Download or read book Determining the Impacts of Beach Restoration on Loggerhead Caretta Caretta and Green Turtle Chelonia Mydas Nesting Patterns and Reproductive Success Along Florida s Atlantic Coast written by Allison Whitney Hays and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 90 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Artificial beach nourishment, the most common method to mitigate coastal erosion in the United States, is also considered the most ecologically friendly alternative for shoreline stabilization. However, this habitat alteration has the potential to impact nesting marine turtles and developing hatchlings. The first objective of this study was to determine how nourishing beaches with two different design templates affects loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nesting success, the ratio of nests to the total number of nests and non-nesting emergences, and reproductive success, the ratio of hatched and emerged hatchlings to the total number of eggs deposited. Two types of restoration designs exist along the southern Brevard County, FL coastline, which supports some of the highest density loggerhead and green turtle nesting worldwide. Since 2005, approximately 35 kilometers of beach have undergone 1) full-scale restoration (typically called nourishment), where sand was added above and below the mean high tide line (2005, 2010) or 2) dune restoration, where sand was placed on the dune (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009). To quantify the effects of these restoration types, we used a Before-After-Control-Impact-Paired Series (BACIPS) model, which tests for significance between the difference in nesting success rates at the impact (engineered) and control sites (natural beach) before and after restoration ([delta]). For loggerheads, there was a significant difference in [delta] after dune restoration during the years of construction (2005, 2006, 2008, and 2009; p[less than]0.001) and one year post-construction (2007; p[less than]0.05 and 2010; p[less than]0.001). After full-scale restoration, there was a significant difference in [delta] during the years of construction (2005 and 2010; p [less than]0.001) and one year post-construction (2006; p[less than]0.001). For green turtles, there was a significant difference in[delta] after dune restoration during two of the four years of construction (2006; p[less than]0.05 and 2008; p[less than]0.01) and one of the two one-year post-construction years (2010; p[less than]0.05). After full-scale restoration, the significant difference in [delta] lasted every season (2005-2010; p[less than]0.001). There were no significant differences in [delta] for loggerhead or green turtle reproductive success rates after either type of restoration. The second objective was to use the different restoration designs to study what beach characteristics function as loggerhead nesting cues to explain why altering the beach decreases nesting success rates. We examined beach elevation and slope, sand moisture content, sand grain size, beach width, and distance traveled. Logistic regression model selection found all variables were important (R2=0.75). Further examination of trends, with each crawl divided into quarters, found beach slope served as a nesting cue. In all study sites except one, when turtles false crawled, the beach flattened out in the final quarter of the crawl. Conversely, in nesting emergences, the final quarter rose at a steeper slope than the previous quarter. Additionally, model selection found variables important in nest site selection were also important in hatching (R2=0.44) and emergence (R2=0.45) success. These results offer new insight into how and why marine turtle nesting patterns change after artificial nourishment, providing information necessary to nourish beaches in a more "turtle-friendly" manner.
Download or read book Journal of Coastal Research written by and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 802 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book An Assessment of Sea Turtle Nesting Behavior in Relation to Hurricane and Restoration induced Beach Morphodynamics written by Tonya Michele Long and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coastal habitats are highly dynamic and vulnerable to landscape-level disturbances such as storms and restoration projects. Along the east coast of Florida these areas are particularly valuable as they provide significant nesting habitat for two sea turtle species, the threatened loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas). This coast was heavily impacted by three major hurricanes in 2004 and in some areas by large restoration projects in 2005. Recent remote sensing methods allow for broad evaluation of the shoreline and thus the ability to assess sea turtle nesting habitat at a landscape scale. I collected nesting data for southern Brevard County, Florida from 1989-2005 and for Canaveral National Seashore, Florida from 1995-2005. I used LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and IfSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) remote sensing to map sea turtle nesting habitat in both areas following the 2004 hurricanes and any subsequent restoration. Canaveral National Seashore underwent no restoration while southern Brevard County received extensive restoration. Topographic variables (e.g., total sand volume, width, and slope) derived from the remote sensing data were compared across three time periods (pre-hurricane, post-hurricane, and recovery period) and I compared nesting success data from 2004 to 2005. I built regression models for 2004 and 2005 to determine which topographic features influenced loggerhead and green turtle nesting the most. Green turtle nesting success declined from 2004 to 2005 only in highly restored areas while loggerhead nesting sucess declined throughout. Hurricanes caused a reduction in most of the topographic variables and restoration predominantly impacted aspects of the beach profile (e.g. slope and width). Loggerheads responded to profile characteristics (e.g. upper and lower beach slopes) though green turtles showed no consistent response to topography. The results indicate that both loggerheads and green turtles are sensitive to beach restoration, although loggerhead nesting is more influenced by beach morphology and green turtle nesting may be influenced more by other dune features such as vegetation cover.
