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Nederlof RA, van der Veen D, Perrault JR, Bast R, Barron HW, Bakker J. Emerging Insights into Brevetoxicosis in Sea Turtles. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:991. [PMID: 38612230 PMCID: PMC11010821 DOI: 10.3390/ani14070991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
This review summarizes the current understanding of how brevetoxins, produced by Karenia brevis during harmful algal blooms, impact sea turtle health. Sea turtles may be exposed to brevetoxins through ingestion, inhalation, maternal transfer, and potentially absorption through the skin. Brevetoxins bind to voltage-gated sodium channels in the central nervous system, disrupting cellular function and inducing neurological symptoms in affected sea turtles. Moreover, the current evidence suggests a broader and longer-term impact on sea turtle health beyond what is seen during stranding events. Diagnosis relies on the detection of brevetoxins in tissues and plasma from stranded turtles. The current treatment of choice, intravenous lipid emulsion therapy, may rapidly reduce symptoms and brevetoxin concentrations, improving survival rates. Monitoring, prevention, and control strategies for harmful algal blooms are discussed. However, as the frequency and severity of blooms are expected to increase due to climate change and increased environmental pollution, continued research is needed to better understand the sublethal effects of brevetoxins on sea turtles and the impact on hatchlings, as well as the pharmacokinetic mechanisms underlying brevetoxicosis. Moreover, research into the optimization of treatments may help to protect endangered sea turtle populations in the face of this growing threat.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Justin R. Perrault
- Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach, FL 33408, USA; (J.R.P.); (H.W.B.)
| | - Robin Bast
- Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Inc., Sanibel, FL 33957, USA;
| | - Heather W. Barron
- Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach, FL 33408, USA; (J.R.P.); (H.W.B.)
| | - Jaco Bakker
- Animal Science Department, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands;
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Critical In-Water Habitats for Post-Nesting Sea Turtles from the Southern Gulf of Mexico. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse9080793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
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.
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3
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Shaver DJ, Gredzens C, Walker JS, Godard-Codding CAJ, Yacabucci JE, Frey A, Dutton PH, Schmitt CJ. Embryo deformities and nesting trends in Kemp’s ridley sea turtles Lepidochelys kempii before and after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2021. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Kemp’s ridley sea turtles Lepidochelys kempii were disproportionately affected by the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, which began on 20 April 2010. Embryo deformities were documented in inviable L. kempii eggs before (2008-2010) and after (2011-2013) the DWH spill in 2 Texas (USA) nesting areas (Upper Texas Coast and Padre Island National Seashore). Additional nesting trends, including clutch size and hatching success, were also investigated. Total and late-stage embryo deformity prevalence were 1.5 times greater after 2010 than before, but low in all nesting seasons (mean ± SD: 0.7 ± 8.5% total; 0.6 ± 8.0% late-stage) and did not differ between locations. Craniofacial and carapace deformities were the most frequently observed deformity types. Documented nests in both areas declined in 2010 relative to previous years, ending an exponential increase observed beginning in 1995. Clutch size remained consistent before and after the spill. Hatching success averaged 87.0 ± 33.3% in all years, but no effects from DWH were determined. Collectively, these data represent useful benchmarks against which to judge impacts of future crude oil spills and other catastrophic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- DJ Shaver
- National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore, Corpus Christi, TX 78480, USA
| | - C Gredzens
- National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore, Corpus Christi, TX 78480, USA
| | - JS Walker
- National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore, Corpus Christi, TX 78480, USA
| | - CAJ Godard-Codding
- The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - JE Yacabucci
- The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - A Frey
- NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - PH Dutton
- NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - CJ Schmitt
- US Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
