General Orientation 2011

8/6/2019 General Orientation 2011

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2011

Sea Turtle Research Internships


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Four focus areas

Science training

Paper writing Spanish

Cultural adaptation-teamwork


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Field Work

Nest

Protection

Climate change

Studies

Habitat surveys Monitoring

Projects


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Community

outreach


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Cabo San Lucas areaPuerto Vallarta area

Cancun areaBay Islands, HondurasCosta RicaBrazil

Where?


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Orientation Spanish Classes

Field work

Paper and presentations 3 units Geography 499

or Bio 499

3 units Latin American Studies 499 $500 scholarship

What?


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SEA TURTLES

"For in the end we will conserve only what we love.

We will love only what we understand. We will

understand only what we are taught."

-B. Dioum


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Slides borrowed from:http://www.wcc.hawaii.edu/facstaff/miliefsky-m/MarBioPPTs/009d-Marine%20Reptiles.ppt.

http://www.sacs.k12.in.us/school155/images/files/b18_file439_5277.ppt.

http://marinediscovery.arizona.edu/lessonsF00/brittle_stars/2.html

And Previous Science Exchange interns: Monica Rosquillas,Sarah Maxey and Daniel Soares and Jeff Weaver
http://www.wcc.hawaii.edu/facstaff/miliefsky-m/MarBioPPTs/009d-Marine%20Reptiles.ppthttp://www.wcc.hawaii.edu/facstaff/miliefsky-m/MarBioPPTs/009d-Marine%20Reptiles.ppthttp://www.sacs.k12.in.us/school155/images/files/b18_file439_5277.ppthttp://www.sacs.k12.in.us/school155/images/files/b18_file439_5277.ppthttp://www.wcc.hawaii.edu/facstaff/miliefsky-m/MarBioPPTs/009d-Marine%20Reptiles.ppthttp://www.wcc.hawaii.edu/facstaff/miliefsky-m/MarBioPPTs/009d-Marine%20Reptiles.ppt


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Sea Turtles in Mythology

Turtles have long beenrevered in myths.

Most Indian tribes seeturtles as being sacred.

The are seen as beingsupernatural becauseof their powers forsurvival.

The Greeks saw turtlesas standing for wisdom.


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More Sea Turtle Myths

In a Chinese myth, aturtle was believedto have developedthe world within its

shell. Some Indians

believe that theworld in which we

live was formed onthe back of a turtle.


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Sea Turtles

Sea Turtles have long fascinated humans,and have figured prominently in themythology and folklore of many cultures

Millions of sea turtles once roamed theoceans, but now only a fraction remain

Their spiritual significance has not savedthem from exploitation for food and profit


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Sea Turtles

Trade in sea turtle meat, eggs, shells, oil,and leather has driven almost every speciesof sea turtles to the brink of extinction

Also, thousands of sea turtles die each yearin shrimp nets, gill nets, long-line hooks,and polluted waters

Dramatic changes to coastlines and beach

property also affect sustainability


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Sea TurtlesCommon Characteristics

Large, air-breathing reptiles

Inhabit tropical & subtropical seasthroughout the world

Shells consist of an upper part, called acarapace, and a lower section, called a

plastron Hard scales (scutes) cover all but the

leatherback; the number & arrangementcan be used to identify the species


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Sea TurtlesCommon Characteristics

Dont have teeth, but jaws have modifiedbeaks suited to their particular diet

Dont have visible ears, eardrumscovered by skin

Hear best at low frequencies

Sense of smell is excellent Vision underwater is good, above water

they are nearsighted


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Sea TurtleAnatomy

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Green Sea Turtle

4 pairs of large scaleson either side (coastalscales)

Does not have thickoverlapping scales

Carapace high domed

Color light to darkgreen with darkmottling

Green Sea TurtleGreen Sea Turtle

CarapaceCarapace

DescriptionDescription


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Green Sea Turtle

Diet

Adult greens feed

mostly on seaweedsand seagrassesalthough immaturegreens arecarnivorous.

