Sick of attention: The effect of a stress‐related disease on juvenile green sea turtle behaviour in the face of intense and prolonged tourism

Abstract

Anthropogenic activities are increasingly linked to emerging diseases that cause mortality across many taxa. Human interference arising from ecotourism, in particular, can increase the stress levels of wild populations and promote the spread of disease. In Akumal Bay, Mexico, green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) are increasingly infected with fibropapillomatosis (FP), an infectious disease associated with stress‐induced immunosuppression linked to high human density, which is particularly high in this area because of the increasing number of tourists visiting all year round. To examine whether FP might be associated with behavioural indicators of stress and varying levels of tourist pressure, the behaviour of turtles and the number of tourists were observed through 20‐minute focal sampling periods from May to August 2017. Disease presence and tourist pressure were related to several aspects of turtle behaviour, specifically feeding, resting, vertical movements (i.e. surfacing and diving), and evasive responses. Turtles that had visible FP engaged in fewer feeding periods, vertical movements, and evasive responses. Additionally, with increasing tourist pressure, all turtles spent less time engaging in vertical movements and had more evasive responses. These results suggest that the presence of FP affects green sea turtle behaviour, potentially increasing their exposure to tourists. Sick and healthy turtles appear to react differently to tourists, suggesting that FP changes behavioural responses to tourist pressure. Future management strategies should consider regulating tourist pressure on sick animals to reduce the incidence and progression of FP and other wildlife diseases by limiting access to critical habitats and enforcing code‐of‐conduct compliance from visiting tourists.

Comparative Analysis of the Growth, Physiological Responses, and Gene Expression of Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtles Cultured in Different Modes

“…We determined the rice–turtle co-culture as a more ecological farm mode for P. sinensis . Enriching the environment for farmed turtles means providing them with more stimulation, diversity, and opportunities to express their natural behaviors, which improves their quality of life and reduces their suffering [ 72 , 73 ]. Meanwhile, co-cultured turtles in paddy fields have stable and predictable food sources due to artificial feeding, which can further meet their growth needs.…”

Advancing Sea Turtle Monitoring at Nesting and Near Shore Habitats with UAVs, Data Loggers, and State of the Art Technologies

“…Permanent beach structures and recreational equipment can disrupt nesting activities, by limiting beach access to nesting females and increasing nesting abandonment [37]. The growing presence of tourists can result in stress-related diseases in turtles [38] or in the accumulation of litter, subsequently prolonging the time it takes for hatchlings to reach the sea and reducing hatchling survival [39]. In the marine environment, recreational boating can affect the persistence and behavior of marine turtles, mainly manifested through an increased risk of collision [40] and additionally by decreasing the duration of foraging or surfacing [41].…”

The Indian Case for Ecotourism and Environmental Migrants

“…Biodiversity and ecological tourism have undergone phenomenal development over the past several decades as a result of their position as a rapidly growing subsector. Ecotourism has been demonstrated to have adverse impacts on communities at large, including the disappearance of native dialects and traditions in addition to disruptions to society and the economy (Carzon et al, 2023;Zerr et al, 2022). On each continent, historically protected or unprotected biodiverse areas are rapidly becoming accessible to ecotourists.…”