Download or read book Egg Incubation written by D. Charles Deeming and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2004-11-11 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book reviews comprehensively incubation effects on embryonic development in birds and reptiles and presents the first ever synthesis of data from these two vertebrate classes. The book is in three parts. The first deals with the structure, shape and function of eggs. The second examines the effects of the four main parameters on the process of incubation: temperature, water relations, respiratory gas exchange, and turning. The third section deals with early embryonic development and the methods used to investigate and manipulate the embryo. Further chapters deal with aestivation, megapodes and oviparity. International experts in each field have contributed to this extensively referenced volume and it will be of great interest not only to research biologists, but also to bird and reptile breeders, whether in commercial organisations or in zoos.
Download or read book Environmental Factors Affecting Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta Caretta Nesting Hatching and Incubation Patterns in Broward County Florida written by Zoey Ellen Best and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Reproductive success in loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles is strongly dependent on the effective placement and internal conditions of their nests. Embryos rely on optimal incubation conditions for proper development and growth, which determines how many hatchlings will emerge from the nest. The internal microclimate of each nest is delicately balanced and can be easily influenced by external environmental conditions. This study was designed to examine several environmental variables and determine their effects on sea turtle nesting numbers, hatching success, and incubation conditions in Broward County Florida. Over a span of 25 years (1991-2015), the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program has collected data on each sea turtle nest laid in Broward County. This data was analyzed and plotted to visualize nesting and hatching trends, and regressions were fitted to make comparisons to historic air temperature, sea surface temperature, precipitation, and lunar illumination data. These regressions were tested for significance, and each environmental variable was found to have varying levels of impact on sea turtle nesting and hatching behavior. Of the environmental variables considered in this study, analyses suggest that sea turtles are most responsive to temperature, with sea surface temperature serving as the best proxy for predicting nesting behaviors. Air temperature over the incubation period was found to be the best indicator for hatch success percentage. Air temperature, sea surface temperature, and precipitation averages all significantly affected the length of the incubation period. The regression models created in this study could be used to examine the interactions between climatic variables, and to indicate what impacts can be expected by these various environmental factors. This information could be used to estimate the future effects of climate change on sea turtle reproduction, and to predict general reproductive success and future population trends.
Download or read book Evaluating the Effects of Beach Nourishment on Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta Caretta Nesting In Pinellas County Florida written by Corey R. Leonard Ozan and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: However, when the rates were analyzed by nesting season, the average hatching and emergence success rates were always lower on nourished beaches than on natural beaches. A hotspot analysis on nests and false crawls revealed that turtles preferred natural beaches that border nourished areas for nesting while false crawls were more evenly distributed through the study area. Although this study documents the negative effects of beach nourishment on loggerhead sea turtle nesting, nourishment projects are likely to continue because of their benefits to human populations. Further examining of the impacts that humans have on nesting and developing loggerheads will ultimately aid policy formation as we continue to manage and protect the future of the species.
Download or read book Life History and Environmental Requirements of Loggerhead Turtles written by David A. Nelson and published by . This book was released on 1988 with total page 50 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Life History and Environmental Requirements of Loggerhead Turtles written by David Arthur Nelson and published by . This book was released on 1988 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Sea turtles in the Mediterranean Distribution threats and conservation priorities written by Paolo Casale and published by IUCN. This book was released on 2010 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Effects of Beach Renourishment on the Nesting Behavior and Hatching Success of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle on Jupiter Island Florida written by Mary Julie Steinitz and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Leatherback Turtle written by James R. Spotila and published by JHU Press. This book was released on 2015-10-30 with total page 246 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The most comprehensive book ever written on leatherback sea turtles. Weighing as much as 2,000 pounds and reaching lengths of over seven feet, leatherback turtles are the world’s largest reptile. These unusual sea turtles have a thick, pliable shell that helps them to withstand great depths—they can swim more than one thousand meters below the surface in search of food. And what food source sustains these goliaths? Their diet consists almost exclusively of jellyfish, a meal they crisscross the oceans to find. Leatherbacks have been declining in recent decades, and some predict they will be gone by the end of this century. Why? Because of two primary factors: human redevelopment of nesting beaches and commercial fishing. There are only twenty-nine index beaches in the world where these turtles nest, and there is immense pressure to develop most of them into homes or resorts. At the same time, longline and gill net fisheries continue to overwhelm waters frequented by leatherbacks. In The Leatherback Turtle, James R. Spotila and Pilar Santidrián Tomillo bring together the world’s leading experts to produce a volume that reveals the biology of the leatherback while putting a spotlight on the conservation problems and solutions related to the species. The book leaves us with options: embark on the conservation strategy laid out within its pages and save one of nature’s most splendid creations, or watch yet another magnificent species disappear.