SeaweedSeaweed


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Green Marine TurtleWorld Wide Range and Breeding Grounds

The range of the Green Marine Turtle,The range of the Green Marine Turtle,

( Chelonia mydas ), is the largest of any of the sea( Chelonia mydas ), is the largest of any of the sea

turtlesturtles


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Black SeaTurtle

The black sea turtle is controversialbecause not all scientists consider it to be aspecies. It is often considered to be merelya subspecies of the green turtle and it isclassified as Chelonia mydas agassizii.

IntroductionIntroduction


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Black Sea Turtle

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General DescriptionGeneral Description

The head size isThe head size is

comparatively smallercomparatively smaller

than that of green seathan that of green seaturtles.turtles.

Adult black turtles weighAdult black turtles weigh

as much as 220 poundsas much as 220 pounds..It nests at night and hasIt nests at night and has

70 eggs.70 eggs.


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Black Sea Turtle

DietBlack sea turtlesare not carnivores

Their dietconsists mainly ofalgae, seagrasses, jellies

Red AlgaeRed Algae

Sea GrassSea Grass

JellyfishJellyfish


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Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Description

long, slightly taperingcarapace

5 pairs (rarely 6) of largescales on each side (coastalscales)

Carapace longer than wide

Color red-brown to brownAdult carapace approx.1.0m

Loggerhead SeaLoggerhead Sea

Turtle CarapaceTurtle Carapace


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Loggerhead Sea TurtleDiet

Loggerheads arecarnivorous

They feed mostly

on shellfish, crabs,sea urchins andjellyfish.

Sea UrchinsSea Urchins

CrabCrab

JellyfishJellyfish

Loggerhead Sea


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Loggerhead SeaTurtle

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World Wide Range and Breeding GroundsWorld Wide Range and Breeding Grounds

Loggerhead turtles can be found in all of the oceans of the worldLoggerhead turtles can be found in all of the oceans of the world

Major nesting areas are in Australia, Japan, United States andMajor nesting areas are in Australia, Japan, United States and

Central AmericaCentral America


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Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Endangered

The Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) is on theendangered species list Internationally and in allcountries where they nest. The loggerhead turtle has lost 50-80% of itsannual nesting population in the last decade. Further loss of only hundreds of loggerheadturtles annually may threaten the survival of the

species in worldwide


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Olive Ridley Sea TurtleArribadas


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Olive Ridley Sea TurtleDiet

The olive ridley turtle iscarnivorous, feedingmostly on shellfish andsmall crabs.

ShrimpShrimp

LobsterLobster

CrabCrab


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Olive Ridley Sea TurtleWorld Wide Distribution

The largest "arribada" thus far recorded in Ostional(Costa Rica), took place in November 1995 when a

calculated 500 000 females came ashore.


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Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Diet

Sponges make up a majorpart of the diet of hawksbills.

They also feed onseagrasses, algae, softcorals and shellfish.

Yellow Sponge

(Eretmochelys imbricata)

The Hawksbill Turtle gets its name

from its hawk-like beak.

. This turtle's shell is the source of

"tortoise shell", and because of this

commercial exploitation has caused

their numbers to dwindle.Their shell and oils are in constant

demand, placing this turtle in danger.

H k bill S T l


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Hawksbill Sea Turtle

World Wide Range and Breeding Grounds

The Hawksbill Sea Turtle (EretmochelysThe Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelysimbricata), prefers shallow coastal waters.imbricata), prefers shallow coastal waters.

It is the most tropical of all sea turtlesIt is the most tropical of all sea turtles..

L th b k S T tl


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Leatherback Sea Turtle

(

Dermochelyscoriacea)

The Leatherback isthe largest of the sea

turtles. They canreach a length of 6feet

Leatherback Marine TurtleLeatherback Marine Turtle

CarapaceCarapace


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Leatherback Sea Turtle

Unlike the other turtles,the Leatherback's shell hasno scales. Instead it iscovered with a rubberyleather-like skin.

The leatherback turtle iscarnivorous and feedsmainly in the open oceanon jellyfish and other soft-bodied invertebrates

Sea Nettle JellyfishSea Nettle Jellyfish

(Chrysaora fuscescens)(Chrysaora fuscescens)


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Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle

Background

Modern historyfinds this smallestof sea turtlesfighting its way

back from thebrink of extinction.

