promote growth and survival of young turtles; and (iv) green turtles orient differently compared to same stage loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). Combined with satellite tracks of oceanic-stage loggerhead turtles, our work identifies the Sargasso Sea as an important nursery habitat for North Atlantic sea turtles, supporting a growing body of research that suggests oceanic-stage sea turtles are behaviourally more complex than previously assumed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeanette Wyneken
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Jiangang Luo
- Department of Marine Ecology and Society, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
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Patrício AR, Hawkes LA, Monsinjon JR, Godley BJ, Fuentes MMPB. Climate change and marine turtles: recent advances and future directions. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2021. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change is a threat to marine turtles that is expected to affect all of their life stages. To guide future research, we conducted a review of the most recent literature on this topic, highlighting knowledge gains and research gaps since a similar previous review in 2009. Most research has been focussed on the terrestrial life history phase, where expected impacts will range from habitat loss and decreased reproductive success to feminization of populations, but changes in reproductive periodicity, shifts in latitudinal ranges, and changes in foraging success are all expected in the marine life history phase. Models have been proposed to improve estimates of primary sex ratios, while technological advances promise a better understanding of how climate can influence different life stages and habitats. We suggest a number of research priorities for an improved understanding of how climate change may impact marine turtles, including: improved estimates of primary sex ratios, assessments of the implications of female-biased sex ratios and reduced male production, assessments of the variability in upper thermal limits of clutches, models of beach sediment movement under sea level rise, and assessments of impacts on foraging grounds. Lastly, we suggest that it is not yet possible to recommend manipulating aspects of turtle nesting ecology, as the evidence base with which to understand the results of such interventions is not robust enough, but that strategies for mitigation of stressors should be helpful, providing they consider the synergistic effects of climate change and other anthropogenic-induced threats to marine turtles, and focus on increasing resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- AR Patrício
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ISPA - Instituto Universitário, 1149-041 Lisbon, Portugal
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - LA Hawkes
- Hatherley Laboratories, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Streatham Campus, Exeter EX4 4PS, UK
| | - JR Monsinjon
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6139, South Africa
| | - BJ Godley
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - MMPB Fuentes
- Marine Turtle Research, Ecology and Conservation Group, Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
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Barr CE, Hamann M, Shimada T, Bell I, Limpus CJ, Ferguson J. Post-nesting movements and feeding ground distribution by the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) from rookeries in the Torres Strait. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/wr20183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
ContextHawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) are conservation-dependent species in many areas of the world. A key component to ensuring successful conservation initiatives for the species is understanding their distribution and habitat use, in particular, knowing the nesting sites, migration routes and foraging areas for each genetic stock, and how these might overlap with threats.
AimsInvestigate the post-nesting movements of hawksbill sea turtles nesting in the Torres Strait, including migration movements and foraging ground size and distribution.
MethodsNine nesting hawksbill turtles of the north-eastern Australian genetic stock were satellite-tagged between the 2010 and 2019 nesting seasons for 182 ± 143 days (mean ± s.d.).
Key resultsThree turtles continued to nest on adjacent islands before commencing their post-nesting migrations. From the nine tracked turtles, the following three migration movement strategies were identified: (1) direct migration between the nesting beach and foraging ground, (2) non-direct movements with a period of meandering, and (3) establishment of two foraging areas separated by direct movement pathways. Foraging grounds were distributed across the Torres Strait and north-eastern Australia and varied in size between 0.54 km2 and 3.31 km2 (95% UD). None of the turtles migrated outside of Australian waters.
ConclusionsThe localisation of these movements and habitats within Australian waters provides a unique conservation opportunity, whereby protection efforts involve multiple life stages and potentially preserve turtles from multiple genetic stocks. The variety of inter-nesting, migration and home range strategies used by the tracked turtles in the present study highlight the broad scope of hawksbill movements.
