A Summary of Sea Turtles Released from Rescue and Rehabilitation Programs in the United States, with Observations on Re-Encounters

Innis, Charles J.; Finn, Sarah; Kennedy, Adam; Burgess, Elizabeth A.; Norton, Terry M.; Manire, Charles A.; Harms, Craig A.

doi:10.2744/ccb-1335.1

Cited by 23 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Though there is uncertainty regarding whether the movements of turtles that have been exposed to human interventions are representative of counterparts that remain in the wild, there are indications that even prolonged periods of captivity may not greatly alter sea turtle behavior (Cardona et al, 2012;Lyn et al, 2012;Mestre et al, 2014;Baker et al, 2015;Kuo et al, 2017;Robinson et al, 2017;Innis et al, 2019). Obtaining individuals for this study required opportunistic sampling, using incidentally caught, recovered, and rehabilitated individuals.…”

Section: Satellite Telemetrymentioning

confidence: 99%

First Spatial Distribution Analysis of Male Sea Turtles in the Southern Gulf of Mexico

Cuevas

Putman²,

Uribe-Martínez

et al. 2020

Front. Mar. Sci.

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In the Gulf of Mexico, the bulk of published studies for sea turtles have focused on northern (United States) waters where economic resources are centered, with fewer studies in the southern portion of the basin, resulting in significant knowledge gaps in these underrepresented areas. Similarly, publications on adult sea turtles are dominated by research on females that come ashore to nest and can be readily studied (e.g., through the collection of biological samples and the application of satellite-telemetry devices), whereas information on adult male sea turtles is scarce. The goal of this paper is to begin filling these knowledge gaps by synthesizing available data on adult male sea turtles in the southern Gulf of Mexico. We used satellite-telemetry, boat- and drone-based surveys, and stranding records combined with ocean circulation modeling to better understand the spatial distribution of male loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) sea turtles in the southern Gulf of Mexico. These spatially explicit analyses will provide context for opportunistically collected data on male sea turtles and better contribute to the management and restoration of sea turtle populations that use the Gulf of Mexico. Moreover, this synthesis can serve as a launching point for directed studies on male sea turtles in this region.

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Section: Satellite Telemetrymentioning

confidence: 99%

First Spatial Distribution Analysis of Male Sea Turtles in the Southern Gulf of Mexico

Cuevas

Putman²,

Uribe-Martínez

et al. 2020

Front. Mar. Sci.

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“…Kemp’s ridley turtles have remarkably rebounded from near-extinction due to intensive cooperative local, regional, and international conservation efforts to protect eggs and nesting females and reduce bycatch in fisheries [ 7 ]. The Kemp’s ridley is now one of the most common species admitted to sea turtle rehabilitation facilities in the USA, as it is frequently affected by cold-stunning events in the northeastern part of the country and incidentally caught by recreational fishermen in the GoM [ 8 , 9 , 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fibropapillomatosis and Chelonid Alphaherpesvirus 5 Infection in Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys kempii)

Page-Karjian

Whitmore

Stacy

et al. 2021

Animals

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Fibropapillomatosis (FP), a debilitating, infectious neoplastic disease, is rarely reported in endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii). With this study, we describe FP and the associated chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) in Kemp’s ridley turtles encountered in the United States during 2006–2020. Analysis of 22 case reports of Kemp’s ridley turtles with FP revealed that while the disease was mild in most cases, 54.5% were adult turtles, a reproductively valuable age class whose survival is a priority for population recovery. Of 51 blood samples from tumor-free turtles and 12 tumor samples from turtles with FP, 7.8% and 91.7%, respectively, tested positive for ChHV5 DNA via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Viral genome shotgun sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of six tumor samples show that ChHV5 sequences in Kemp’s ridley turtles encountered in the Gulf of Mexico and northwestern Atlantic cluster with ChHV5 sequences identified in green (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles from Hawaii, the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, and the Caribbean. Results suggest an interspecific, spatiotemporal spread of FP among Kemp’s ridley turtles in regions where the disease is enzootic. Although FP is currently uncommon in this species, it remains a health concern due to its uncertain pathogenesis and potential relationship with habitat degradation.

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“…Besides increasing hatchling production, an activity that helps individual animals is the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of live stranded sea turtles (Caillouet et al, 2016; Innis et al, 2019). In these programs, eggs or hatchlings are collected from the wild (Heppell et al, 1996) and reared under controlled conditions for variable periods, ranging from months to years, before they are released back into the wild (Shaver & Wibbels, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of captive rearing conditions on loggerhead hatchlings: Effect of handling frequency and stocking density

et al. 2021

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Frequently, stranded sea turtles require rehabilitation under controlled conditions.Currently, few publications have described the conditions under which rehabilitation is to take place, particularly with respect to the hatchling life stage. To address this paucity of data, we conducted some experiments to assist rehabilitating facilities assess their handling of hatchlings. While in captivity, hatchlings are routinely handled, for example, for data collection and cleaning. Standardization of handling and housing protocols is necessary to define the most adequate rearing conditions to maintain hatchling welfare. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to assess plasma circulating corticosterone (Cort) concentration and growth, as a biomarker for the stress of hatchling loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) under controlled conditions. We performed two experiments to analyze handling frequency and stocking density. In both, Cort was measured and correlated with variations in animal weight and length. In handling experiments, Cort exhibited no significant increase when hatchlings were handled once a week, whereas Cort was significantly elevated when hatchlings were handled once every 2 weeks, suggesting that hatchlings have the ability to acclimate to frequent handling. However, hatchlings exhibited similar growth and mortality, regardless of handling regime. In stocking density experiments, hatchling isolation induced a significant elevation of Cort, in comparison with hatchlings placed with conspecifics at increasing densities. Growth increased in singly housed hatchlings, while mortality increased in tanks with three or more hatchlings. The results obtained suggest that Cort, growth, and mortality should be measured to assess hatchling welfare when kept under controlled conditions.

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A Summary of Sea Turtles Released from Rescue and Rehabilitation Programs in the United States, with Observations on Re-Encounters

Cited by 23 publications

References 22 publications

First Spatial Distribution Analysis of Male Sea Turtles in the Southern Gulf of Mexico

First Spatial Distribution Analysis of Male Sea Turtles in the Southern Gulf of Mexico

Fibropapillomatosis and Chelonid Alphaherpesvirus 5 Infection in Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys kempii)

Assessment of captive rearing conditions on loggerhead hatchlings: Effect of handling frequency and stocking density

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