To collect data on green turtles Chelonia mydas near the Marquesas Keys, Florida, USA, we conducted haphazard, unmarked, nonlinear transect (HUNT) surveys from a moving vessel. During HUNTs, we recorded green turtle locations and made opportunistic captures. We found a unique foraging assemblage of subadult and adult green turtles in open-water seagrass habitat (3 to 5 m deep) at the eastern Quicksands, west of the Marquesas Keys. At an adjacent area in the Marquesas Keys (Mooney Harbor), we observed juvenile green turtles foraging in shallow seagrass habitat (< 2 m). During 267 km of HUNTs, 370 green turtles (153 adults, 216 subadults, 1 juvenile) were recorded from the eastern Quicksands. At the Mooney Harbor site, 190 juvenile green turtles were sighted during 309 km of transects. Green turtles captured at the eastern Quicksands were adult and subadult animals that ranged from 69.3 to 108.5 cm straight carapace length (SCL; mean ± SD = 88.4 ± 10.6 cm, n = 31). Green turtles captured in Mooney Harbor were juveniles ranging from 27.0 to 59.3 cm SCL (mean = 44.0 ± 7.8, n = 41). Six repeatable, linear transects were surveyed during 3 sampling events at the eastern Quicksands. During these transects, 238 green turtles were observed. These spatial data were used in a nearest-neighbor analysis, which indicated that the distribution of green turtles at the eastern Quicksands was non-random and clumped. We hypothesize that adult and large subadult green turtles use deeper water habitats than juveniles, and this size-class partitioning may be due to differing habitat requirements and predation risk. Our analyses indicate that green turtles found at the eastern Quicksands form foraging herds.
Elusive aquatic wildlife, such as endangered sea turtles, are difficult to monitor and conserve. As novel molecular and genetic technologies develop, it is possible to adapt and optimize them for wildlife conservation. One such technology is environmental (e)DNA -the detection of DNA shed from organisms into their surrounding environments. We developed species-specific green (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtle probe-based qPCR assays, which can detect and quantify sea turtle eDNA in controlled (captive tank water and sand samples) and free ranging (oceanic water samples and nesting beach sand) settings. eDNA detection complemented traditional in-water sea turtle monitoring by enabling detection even when turtles were not visually observed. Furthermore, we report that high throughput shotgun sequencing of eDNA sand samples enabled sea turtle population genetic studies and pathogen monitoring, demonstrating that noninvasive eDNA techniques are viable and efficient
Addressing ongoing biodiversity loss requires collaboration between conservation scientists and practitioners. However, such collaboration has proved challenging. Despite the potential importance of tracking animal movements for conservation, reviews of the tracking literature have identified a gap between the academic discipline of movement ecology and its application to biodiversity conservation. Through structured conversations with movement ecologists and conservation practitioners, we aimed to understand whether the identified gap is also perceived in practice, and if so, what factors hamper collaboration and how these factors can be remediated. We found that both groups are motivated and willing to collaborate. However, because their motivations differ, there is potential for misunderstandings and miscommunications. In addition, external factors such as funder requirements, academic metrics, and journal scopes may limit the applicability of scientific results in a conservation setting. Potential solutions we identified included improved communication and better presentation of results, acknowledging each other's motivations and desired outputs, and adjustment of funder priorities. Addressing gaps between science and implementation can enhance collaboration and support conservation action to address the global biodiversity crisis more effectively.
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