K Ridl S T tl


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Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle

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The range of the Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle is from theCaribbean Sea to Eastern Canada

The only major nesting site is in the Gulf of Mexico

Range and Breading GroundsRange and Breading Grounds

Sea Turtle Population


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Sea Turtle PopulationDecline

Typical sea turtle population reduction


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Mating- at sea

Migration- occurs in late spring; female is

accompanied by male

Egg laying behavior- return to same beach (natal

beach)


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Kemps Ridley nesting

Usually nest at night

Front flippers dig pit, rear flippers carve out burrow


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Turtle nest

Cross section

Egg tooth- used to chip away at shell

Group effort to get out of nest-emerge at night (safer) and head

towards brightest light

Artificial lights- confuse hatchlings


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Clutch size- about 100 eggs & covers pit with sand

Egg incubation- 2 months depending upon speciesSex determined by temperature- males lower temp,

females higher temp pivotal temperature ~31 C

Leatherback hatching Kemps Ridley hatchlings


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Navigation

Sight

Position of themoon

Wave direction Internal compass

(turtles that we

know use this:loggerhead andleatherback)


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Navigation

Some turtlesmigrate over 2600km but most will

only travel 1000km.


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A. Incidental fishing

B. Direct Fishing

C. Egg PoachersD. Beach Development

E. Marine Debris

F. Rising sand temperatures

G.Fibropapilloma


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To Sell forMeat BBQs or Soup Eggs- Cocktails

Jewelry Leather

Strong cultural traditions at partiesEggs through to be an aphrodisiac

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

(CITES): turtle commerce prohibited in countries that signed

agreement


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Marine Debris- plastic bags, soda can plastic rings,

fishing line, oil and tar

Costal development and habitat degradation- noise,light, beach obstructions- affect nesting habitat


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Fibropapilloma- virus in Green turtles

Affects ability to feed, see, move about, or breath

May be due to pollutants, blood parasites, or habitat change


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Turtle

Excluder

Device

2 H h


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2. How can we protect theturtles and their habitat?

Protect nestinggrounds

A. Reserves andwildlife refuge

B. Relocate eggs tohatcheries.

C. Patrol the beachesfrom poachers

D. Prevent coastaldevelopment andactivity.

2 H t t th


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Education

A. Get localsinvolved

B. Decreaseinternational tradeof products

C. Scientificresearch

D. Tell others

2 H t t th


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Improvements

A. Improve fishingtrawls (TED)

B. Protect withturtle farms

C. Decreasepollution and trash

D. Get involved

3 P bl b i f d ith


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3. Problems being faced withenforcing laws

Not all countrieshave the money ormanpower to

control poachingon beaches.

Violations ofpoaching may only

face a simple fine,or may bedisregarded.

3 P bl b i f d ith


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Jurisdiction variesbetweengovernmental

agencies: water = fishery

depart.

land = wildlife and

forest depart.

3 P bl b i f d ith


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Turtle farms for tradeand reinstatementcost millions ofdollars and take 20 to

start. to some people . . . trade

and conservation appear toconflict, but if properlyapplied, they could well be

the key to surviving thespecies

--H. Reichart

3 P bl b i f d ith


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Local people arenot educatedenough in rural

countries and needturtle meat as asource of protein.

Not all nesting

beaches can beprotected.


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1964: Conservation of Tortugas began in Mexico1990: Total ban on sea turtle take in Mexico1994: Conservation of Tortugas began in Los Cabos area (

80% of nesting )


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ASUPMATOMA

Saving theSaving theSea TurtlesSea Turtles

One Egg at aOne Egg at a

timetime

Analysis of Sea Turtle


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Analysis of Sea Turtle

Nest Temperatures and

Future Global Warming

Effects on Two Coasts of

MexicoNick Furst, Allison Baxter, Armando Lorences

Camargo,

Carla Cristina Sanchez Salazar, Katherine ComerSantos

International Sea Turtle SymposiumSan Diego, 2011

Sea Turtle


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kumal Baxter 2010 San Cristobal Furst 2010

Sea Turtle

Internships

throughThe Science

Exchange

Summer 2010

M f L ti t


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Map of Locations at

San Cristobal and Akumal


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Problem

Incidental fishing, habitatloss, poaching, pollution,disease, lethal nesttemperatures due to

global warming. Nests in other studies

are currently reachinglethal limits (Matsuzawa et al.1985; Matsuzawa et al. 2002; Hays et

al. 2003;Valverde et al. 2010; Fuenteset al. 2010).