ImplicationsOur findings are useful for the implementation of future marine conservation areas and shed light into the nesting, migratory and foraging behaviours of hawkbills from this genetic stock. An understanding of the movement tracks and habitats used by a genetic pool is essential for well grounded implementation of conservation areas and management regulations.
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Arcangeli A, Maffucci F, Atzori F, Azzolin M, Campana I, Carosso L, Crosti R, Frau F, David L, Di-Méglio N, Roul M, Gregorietti M, Mazzucato V, Pellegrino G, Giacoletti A, Paraboschi M, Zampollo A, de Lucia GA, Hochscheid S. Turtles on the trash track: loggerhead turtles exposed to floating plastic in the Mediterranean Sea. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2019. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Effects of local climate on loggerhead hatchling production in Brazil: Implications from climate change. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8861. [PMID: 31222177 PMCID: PMC6586835 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45366-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Sea turtle eggs are heavily influenced by the environment in which they incubate, including effects on hatching success and hatchling viability (hatchling production). It is crucial to understand how the hatchling production of sea turtles is influenced by local climate and how potential changes in climate may impact future hatchling production. Generalized Additive Models were used to determine the relationship of six climatic variables at different temporal scales on loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) hatchling production at seventeen nesting beaches in Bahia, Espirito Santo, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Using extreme and conservative climate change scenarios throughout the 21st century, potential impacts on future hatching success (the number of hatched eggs in a nest) were predicted using the climatic variable(s) that best described hatchling production at each nesting beach. Air temperature and precipitation were found to be the main drivers of hatchling production throughout Brazil. CMIP5 climate projections are for a warming of air temperature at all sites throughout the 21st century, while projections for precipitation vary regionally. The more tropical nesting beaches in Brazil, such as those in Bahia, are projected to experience declines in hatchling production, while the more temperate nesting beaches, such as those in Rio de Janeiro, are projected to experience increases in hatchling production by the end of the 21st century.
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Wildermann NE, Gredzens C, Avens L, Barrios-Garrido HA, Bell I, Blumenthal J, Bolten AB, Braun McNeill J, Casale P, Di Domenico M, Domit C, Epperly SP, Godfrey MH, Godley BJ, González-Carman V, Hamann M, Hart KM, Ishihara T, Mansfield KL, Metz TL, Miller JD, Pilcher NJ, Read MA, Sasso C, Seminoff JA, Seney EE, Willard AS, Tomás J, Vélez-Rubio GM, Ware M, Williams JL, Wyneken J, Fuentes MMPB. Informing research priorities for immature sea turtles through expert elicitation. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2018. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Assessing the effect of recreational scallop harvest on the distribution and behaviour of foraging marine turtles. ORYX 2018. [DOI: 10.1017/s0030605318000182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractThe impact of fisheries on marine megafauna is widely known but most studies have focused on commercial fisheries, overlooking the effect of local recreational fisheries. This is particularly important for marine turtles in near-shore habitats that overlap with recreational fisheries. We assessed the effect of recreational scallop fisheries on the distribution and behaviour of foraging marine turtles in the coastal waters of the upper Eastern Gulf of Mexico. Before and during the scallop season we quantified the density and overlap of marine turtles and vessels sighted, and satellite tracked four turtles to assess their distribution and behaviour. The relative distribution of marine turtles sighted during the scallop season overlapped with 48% of the area most frequently used by harvesters, and marine turtle activity hotspots shifted between seasons. In addition, during the scallop season the home range size of individual turtles appeared to decrease, and turtles displayed frequent changes in travel speed and directionality. We hypothesize that such changes are probably related to the distribution and movement of vessels and the abundant presence of people in the water. Our study highlights the importance of considering recreational fisheries and their local effect on marine megafauna for informing future adaptive management practices. However, further studies are needed to quantify the direct and indirect impacts of recreational fisheries and to assess the degree of risk of associated activities to marine turtle populations.