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Fujisaki I, Hart KM, Bucklin D, Iverson AR, Rubio C, Lamont MM, Gonzales Diaz Miron RJ, Burchfield PM, Peña J, Shaver DJ. Predicting multi-species foraging hotspots for marine turtles in the Gulf of Mexico. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2020. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantifying the distribution of animals and identifying underlying characteristics that define suitable habitat are essential for effective conservation of free-ranging species. Prioritizing areas for conservation is important in managing a geographic extent that has a high level of disturbance and limited conservation resources. We examined the potential use of a species distribution model ensemble for multi-species conservation in marine habitats. Using satellite telemetry locations during foraging as input data, and ensemble ecological niche models, we predicted foraging areas for 2 nesting marine turtle species within the Gulf of Mexico (GoM): Kemp’s ridley Lepidochelys kempii (n = 63) and loggerhead Caretta caretta (n = 63). We considered 7 geophysical, biological, and climatic variables and compared contributing factors for each species’ foraging habitat selection. For both species, predicted suitable foraging habitats encompassed large areas along the GoM coast, but only intersected with each other in relatively small areas. Highly parameterized models resulted in overall greater fits, suggesting that multiple factors influence habitat selection by these species. Model validation results were mixed: cross-validation resulted in high prediction accuracy for both species, but an evaluation against independent data resulted in a low omission rate (5%) for Kemp’s ridleys and a high omission rate (72%) for loggerheads. The relatively small intersection of model-predicted foraging areas for these 2 species within the study area may indicate possible niche differentiations. The high omission rate for loggerheads indicates our samples likely underrepresent the population and illustrates the challenges in predicting suitable foraging extents for species that make dynamic movements and have greater individual variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Fujisaki
- University of Florida, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Davie, FL 33314, USA
| | - KM Hart
- US Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Davie, FL 33314, USA
| | - D Bucklin
- University of Florida, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Davie, FL 33314, USA
| | - AR Iverson
- University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - C Rubio
- National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore, Corpus Christi, TX 78480, USA
| | - MM Lamont
- US Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, FL 32653, USA
| | | | | | - J Peña
- Gladys Porter Zoo, Brownsville, TX 78520, USA
| | - DJ Shaver
- National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore, Corpus Christi, TX 78480, USA
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5
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Samuelson MM, Pulis EE, Ray C, Arias CR, Samuelson DR, Mattson EE, Solangi M. Analysis of the fecal microbiome in Kemp’s ridley sea turtles Lepidochelys kempii undergoing rehabilitation. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2020. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The impact of the intestinal and fecal microbiome on animal health has received considerable attention in recent years and has direct implications for the veterinary and wildlife rehabilitation fields. To examine the effects of rehabilitation on the microbiome in Kemp’s ridley sea turtlesLepidochelys kempii, fecal samples from 30 incidentally captured juveniles were collected during rehabilitation. Samples were analyzed to determine alpha- (α) and beta- (β) diversity as well as the taxonomic abundance of the fecal microbiota during rehabilitation and in response to treatment with antibiotics. The fecal microbial communities of animals housed in rehabilitation for a ‘short-term’ stay (samples collected 0-9 d post-capture) were compared with ‘long-term’ (samples collected 10+ d post-capture) and ‘treated’ groups (samples collected from turtles that had received antibiotic medication). Results of this study indicate that the most dominant phylum in fecal samples wasBacteroidetes(relative abundance, 45.44 ± 5.92% [SD]), followed byFirmicutes(26.62 ± 1.58%),Fusobacteria(19.49 ± 9.07%), andProteobacteria(7.39 ± 1.84%). Similarly, at the family level,Fusobacteriaceae(28.36 ± 17.75%),Tannerellaceae(15.41 ± 10.50%),Bacteroidaceae(14.58 ± 8.48%), andRuminococcaceae(11.49 ± 3.47%) were the most abundant. Our results indicated that both antibiotic-treated and long-term rehabilitated turtles demonstrated a significant decrease in β-diversity when compared to short-term rehabilitated turtles. Our results likewise showed that the length of time turtles spent in rehabilitation was negatively correlated with α- and β-diversity. This study demonstrates the importance of a judicious use of antibiotics during the rehabilitation process and emphasizes the importance of limiting the length of hospital stays for sick and injured sea turtles as much as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- MM Samuelson
- The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, Gulfport, MS 39503, USA
- Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5875, USA
| | - EE Pulis
- The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, Gulfport, MS 39503, USA
- Math and Science Department, Northern State University, Aberdeen, SD 57401, USA
| | - C Ray
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, AL 36849, USA
- Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stuttgart, AR 72160, USA
| | - CR Arias
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, AL 36849, USA
| | - DR Samuelson
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - EE Mattson
- The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, Gulfport, MS 39503, USA
| | - M Solangi
- The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, Gulfport, MS 39503, USA