Akumal green, Baxter 2010


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Research Questions1. Are nests in our study areas currently in danger of

reaching lethal limits?

2. Can we use regional weather station data to monitor our

study sites? (Is there a significant correlation?)

3. Can we use weather data to monitor sand temperatures

at our study sites? (Is there a significant correlation?)

4. Will global warming cause sand temperatures in 2100

reach lethal limits on these beaches?

Nadia releasing hatchlings in Akumal, Baxter 2010


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Assumptions Metabolic heat produces about 1.7 C of heat

compared to surrounding sand temperature(Segura and Cajade 2010).

The lethal limit for embryos occurs at around

34C (Bustard and Greenham 1968; McGehee; 1979; Yntema andMrosovsky 1980; Miller et al. 2003)

Akumal Baxter 2010


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Future air temperatures were modeled by theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Changeand are predicted to rise about 1.8 C by 2100(IPCC 2007)

Assumptions (cont.)


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Methods and Materials

Followed Hawkes et al. 2007 and Gallegos et al. 2009 Walked daily to check sand thermometers buried at nest levels indifferent areas of Akumal and San Cristobal beaches

Measured daily climate variables at the beaches

Downloaded weather data from local weather stations


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Variables

Dependent: max sand temperature

Independents: min and max air humidity

min and max air temperature

dew point

wind speed

precipitation

Used a Pearsons Correlation

Matrix(PSPP freeware)

Akumal, Baxter 2010


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Results

Only minimum airtemperature was sig.correlated with maximumsand temperatures

R values = 0.64 at Akumal 0.68 at San Cristobal (p


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Global warming prediction

We used the Rvalues to extrapolatetemperature changey = change in sand temp

m = slope or R

x = increase in air temp (1.8 C)b = 0

2100 predicted sandtemperatures willincrease by:1.22 C at Akumal1.15 C at SanCristobal

Results: Predicted Global Warming


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Effects on Sand Temps

Location MeanTemperature

(includes 1.7 C formetabolic heat)

CI(alpha = .05)

2100Temperatures

(=1.22 Cincrease )

AB SandTemp Max

30.5 (+/-) 0.19 31.7

HMB SandTemp Max

31.4 (+/-)0.22 32.6

PT SandTemp Max

30.4 (+/-)0.22 31.6

Akumal 2010



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Effects on Sand Temps

Location 2010Temperature

(includes 1.7 Cfor metabolic

heat)

CI(alpha = .

05)

2100 temperatures(=1.15 C increase )

Temp 1 28.6 (+/-)0.51 29.7

Temp 2 28.8 (+/-)0.34 29.9

Temp 3 29.8 (+/-)0.38 31.0

Temp 4 30.7 (+/-)0.33 31.9Temp 5 30.5 (+/-)0.41 31.7

Temp 6 30.9 (+/-)0.28 32.1

Temp corral 29.8 (+/-)0.37 30.9

Hobo 30.9 (+/-)0.38 32.0

San Cristobal Beach 2010

Previous Studies in Baja


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California Sur, Mexico

Location 2008Temperature

(includes 1.7 C formetabolic heat)

2100temperatures

(.81 C increase)

Presidente Hatcheryestuary side

33.5 34.3

Presidente Hatchery 33.1 33.9

Playa Tortuga zoneB

31.9 32.7

Playa Tortuga zoneC

34.0 34.8

Playa El Cardoncitozone B

34.3 35.1

Playa El Cardoncitozone C

34.2 35.0

Playa La Fortunazone B

33.3 34.1

La FortunaHatchery 34.6 35.4

San Jose del Cabo 2008 (Maxey et al. 2Location 2008

Temperature(includes 1.7 C for

metabolic heat)

2100temperatures

(.89 C increase )

Sensor 1 32.4 33.3

Sensor 3 32.4 33.3

Sensor 4 32.6 33.5

Sensor 5 33.1 34.0

an Cristobal 2008 (Hurtado unpubl.)