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Gaos AR, Lewison RL, Jensen MP, Liles MJ, Henriquez A, Chavarria S, Pacheco CM, Valle M, Melero D, Gadea V, Altamirano E, Torres P, Vallejo F, Miranda C, LeMarie C, Lucero J, Oceguera K, Chácon D, Fonseca L, Abrego M, Seminoff JA, Flores EE, Llamas I, Donadi R, Peña B, Muñoz JP, Ruales DA, Chaves JA, Otterstrom S, Zavala A, Hart CE, Brittain R, Alfaro-Shigueto J, Mangel J, Yañez IL, Dutton PH. Natal foraging philopatry in eastern Pacific hawksbill turtles. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2017; 4:170153. [PMID: 28878969 PMCID: PMC5579084 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.170153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander R. Gaos
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Ocean Associates Inc., under contract to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Michael P. Jensen
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Ocean Associates Inc., under contract to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael J. Liles
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
- ProCosta, San Salvador, El Salvador
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ana Henriquez
- ProCosta, San Salvador, El Salvador
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sofia Chavarria
- ProCosta, San Salvador, El Salvador
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Carlos Mario Pacheco
- ProCosta, San Salvador, El Salvador
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Melissa Valle
- ProCosta, San Salvador, El Salvador
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - David Melero
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Velkiss Gadea
- Marine Turtles Department, Fauna & Flora International, Managua, Nicaragua
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Eduardo Altamirano
- Marine Turtles Department, Fauna & Flora International, Managua, Nicaragua
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Perla Torres
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica Mazatlán, Universidad Nacional de Mexico, Mazatlán, Mexico
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Felipe Vallejo
- Equilibrio Azul, Quito, Ecuador
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Cristina Miranda
- Equilibrio Azul, Quito, Ecuador
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Carolina LeMarie
- Equilibrio Azul, Quito, Ecuador
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jesus Lucero
- Grupo Tortuguero de las Californias, A.C, La Paz, Mexico
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Karen Oceguera
- Grupo Tortuguero de las Californias, A.C, La Paz, Mexico
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Didiher Chácon
- Latin American Sea Turtles, Tibás, Costa Rica
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Luis Fonseca
- Latin American Sea Turtles, Tibás, Costa Rica
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Marino Abrego
- Conservación de Recursos Costeros y Marinos, Ministerio del Ambiente de Panamá, Panama City, Panama
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey A. Seminoff
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Eric E. Flores
- Sistema Nacional de Investigación, Panama City, Panama
- Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología, Panama City, Panama
| | - Israel Llamas
- Campamento Tortuguero Mayto, A.C., Mayto, Mexico
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Bernardo Peña
- Conservación de Recursos Costeros y Marinos, Ministerio del Ambiente de Panamá, Panama City, Panama
| | - Juan Pablo Muñoz
- Marine Ecology Department, Universidad San Francisco de Quito/Galapagos Science Center, San Cristóbal, Galapagos Archipelago, Ecuador
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Daniela Alarcòn Ruales
- Marine Ecology Department, Universidad San Francisco de Quito/Galapagos Science Center, San Cristóbal, Galapagos Archipelago, Ecuador
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jaime A. Chaves
- Marine Ecology Department, Universidad San Francisco de Quito/Galapagos Science Center, San Cristóbal, Galapagos Archipelago, Ecuador
| | - Sarah Otterstrom
- Paso Pacifico, Managua, Nicaragua
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Alan Zavala
- Unidad Sinaloa, Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional, Sinaloa, Mexico
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Sinaloa, Mexico
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Catherine E. Hart
- Red Tortuguera, A.C, Guayabitos, Mexico
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Rachel Brittain
- Akazul, La Barrona, Guatemala
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Joanna Alfaro-Shigueto
- Marine Turtle Research Group, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
- Marine Biology Department, Universidad Cientifica del Sur, Lima, Peru
- ProDelphinus, Lima, Peru
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Mangel
- Marine Turtle Research Group, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
- Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Peter H. Dutton
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, CA, USA
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