Download or read book Beach Nourishment written by Jenna Caderas and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Broward County, Florida is a popular tourism destination. Due to its popularity, much of the shoreline has been modified and natural habitats were replaced with infrastructure such as houses, condominiums, resorts, and restaurants. The same Broward County beaches utilized by tourists and residents are important for three species of nesting sea turtles, including the Leatherback, Dermochelys coriacea, Loggerhead, Caretta caretta, and Green, Chelonia mydas, Turtles. The Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program (BCSTCP) collects yearly data in order to study these endangered reptiles. Increased anthropogenic effects including further coastal development (public & private), public beach events, public beach access, as well as natural events, have caused these important nesting beaches to erode and narrow. In an effort to control this erosion damage, Broward County has performed a number of beach nourishment projects. This study found yearly fluctuations in sea turtle hatching and emergence success rates, and years of beach nourishment projects significantly decreased these rates. Yearly hatching data available from Broward County concludes that beach nourishment, as well as hurricanes and tropical storms cause decreases in sea turtle hatching and emergence success rates in Broward County. Additionally, nest depth and sea turtle size increases the hatching and emergence success rates from females that are not too large or too small that nest in Broward County.
Download or read book Examining the Effects of Beach Nourishment on Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta Caretta Nest Hatching Success on Bald Head Island North Carolina written by Brianna Wilcke Elliott and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 102 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Effects of Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors on Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta Caretta False Crawl Rates on Jekyll Island Ga written by Brittany Byrd and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) are currently listed as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List and are experiencing population declines across many parts of their range. These declines are caused by environmental and anthropogenic stressors which impact sea turtle ecology and behavior, including nesting behavior. One nesting behavior sea turtles exhibit is known as "false crawling," which is when a female sea turtle ascends the beach in an attempt to nest and either abandons the attempt altogether or while in the middle of digging an egg chamber. False crawling, a largely understudied sea turtle behavior, can not only be detrimental to the reproductive output of an individual female but could negatively impact an entire population's reproductive success if the behavior is widespread. To investigate the different environmental and anthropogenic factors that may affect false crawling behavior in loggerheads we used historical survey data to determine the impact of a large anthropogenic structure (revetment) on a loggerhead nesting beach on Jekyll Island, GA. We then conducted surveys of the same beach for two years to assess the effects of lighting pollution, sand surface temperature, sand subsurface temperature, human presence, anthropogenic obstructions, and marine debris. For the 2008 - 2019 nesting seasons, we found that loggerhead false crawling rates were significantly higher near the revetment than on other parts of the beach, and that loggerheads mostly avoided trying to nest near the revetment at all. For the 2020 and 2021 nesting seasons, we found that sand subsurface temperature, human presence, and location relative to the revetment each significantly affected loggerhead false crawl rates, though sometimes in surprising ways. Overall, these results suggest that on Jekyll Island false crawling by loggerheads has been primarily caused by the presence of a large anthropogenic obstruction, but that other factors can also affect false crawling in context-specific ways.
Download or read book Recovery Plan for U S Pacific Populations of the Green Turtle Chelonia Mydas written by Pacific Sea Turtle Recovery Team (U.S.) and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 98 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Effect of Beach Nourishment on Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta Caretta Nesting in South Carolina written by Julia I. Byrd and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Assessing Beach Nourishment Impacts on Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta Caretta Reproduction on Bogue Banks Island North Carolina written by Alicia Nicole Mihnovets and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 108 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
