Confirmation of significant sea turtle nesting activity on a remote island chain in the Gulf of Mexico
Abstract Globally, six of the seven sea turtle species are threatened or endangered and as such, monitoring reproductive activity for these species is necessary for effective population recovery. Remote beaches provide a challenge to conducting these surveys, which often results in data gaps that ca...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10448 |
| _version_ | 1797732707240771584 |
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| author | Margaret M. Lamont Dianne Ingram Todd Baker Matt Weigel Brian M. Shamblin |
| author_facet | Margaret M. Lamont Dianne Ingram Todd Baker Matt Weigel Brian M. Shamblin |
| author_sort | Margaret M. Lamont |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Globally, six of the seven sea turtle species are threatened or endangered and as such, monitoring reproductive activity for these species is necessary for effective population recovery. Remote beaches provide a challenge to conducting these surveys, which often results in data gaps that can hamper management planning. Throughout the summer of 2022, aerial surveys were conducted over the Chandeleur Islands in the Gulf of Mexico. Turtle crawls were photographed for subsequent review by 10 expert observers. Whenever possible, ground surveys were conducted, and samples of unhatched eggs or dead hatchlings were collected. A summary of historic reports of sea turtle nesting activity at this site was also compiled. On 11 days between May 4, 2022, and July 30, 2022, photographs of 55 potential sea turtle crawls were taken. Observers identified 54 of those as being made by a sea turtle. There was high‐to‐moderate certainty that 16 of those crawls were nests, that 14 were made by loggerheads, and that two were made by Kemp's ridleys. Observers were least certain of species identification when surveys were conducted during rainy weather. Genetic analyses based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA were conducted on samples from five nests and those analyses confirmed that three nests were laid by Kemp's ridleys and two were laid by loggerheads. Historic records from the Chandeleur Islands substantiate claims that the Chandeleurs have supported sea turtle nesting activity for decades; however, the consistency of this activity remains unknown. Our aerial surveys, particularly when coupled with imaging, were a useful tool for documenting nesting activity on these remote islands. Future monitoring programs at this site could benefit from a standardized aerial survey program with a seaplane so trends in nesting activity could be determined particularly as the beach undergoes restoration. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:18:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1f7341c1284449dcab0060b58b229fbd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:18:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-1f7341c1284449dcab0060b58b229fbd2023-08-30T06:50:40ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582023-08-01138n/an/a10.1002/ece3.10448Confirmation of significant sea turtle nesting activity on a remote island chain in the Gulf of MexicoMargaret M. Lamont0Dianne Ingram1Todd Baker2Matt Weigel3Brian M. Shamblin4Wetland and Aquatic Research Center U.S. Geological Survey Gainesville Florida USADeepwater Horizon Gulf Restoration Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fairhope Alabama USALouisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Baton Rouge Louisiana USALouisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Baton Rouge Louisiana USAWarnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia Athens Georgia USAAbstract Globally, six of the seven sea turtle species are threatened or endangered and as such, monitoring reproductive activity for these species is necessary for effective population recovery. Remote beaches provide a challenge to conducting these surveys, which often results in data gaps that can hamper management planning. Throughout the summer of 2022, aerial surveys were conducted over the Chandeleur Islands in the Gulf of Mexico. Turtle crawls were photographed for subsequent review by 10 expert observers. Whenever possible, ground surveys were conducted, and samples of unhatched eggs or dead hatchlings were collected. A summary of historic reports of sea turtle nesting activity at this site was also compiled. On 11 days between May 4, 2022, and July 30, 2022, photographs of 55 potential sea turtle crawls were taken. Observers identified 54 of those as being made by a sea turtle. There was high‐to‐moderate certainty that 16 of those crawls were nests, that 14 were made by loggerheads, and that two were made by Kemp's ridleys. Observers were least certain of species identification when surveys were conducted during rainy weather. Genetic analyses based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA were conducted on samples from five nests and those analyses confirmed that three nests were laid by Kemp's ridleys and two were laid by loggerheads. Historic records from the Chandeleur Islands substantiate claims that the Chandeleurs have supported sea turtle nesting activity for decades; however, the consistency of this activity remains unknown. Our aerial surveys, particularly when coupled with imaging, were a useful tool for documenting nesting activity on these remote islands. Future monitoring programs at this site could benefit from a standardized aerial survey program with a seaplane so trends in nesting activity could be determined particularly as the beach undergoes restoration.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10448aerial surveyGulf of MexicoKemp's ridleysea level risesea turtle |
| spellingShingle | Margaret M. Lamont Dianne Ingram Todd Baker Matt Weigel Brian M. Shamblin Confirmation of significant sea turtle nesting activity on a remote island chain in the Gulf of Mexico Ecology and Evolution aerial survey Gulf of Mexico Kemp's ridley sea level rise sea turtle |
| title | Confirmation of significant sea turtle nesting activity on a remote island chain in the Gulf of Mexico |
| title_full | Confirmation of significant sea turtle nesting activity on a remote island chain in the Gulf of Mexico |
| title_fullStr | Confirmation of significant sea turtle nesting activity on a remote island chain in the Gulf of Mexico |
| title_full_unstemmed | Confirmation of significant sea turtle nesting activity on a remote island chain in the Gulf of Mexico |
| title_short | Confirmation of significant sea turtle nesting activity on a remote island chain in the Gulf of Mexico |
| title_sort | confirmation of significant sea turtle nesting activity on a remote island chain in the gulf of mexico |
| topic | aerial survey Gulf of Mexico Kemp's ridley sea level rise sea turtle |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10448 |
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