Social media reveals consistently disproportionate tourism pressure on a threatened marine vertebrate

Abstract

Establishing how wildlife viewing pressure is distributed across individual animals within a population can inform the management of this activity, and ensure targeted individuals or groups are sufficiently protected. Here, we used social media data to quantify whether tourism pressure varies in a loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta population and elucidate the potential implications. Laganas Bay (Zakynthos, Greece) supports both breeding (migratory, and hence transient) and foraging (resident) turtles, with turtle viewing representing a major component of the tourism industry. Social media entries spanning two seasons (April to November, 2018 and 2019) were evaluated, and turtles were identified via photo‐identification. For the 2 years, 1684 and 2105 entries of 139 and 122 unique turtles were obtained from viewings, respectively (boats and underwater combined). However, while residents represented less than one‐third of uniquely identified turtles, they represented 81.9 and 87.9% of all entries. Even when the seasonal breeding population was present (May to July), residents represented more than 60% of entries. Notably, the same small number of residents (<10), mostly males, were consistently viewed in both years; however, different individuals were targeted by boats versus underwater. Thus, turtles appear to remain in the area despite high viewing intensity, possibly indicating low disturbance. However, photo‐identification records revealed a high risk of propeller and boat strike to residents (30%) leading to trauma and mortality. To reduce this threat, we recommend the compulsory use of propeller guards for all boats, compliance with speed regulations and the creation of temporary ‘refuge’ zones for resident animals at viewing hotspots, with these suggestions likely being relevant for other wildlife with similar population dynamics. In conclusion, social media represents a useful tool for monitoring individuals at a population scale, evaluating the pressure under which they are placed, and providing sufficient data to refine wildlife viewing guidelines and/or zoning.

Citizen-Sourced Sightings and Underwater Photography Reveal Novel Insights About Green Sea Turtle Distribution and Ecology in Southern California

“…This study largely coincides with the widely available and high-quality image hardware and sharing tools. Waterproof action cameras and image sharing tools have increased in abundance, availability, quality, and cost-effectiveness in recent years (Papafitsoros et al, 2020;Read and Jean, 2021). It is likely that these technological advances have led to an increase in engaged marine stakeholders and a higher volume of photographic contributions to this study and future studies.…”

“…With the growth of wildlife photography, due in part to advanced camera and mobile technology, the role of local communities in scientific data collection via photography has expanded (e.g., Azzurro et al, 2013;Baumbach et al, 2019). Participating citizens can now download various applications onto their mobile devices allowing them to submit photographs along with time and GPS location data (Michonneau and Paulay, 2015;Baumbach and Dunbar, 2017;Papafitsoros et al, 2020;Dunbar et al, 2021). Citizens are able to contribute to scientific research as they go about their daily life, while exploring local ecosystems, or when traveling to remote locations (Graham et al, 2011;Read and Jean, 2021).…”

“…For example, scientists can provide information on diet, behavior, abundance, and distribution to citizens that are interested in learning more about the species that they observe. Scientists can also educate the public on the appropriate methods for observing local species which can help to improve conservation and protection of these species and their habitats (Papafitsoros et al, 2020). Thus, citizen-based science can provide a symbiotic relationship between interested citizens and scientists.…”

From Phenology and Habitat Preferences to Climate Change: Importance of Citizen Science in Studying Insect Ecology in the Continental Scale with American Red Flat Bark Beetle, Cucujus clavipes, as a Model Species

“…Moreover, such observations allow to monitor migratory birds, e.g., [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ]; rare and endangered species, e.g., [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ]; expansion of pests, e.g., [ 20 , 39 , 40 ]; or alien and/or invasive species, e.g., [ 18 , 22 , 39 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ] as well as colonization of new human-made habitats, e.g., [ 51 ]. In addition, numerous studies show that data collected by amateur scientists allow to describe new interactions between species, e.g., [ 17 , 52 ], to investigate animal phenology, e.g., [ 53 ], and behavior, e.g., [ 54 ], to find changes in species abundance and demography, e.g., [ 55 , 56 , 57 ], and other threats for local fauna and flora being important for nature conservation, e.g., [ 8 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 ].…”

Risk assessment of wildlife-watching tourism in an important endangered loggerhead turtle rookery

“…In the case of sea turtles, the majority of watching activity occurs in the largest turtle rookeries around the word (Johnson et al 1996, Poland et al 1996, Marcovaldi & Marcovaldi 1999, Godfrey & Drif 2001, Wilson & Tisdell 2001, Downie et al 2003, Meletis & Harrison 2010, Rathnayake 2016. Some turtle watching occurs in the water, through direct observation from a boat (Howell et al 2015, Schofield et al 2015, Papafitsoros et al 2020, or diving and snorkeling in shallow coastal areas (Landry & Taggart 2010, Papafitsoros et al 2020, although the majority occurs on nesting beaches. In many developing countries, where turtle rookeries are often found, turtles are still traditionally harvested as a source of food and traditional medicine (Loureiro & Torrão 2008, Humber et al 2014, Martins et al 2015.…”