Although sea turtles have received substantial focus worldwide, research on the immature life stages is still relatively limited. The latter is of particular importance, given that a large proportion of sea turtle populations comprises immature individuals. We set out to identify knowledge gaps and identify the main barriers hindering research in this field. We analyzed the perceptions of sea turtle experts through an online survey which gathered their opinions on the current state of affairs on immature sea turtle research, including species and regions in need of further study, priority research questions, and barriers that have interfered with the advancement of research. Our gap analysis indicates that studies on immature leatherback Dermochelys coriacea and hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata turtles are lacking, as are studies on all species based in the Indian, South Pacific, and South Atlantic Oceans. Experts also perceived that studies in population ecology, namely on survivorship and demography, and habitat use/behavior, are needed to advance the state of knowledge on immature sea turtles. Our survey findings indicate the need for more interdisciplinary research, collaborative efforts (e.g. data-sharing, joint field activities), and improved communication among researchers, funding bodies, stakeholders, and decision-makers.
Sea turtles spend the majority of their immature and adult lives in foraging grounds, yet few studies have examined their abundance and condition in these areas when compared to more accessible nesting beach habitats. Here, a 5-year dive log, photo-identification (photo-ID) and surface encounter datasets were used to investigate the abundance, individual movements and distribution of sea turtles along 40 km of coastal reefs in southern Mozambique. A generalized linear model (GLM) was constructed with turtle sightings as the response variable. Habitat type, year and day of the year, as well as underwater visibility, were significant predictors of turtle sightings. However, only 8% of the total variance was explained by the model, indicating that other variables have a significant influence on turtle movement and distribution. Photo-ID differentiated 22 individual green turtles Chelonia mydas and 42 loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta from 323 photo-ID encounters. A majority (64%) of the photos could be used to identify the individual. Although residency times of up to 1152 days were calculated for juvenile green turtles, a low overall resighting rate indicates that individual turtles either had large home ranges or were transient to the area. Surface encounter data revealed a preference for nearshore shallow waters and an increased abundance close to reef systems. Sea turtles' preferences for shallow, nearshore habitats are likely to increase the encounter risk with opportunistic and targeted artisanal fishers who catch sea turtles.
Although robust and consistent long‐term datasets are lacking, it is commonly accepted that sea turtle populations face significant human threats while using Mozambique's coastal habitats. While multiple threats have been identified, their relative impact – and thus the ability to prioritize limited conservation resources – is poorly known. To obtain a better understanding of these threats, information from experts was elicited through a semi‐structured survey using open and closed‐ended questions. Experts in research, conservation and management of sea turtles were identified and asked to identify key threats and to complete pairwise comparison matrixes to determine the relative weight (w) of each threat (13 criterion, n = 24 questions). Weights for the perceived impact of threats were calculated from scores given in the pair‐wise matrix using the analytic hierarchy process. Responses (n = 18) to open‐ended survey questions were thematically coded and discussed according to common themes (e.g. extent of knowledge, limitations, conservation management tools) identified. Bycatch from commercial trawling (w = 13.65), artisanal fishing (w = 12.30) and hunting of nesting turtles (w = 11.33) were the top threats identified, in order of relative impact. While two of the three top threats are widely distributed and likely to be logistically and resource intensive to address, the top‐scoring threat, ‘bycatch from commercial trawling', is a clearly defined target for conservation intervention. Given a lack of baseline or published data, soliciting expert opinion was an efficient way to identify emergent threats, along with the success and limiting factors influencing sea turtle conservation in a developing nation. The methodology and technique implemented here are transferable. Expert surveys can provide valuable insights in locations with similar socio‐economic environments and limited empirical data to help clarify the relative impact of various threats.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.