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Frandsen HR, Figueroa DF, George JA. Mitochondrial genomes and genetic structure of the Kemp's ridley sea turtle ( Lepidochelys kempii). Ecol Evol 2020; 10:249-262. [PMID: 31988726 PMCID: PMC6972797 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) is the world's most endangered sea turtle species and is primarily distributed in the Gulf of Mexico. In the United States, South Padre Island, Texas serves as a key nesting ground for the species. Genetic studies of the Kemp's ridley have been used to aid in conservation and management practices, with the mitochondrial control region as the most commonly used marker due to its perceived hypervariability and ease of sequencing. However, with the advent of next generation sequencing technology, targeting complete mitochondrial genomes is now feasible. Here, we describe a more complete mitochondrial genome for the Kemp's ridley than has been previously published in literature and demonstrate a cost-effective and efficient method for obtaining complete mitochondrial genomes from sea turtles. We compare the genetic diversity and taxonomic resolution obtained from whole mitochondrial genomes to that obtained from the mitochondrial control region alone. We compare current genetic diversity with previous records. Furthermore, we evaluate the genetic structure between the breeding stock in South Padre Island and that of deceased Kemp's ridleys recovered on the Northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico after the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and of Kemp's ridleys stranded on the East Coast of the United States. Our results show that complete mitochondrial genomes provide greater resolution than the control region alone. They also show that the genetic diversity of the Kemp's ridley has remained stable, despite large population declines, and that the genetic makeup of deceased turtles stranded after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is indistinguishable from the breeding stock in South Padre Island, Texas. OPEN DATA BADGE This article has earned an Open Data Badge for making publicly available the digitally-shareable data necessary to reproduce the reported results. The data is available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank/.
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7
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On simulating cold-stunned sea turtle strandings on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0204717. [PMID: 31800593 PMCID: PMC6892539 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Kemp's ridley sea turtles were on the verge of extinction in the 1960s. While these sea turtles have slowly recovered, they are still critically endangered. In the last few years, the number of strandings on the beaches of Cape Cod, Massachusetts has increased by nearly an order of magnitude relative to preceding decades. This study uses a combination of ocean observations and a well-respected ocean model to investigate the causes and transport of cold-stunned sea turtles in Cape Cod Bay. After validating the model using satellite-tracked drifters and local temperature moorings, ocean currents were examined in Cape Cod Bay in an attempt to explain stranding locations as observed by volunteers and, for some years, backtracking was conducted to examine the potential source regions. The general finding of this study is that sub 10.5°C water temperatures in combination with persistently strong wind stress (>0.4 Pa), results in increased strandings along particular sections of the coast and are dependent on the wind direction. However, it is still uncertain where in the water column the majority of cold-stunned turtles reside and, if many of them are on the surface, considerable work will need to be done to incorporate the direct effects of wind and waves on the advective processes.
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8
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Using Programming Languages and Geographic Information System to Determine Spatial and Temporal Variability in a Green Turtle Foraging Population on Liuchiu Island, Taiwan. Zool Stud 2019; 58:e18. [PMID: 31966319 DOI: 10.6620/zs.2019.58-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Facial photo identification (ID) has proven to be a non-invasive method for identifying individual wild animals, and in recent years it has been effective on megafauna such as sea turtles. However, when processing hundreds of photos over a long period of time, variation in facial scale patterns makes identifying individuals complicated. This means that there is a high possibility that the individual is misidentified, which results in incorrectly determining population sizes. This study used the programming languages Python and SQL to determine green turtle foraging population size in the nearshore waters of a coral island, Liuchiu Island, from 2011 to 2017. The programs determined that the foraging population was 432 turtles, approximately 90% of which resided there one year or less and selected only one foraging site. Those that stayed for more than two years selected two foraging sites. Less than 3% stayed throughout the 7 years. The core residence area was from Beauty Cave to Vase Rock. This study found that the nearshore waters of Liuchiu Island are a temporary development/foraging site for immature green turtles. This is the first study to use Python analysis to determine a foraging sea turtle population in the field.