Conclusions


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Conclusions

1. Several zones in San Jose del Cabo in

2008 reached lethal limits, our studies in

2010 stayed around 31 C

2. Regional weather stations did notserve as

surrogates for local weather data in ourstudy

Akumal Baxter 2010

Conclusions (cont )


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Conclusions (cont.)

3. Minimum air (night) temperatures were

consistently and significantly correlated with themaximum sand temperatures, although onlyexplaining about half the variation.

4. Prediction: 2100 sand temperatures will likely

reach lethal levels on the in Baja California.

Akumal Baxter 2010

Conservation


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Conservation

Recommendations

If night-time temperatures stay high for a period of

time check your nest temperatures!

If sand temperatures get high, use shade to cool

nests

Courtesy of ICV, Ostional , CR 2011


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ResearchRecommendations

Longer study period, more studylocations

Standardize equipment, Nest cages to

protect hobos

Study sand moisture, color, grain size,

compaction

Predict effect of global warming on sex

ratios

Quantify time lag to heat/cool sand

Courtesy of Sea Turtle Municipal Program

Cabo San Lucas 2007

More questions if sand


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More questionsif sand

temperatures rise

Will sea turtles respond witha shift in seasons?

Shift in latitude?

Shift in pivotal temperature? Shorter incubation times?

Will these responses

help/harm turtle

populations? Will responses happen

quickly enough?

Puerto Vallarta, Katherine Santos

G i !


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Armando Lorences Camargo

Carla Cristina Sanchez Salazar

Graciela Tiburcio PintosElizabeth Gonzalez Payan

Katherine Comer Santos

Sarah Maxey

Chris Hurtado

Gracias!


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Akumal

Turismo en Akumal y la


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yTortuga Marina por Monica

Rosquillas


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Akumal

Akumal es un puebloplayero turistico en laRiviera Maya.

A 100km de Cancun, estalocalizando entre Playa delCarmen y Tulum.

Cuenta con bellas playas

donde anidan tortugasblancas y caguamas.


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Tortuga Blanca (Chelonia

Mydas) En Peligro de extincion 100-250 kg

1.2 meters

Anidan de Junio aSeptiembre

Hembras anidan de 3-7veces al ao

Alimentan de pastosmarinos


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Caguama (Caretta Caretta)

En Peligro deExtincion

100-200 kg

1.15 metros

Hembras anidad deAbril a Julio

Alimentan decrustaceos

Rutas migratorias de TortugaC ( h l


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Carey (Eretmochelys

imbricata)
http://www.pretoma.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/mapa-final1.jpg


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Punta Banco

5 weeks $1230

6 weeks $1450 $280 ground

transport
http://www.pretoma.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/mapa-final1.jpg


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San Miguel

Corazolito bicycles
http://www.pretoma.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/DSC_0029.jpghttp://www.pretoma.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1020284.jpghttp://www.pretoma.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/P1020214.jpg


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Caletas Only tents

M i F t
http://www.pretoma.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/P1010994.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Flag_of_Mexico.svg


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Mexico Facts

2 million square kilometres (over760,000 sq mi),

14thlargest independent nationinthe world . estimatedpopulation of 111 million

Capital DF 31 States

President Felipe Calderon

11th most populous country and the

most populous Hispanophone country onearth.

World bank $14,570 GDP

wikipedia

C t Ri
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_outlying_territories_by_total_areahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_populationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanophonehttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Flag_of_Mexico.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanophonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_populationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_outlying_territories_by_total_area


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Costa Rica

Per capita income: (2009) $6,900; (2010est., PPP) $10,569.

Unemployment (2010 est.): 6.7%.

Currency: Costa Rica Colon (CRC). Natural resources: Hydroelectric power,

forest products, fisheries products.

Commerce, tourism, and services (68%of GDP): Hotels, restaurants, touristservices, banks, and insurance.

Documents

General Orientation 2011