Description:

North Atlantic loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta L.) populations respond to the integrated effects of multiple environmental stressors. Environmental stressors often occur in spatially distinct frameworks and affect distinct age classes, sexes, and subpopulations differentially because of differences in habitats utilization. Also, the effects of stressors may not be manifest for years. Loggerheads are long-lived species with spatially and genetically structured as subpopulations, hence threats may be experienced differentially. Maintenance of subpopulation structure may be critical to the survival of the population as a whole. The study aims to restructure wildlife risk assessment models for sea turtles. New information on (i) the spatially distinct subpopulation structure, (ii) anthropogenic stressors that impact turtles at different life stages in different habitats, and (iii) space-based conservation and management options, all call for spatially explicit approaches to loggerhead population dynamics.

URLs/Downloads:

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2002 Progress Report

Final Progress Report

2004 Progress Report

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT( ABSTRACT )

Start Date:11/15/2001

Completion Date:11/14/2004

Record ID: 57252

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Related Organizations:

Role :OWNER

Organization Name :DUKE UNIVERSITY

Mailing Address :103 Allen Bldg

Citation :Durham

State :NC

Zip Code :27708



Role :OWNER

Organization Name :NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE

Citation :Washington

State :DC



Role :OWNER

Organization Name :FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY - BOCA RATON

Mailing Address :777 Glades Rd

Citation :Boca Raton

State :FL

Zip Code :33431

Project Information:

Approach :Evaluations of the impacts of environmental stressors will be made using updated models that partition current stage-specific mortality estimates. A multifaceted approach will be used that includes:

1. Synthesis of long-term data sets to provide vital rates as well as survivorship values.
2. Spatially and temporally segregation of the mortality associated with well-documented environmental stressors (e.g. trawling, longline, photopollution impacts, etc.).
3. Collection of new data determining actual sex ratios from southeastern US nesting beaches.
4. Documentation of spatial variability in hatchling survivorship following migration from the nesting beach.
5. Production of two-sex, spatially-explicit, models of North Atlantic loggerhead sea turtles.
6. Employment of the models to evaluate and predict the impacts of multiple environmental stressors, test existing management plans, and suggest revisions necessary.

Cost :$349,421.00

Research Component :Biology/Life Sciences

Approach :Evaluations of the impacts of environmental stressors will be made using updated models that partition current stage-specific mortality estimates. A multifaceted approach will be used that includes:

1. Synthesis of long-term data sets to provide vital rates as well as survivorship values.
2. Spatially and temporally segregation of the mortality associated with well-documented environmental stressors (e.g. trawling, longline, photopollution impacts, etc.).
3. Collection of new data determining actual sex ratios from southeastern US nesting beaches.
4. Documentation of spatial variability in hatchling survivorship following migration from the nesting beach.
5. Production of two-sex, spatially-explicit, models of North Atlantic loggerhead sea turtles.
6. Employment of the models to evaluate and predict the impacts of multiple environmental stressors, test existing management plans, and suggest revisions necessary.

Cost :$349,421.00

Research Component :Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration

Project IDs:

ID Code :R829094

Project type :EPA Grant