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9
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Evaluation of Gonadal Tissue to Validate Size at Reproductive Maturity in Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles Found Stranded in Texas, USA. DIVERSITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/d11050076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The Kemp’s ridley, Lepidochelys kempii, is the most endangered sea turtle in the world. Anthropogenic mortality of Kemp’s ridleys has been well documented in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), USA. We evaluated the reproductive maturity of 75 Kemp’s ridley sea turtles found dead on GOM beaches on Mustang Island and North Padre Island, Texas, USA, 1994–1999. Straight carapace length (SCL) ranged from 40.8 to 68.7 cm. Preserved gonads and associated tissues were examined and measured. Gonadal measurements were then compared with SCL. Adults and juveniles shared a larger range of carapace measurements than expected, supporting the idea that juveniles spend several years in a pubertal state. Our results suggest caution when using SCL, tail length, or curved front claws alone as indicators of sexual maturity. In fact, SCL can be used to discern adults from juveniles with more predictive power when coupled with testis length or oviduct length measurements, thus allowing endangered species managers to more clearly identify demographic shifts in the number of mature animals, which can precede population changes. This study shows that information gained from the examination of stranded sea turtles allows wildlife managers to make more informed decisions regarding conservation priorities.
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10
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Kocmoud AR, Wang HH, Grant WE, Gallaway BJ. Population dynamics of the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle following the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico: Simulation of potential cause-effect relationships. Ecol Modell 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2018.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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11
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Hart KM, Iverson AR, Fujisaki I, Lamont MM, Bucklin D, Shaver DJ. Sympatry or syntopy? Investigating drivers of distribution and co-occurrence for two imperiled sea turtle species in Gulf of Mexico neritic waters. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:12656-12669. [PMID: 30619571 PMCID: PMC6308884 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals co-occurring in a region (sympatry) may use the same habitat (syntopy) within that region. A central aim in ecology is determining what factors drive species distributions (i.e., abiotic conditions, dispersal limitations, and/or biotic interactions). Assessing the degree of biotic interactions can be difficult for species with wide ranges at sea. This study investigated the spatial ecology of two sea turtle species that forage on benthic invertebrates in neritic GoM waters: Kemp's ridleys (Lepidochelys kempii) and loggerheads (Caretta caretta). We used satellite tracking and modeled behavioral modes, then calculated individual home ranges, compared foraging areas, and determined extent of co-occurrence. Using six environmental variables and principal component analysis, we assessed similarity of chosen foraging sites. We predicted foraging location (eco-region) based on species, nesting site, and turtle size. For 127 turtles (64 Kemp's ridleys, 63 loggerheads) tracked from 1989 to 2013, foraging home ranges were nine to ten times larger for Kemp's ridleys than for loggerheads. Species intersected off all U.S. coasts and the Yucatán Peninsula, but co-occurrence areas were small compared to species' distributions. Kemp's ridley foraging home ranges were concentrated in the northern GoM, whereas those for loggerheads were concentrated in the eastern GoM. The two species were different in all habitat variables compared (latitude, longitude, distance to shore, net primary production, mean sea surface temperature, and bathymetry). Nesting site was the single dominant variable that dictated foraging ecoregion. Although Kemp's ridleys and loggerheads may compete for resources, the separation in foraging areas, significant differences in environmental conditions, and importance of nesting location on ecoregion selection (i.e., dispersal ability) indicate that adult females of these species do not interact greatly during foraging and that dispersal and environmental factors more strongly determine their distributions. These species show sympatry in this region but evidence for syntopy was rare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M. Hart
- Wetland and Aquatic Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyDavieFlorida
| | - Autumn R. Iverson
- Wetland and Aquatic Research CenterCNT, Contracted to U.S. Geological SurveyDavieFlorida
| | - Ikuko Fujisaki
- Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education CenterUniversity of FloridaDavieFlorida
| | - Margaret M. Lamont
- Wetland and Aquatic Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyGainesvilleFlorida
| | - David Bucklin
- Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education CenterUniversity of FloridaDavieFlorida
| | - Donna J. Shaver
- Padre Island National SeashoreNational Park ServiceCorpus ChristiTexas
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12
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Comparing Diets of Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) in Mangrove Estuaries of Southwest Florida. J HERPETOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1670/16-164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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13
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Caillouet CW, Raborn SW, Shaver DJ, Putman NF, Gallaway BJ, Mansfield KL. Did Declining Carrying Capacity for the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Population Within the Gulf of Mexico Contribute to the Nesting Setback in 2010−2017? CHELONIAN CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.2744/ccb-1283.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Scott W. Raborn
- LGL Ecological Research Associates, Inc., Bryan, Texas 77801 USA []
| | - Donna J. Shaver
- Padre Island National Seashore, Corpus Christi, Texas 78480-1300 USA []
| | - Nathan F. Putman
- LGL Ecological Research Associates, Inc., Bryan, Texas 77801 USA []
| | | | - Katherine L. Mansfield
- Marine Turtle Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816 USA []
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Cuevas E, Guzmán-Hernández V, Uribe-Martínez A, Raymundo-Sánchez A, Herrera-Pavon R. Identification of Potential Sea Turtle Bycatch Hotspots Using a Spatially Explicit Approach in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. CHELONIAN CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.2744/ccb-1263.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Cuevas
- Pronatura Península de Yucatán, calle 32 #269 x 47 y 47ª, Col. Pinzon II C.P. 97205, Mérida, México []
| | - Vicente Guzmán-Hernández
- Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Laguna de Términos, Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas, Av. Adolfo López Mateos, Prolongación Playa Norte, C.P. 24140, Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, México []
| | - Abigail Uribe-Martínez
- Posgrado en Geografía, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Investigación Científica, Cd. Universitaria, 04510 Ciudad de México, CDMX []
| | - Ana Raymundo-Sánchez
- Pronatura Península de Yucatán, calle 32 #269 x 47 y 47ª, Col. Pinzon II C.P. 97205, Mérida, México []
| | - Roberto Herrera-Pavon
- El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal, Av. del Centenario Km. 5.5, C.P. 7790 Chetumal, Mexico []
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Reich KJ, López-Castro MC, Shaver DJ, Iseton C, Hart KM, Hooper MJ, Schmitt CJ. δ13C and δ15N in the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys kempii after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2017. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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16
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Avens L, Goshe LR, Coggins L, Shaver DJ, Higgins B, Landry AM, Bailey R. Variability in age and size at maturation, reproductive longevity, and long-term growth dynamics for Kemp's ridley sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0173999. [PMID: 28333937 PMCID: PMC5363829 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective management of protected sea turtle populations requires knowledge not only of mean values for demographic and life-history parameters, but also temporal and spatial trends, variability, and underlying causes. For endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii), the need for baseline information of this type has been emphasized during attempts to understand causes underlying the recent truncation in the recovery trajectory for nesting females. To provide insight into variability in age and size at sexual maturation (ASM and SSM) and long-term growth patterns likely to influence population trends, we conducted skeletochronological analysis of humerus bones from 333 Kemp's ridleys stranded throughout the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) from 1993 to 2010. Ranges of possible ASMs (6.8 to 21.8 yr) and SSMs (53.3 to 68.3 cm straightline carapace length (SCL)) estimated using the "rapprochement" skeletal growth mark associated with maturation were broad, supporting incorporation of a maturation schedule in Kemp's ridley population models. Mean ASMs estimated from rapprochement and by fitting logistic, generalized additive mixed, and von Bertalanffy growth models to age and growth data ranged from 11 to 13 yr; confidence intervals for the logistic model predicted maturation of 95% of the population between 11.9 and 14.8 yr. Early juvenile somatic growth rates in the GOM were greater than those previously reported for the Atlantic, indicating potential for differences in maturation trajectories between regions. Finally, long-term, significant decreases in somatic growth response were found for both juveniles and adults, which could influence recruitment to the reproductive population and observed nesting population trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larisa Avens
- National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Beaufort Laboratory, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Lisa R. Goshe
- National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Beaufort Laboratory, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Lewis Coggins
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Bethel, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Donna J. Shaver
- National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore, Corpus Christi, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ben Higgins
- National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Galveston Laboratory, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Andre M. Landry
- Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Rhonda Bailey
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America
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Shaver DJ, Hart KM, Fujisaki I, Bucklin D, Iverson AR, Rubio C, Backof TF, Burchfield PM, de Jesus Gonzales Diaz Miron R, Dutton PH, Frey A, Peña J, Gomez Gamez D, Martinez HJ, Ortiz J. Inter-nesting movements and habitat-use of adult female Kemp's ridley turtles in the Gulf of Mexico. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174248. [PMID: 28319178 PMCID: PMC5358874 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Species vulnerability is increased when individuals congregate in restricted areas for breeding; yet, breeding habitats are not well defined for many marine species. Identification and quantification of these breeding habitats are essential to effective conservation. Satellite telemetry and switching state-space modeling (SSM) were used to define inter-nesting habitat of endangered Kemp’s ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) in the Gulf of Mexico. Turtles were outfitted with satellite transmitters after nesting at Padre Island National Seashore, Texas, USA, from 1998 through 2013 (n = 60); Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, during 2010 and 2011 (n = 11); and Tecolutla, Veracruz, Mexico, during 2012 and 2013 (n = 11). These sites span the range of nearly all nesting by this species. Inter-nesting habitat lies in a narrow band of nearshore western Gulf of Mexico waters in the USA and Mexico, with mean water depth of 14 to 19 m within a mean distance to shore of 6 to 11 km as estimated by 50% kernel density estimate, α-Hull, and minimum convex polygon methodologies. Turtles tracked during the inter-nesting period moved, on average, 17.5 km/day and a mean total distance of 398 km. Mean home ranges occupied were 725 to 2948 km2. Our results indicate that these nearshore western Gulf waters represent critical inter-nesting habitat for this species, where threats such as shrimp trawling and oil and gas platforms also occur. Up to half of all adult female Kemp’s ridleys occupy this habitat for weeks to months during each nesting season. Because inter-nesting habitat for this species is concentrated in nearshore waters of the western Gulf of Mexico in both Mexico and the USA, international collaboration is needed to protect this essential habitat and the turtles occurring within it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna J. Shaver
- National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore, Corpus Christi, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Kristen M. Hart
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Davie, Florida, United States of America
| | - Ikuko Fujisaki
- University of Florida, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Davie, Florida, United States of America
| | - David Bucklin
- University of Florida, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Davie, Florida, United States of America
| | - Autumn R. Iverson
- Cherokee Nation Technologies, contracted to U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Davie, Florida, United States of America
| | - Cynthia Rubio
- National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore, Corpus Christi, Texas, United States of America
| | - Thomas F. Backof
- National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore, Corpus Christi, Texas, United States of America
| | | | | | - Peter H. Dutton
- National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Amy Frey
- National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Jaime Peña
- Gladys Porter Zoo, Brownsville, Texas, United States of America
| | | | | | - Jaime Ortiz
- Gladys Porter Zoo, Brownsville, Texas, United States of America
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Hart KM, Iverson AR, Benscoter AM, Fujisaki I, Cherkiss MS, Pollock C, Lundgren I, Hillis-Starr Z. Resident areas and migrations of female green turtles nesting at Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2017. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Wallace BP, Stacy BA, Rissing M, Cacela D, Garrison LP, Graettinger GD, Holmes JV, McDonald T, McLamb D, Schroeder B. Estimating sea turtle exposures to Deepwater Horizon oil. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2017. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Caillouet CW, Gallaway BJ, Putman NF. Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Saga and Setback: Novel Analyses of Cumulative Hatchlings Released and Time-Lagged Annual Nests in Tamaulipas, Mexico. CHELONIAN CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.2744/ccb-1189.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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Shaver DJ, Lamont MM, Maxwell S, Walker JS, Dillingham T. Head-Started Kemp's Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) Nest Recorded in Florida: Possible Implications. CHELONIAN CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.2744/ccb-1192.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Donna J. Shaver
- National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore, PO Box 181300, Corpus Christi, Texas 78480-1300 USA [ ; ]
| | - Margaret M. Lamont
- US Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, Florida 32653 USA [ ]
| | - Sharon Maxwell
- South Walton Turtle Watch Group, 74 Birch Street, Freeport, Florida 32439 USA [ ]
| | - Jennifer Shelby Walker
- National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore, PO Box 181300, Corpus Christi, Texas 78480-1300 USA [ ; ]
| | - Ted Dillingham
- 130 Hickory Hill Road SE, Decatur, Alabama 35603 USA [ ]
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Putman NF, Mansfield KL. Direct evidence of swimming demonstrates active dispersal in the sea turtle "lost years". Curr Biol 2015; 25:1221-7. [PMID: 25866396 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2014] [Revised: 01/17/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Although oceanic dispersal in larval and juvenile marine animals is widely studied, the relative contributions of swimming behavior and ocean currents to movements and distribution are poorly understood [1-4]. The sea turtle "lost years" [5] (often referred to as the surface-pelagic [6] or oceanic [7] stage) are a classic example. Upon hatching, young turtles migrate offshore and are rarely observed until they return to coastal waters as larger juveniles [5]. Sightings of small turtles downcurrent of nesting beaches and in association with drifting organisms (e.g., Sargassum algae) led to this stage being described as a "passive migration" during which turtles' movements are dictated by ocean currents [5-10]. However, laboratory and modeling studies suggest that dispersal trajectories might also be shaped by oriented swimming [11-15]. Here, we use an experimental approach designed to directly test the passive-migration hypothesis by deploying pairs of surface drifters alongside small green (Chelonia mydas) and Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) wild-caught turtles, tracking their movements via satellite telemetry. We conclusively demonstrate that these turtles do not behave as passive drifters. In nearly all cases, drifter trajectories were uncharacteristic of turtle trajectories. Species-specific and location-dependent oriented swimming behavior, inferred by subtracting track velocity from modeled ocean velocity, contributed substantially to individual movement and distribution. These findings highlight the importance of in situ observations for depicting the dispersal of weakly swimming animals. Such observations, paired with information on the mechanisms of orientation, will likely allow for more accurate predictions of the ecological and evolutionary processes shaped by animal movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan F Putman
- Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149, USA.
| | - Katherine L Mansfield
- Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149, USA; Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA
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Hart KM, Lamont MM, Sartain AR, Fujisaki I. Migration, foraging, and residency patterns for Northern Gulf loggerheads: implications of local threats and international movements. PLoS One 2014; 9:e103453. [PMID: 25076053 PMCID: PMC4116210 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Accepted: 06/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Northern Gulf of Mexico (NGoM) loggerheads (Caretta caretta) make up one of the smallest subpopulations of this threatened species and have declining nest numbers. We used satellite telemetry and a switching state-space model to identify distinct foraging areas used by 59 NGoM loggerheads tagged during 2010–2013. We tagged turtles after nesting at three sites, 1 in Alabama (Gulf Shores; n = 37) and 2 in Florida (St. Joseph Peninsula; n = 20 and Eglin Air Force Base; n = 2). Peak migration time was 22 July to 9 August during which >40% of turtles were in migration mode; the mean post-nesting migration period was 23.0 d (±13.8 d SD). After displacement from nesting beaches, 44 turtles traveled to foraging sites where they remained resident throughout tracking durations. Selected foraging locations were variable distances from tagging sites, and in 5 geographic regions; no turtles selected foraging sites outside the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Foraging sites delineated using 50% kernel density estimation were located a mean distance of 47.6 km from land and in water with mean depth of −32.5 m; other foraging sites, delineated using minimum convex polygons, were located a mean distance of 43.0 km from land and in water with a mean depth of −24.9 m. Foraging sites overlapped with known trawling activities, oil and gas extraction activities, and the footprint of surface oiling during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill (n = 10). Our results highlight the year-round use of habitats in the GoM by loggerheads that nest in the NGoM. Our findings indicate that protection of females in this subpopulation requires both international collaborations and management of threats that spatially overlap with distinct foraging habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M. Hart
- Southeast Ecological Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Davie, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Margaret M. Lamont
- Southeast Ecological Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Autumn R. Sartain
- Scientific R&D, Support to U.S. Geological Survey Southeast Ecological Science Center, Cherokee Nation Technology, Solutions, LLC, Davie, Florida, United States of America
| | - Ikuko Fujisaki
- Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Davie, Florida, United States of America
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