Issue Number 102. October 2003.
Francisco “Gordo” Fischer, responsible for killing 2,000 sea turtles each year to supply the Tijuana black market, holds his arrest papers. He spent 6 months in Mexican jail. Photo: Terri Garland (see Rappoport & Nichols pp 14-15) .
IN THIS ISSUE:
Editorial: Changes at the MTN.
Articles: Satellite Tracking of the Post-nesting Migration of a Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) from Hong Kong. First Report of an Association Between Planes cyaneus (Decapoda:Grapsidae) and Loggerhead Sea Turtles in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Hawksbill Turtles in Seagrass Beds. Loggerhead Nesting Effort and Conservation Initiatives at the Monitored Beaches of Greece during 2002.
Notes: Loggerhead Sea Turtle Tagged in Brazil Caught by a Trawler in Waters of the Common Argentinian- Uruguayan Fishing Area.
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Marine© Turtle Marine Newsletter Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page Changes at the MTN
Brendan J. Godley1, Annette C. Broderick1 & Michael S. Coyne2 1MTN Editors & 2On-line Co-ordinator
There are a number of changes at the MTN of which Directed mailings you should be aware: To reduce the number of unwanted MTNs, we have undertaken a direct mailing to all readers in Europe. MTN Editors on the Move Many have replied with new contact details, moved to Please note our new contact details on the inside front the online version or confirmed their details. Those that cover. Although we will retain personal e-mail addresses have not responded have been removed from the mailing for other professional business we would ask that all list, saving both money and paper! Over the next few correspondence regarding MTN/NTM be directed months we also intend to mail our North American towards
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 1 Satellite Tracking of the Post-nesting Migration of a Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) from Hong Kong
Simon K.F. Chan1, J.K. Chan1, L.T. Lo1 & George H. Balazs2 1 Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Hong Kong (E-mail: [email protected]) 2 National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Honolulu Laboratory, 2570 Dole Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822-2396, USA (E-mail:[email protected]).
Four species of sea turtles have been recorded in this period, the turtle seemed to be travelling very the waters of Hong Kong (Chan 2003) but only the actively and continuously as shown by the short dive green turtle (Chelonia mydas) breeds locally, albeit in time and frequent surfacing. The average dive time ± very low numbers of one to several nesting individuals SD was 5.6 ± 1.4 minutes (11 12-hour periods) and per nesting season. The nesting site is located at a small average number of dives per 12-hour period was 130 ± sandy beach of an offshore island called Lamma Island 34 (11 12-hour periods). (22.191°N, 114.139°E). This 0.5 ha beach is now the From Qiongzhou Gulf onwards, the turtle seemed only Hong Kong site where green turtles are known to to adopt a different migratory behaviour. It travelled at nest regularly. Dedicated conservation efforts have been a slower speed, about 0.5 km.hr-1, towards the eastern put in place to safeguard the nesting beach for this part of Hainan Island, staying very close (within a few population, including designation of the nesting site as a kilometers) to the coastline. The turtle may have been protected area, regular warden patrols and site resting or feeding intermittently in the shallow coastal management. However, there is no knowledge of the waters as the mean number of dives reduced to 58 ± migratory pathway and location of foraging grounds for 16 per 12-hour period (15 12-hour periods) and the mean the green turtles nesting at this location. In the absence dive time increased to 12.9 ± 3.7 minutes (15 12-hour of such information, it is impossible to draw up a periods). Godley et al. (2002) have also found a similar comprehensive protection strategy for this population. swimming pattern of reduced speed and increased dive Therefore, a study using the Argos satellite-based time in post-nesting green turtles during coastal system to describe the migratory pathway and the travelling. It was suggested that the turtles were feeding location of the foraging grounds was started in August during their coastal movements so as to reduce the 2002. overall cost of migration. The turtle finally arrived at A satellite transmitter was attached to a female after the shallow coastal waters off Wanning City (18.928°N nesting at Lamma Island. She measured 100cm in 110.534°E) of Hainan Island some 500 km away from straight carapace length. Her first nest of the season Hong Kong, on or around the 30th August 2002 (i.e. 21 was made on 13 June 2002 and she subsequently laid days after leaving the nesting site). The turtle had four more clutches. She was the only green turtle travelled a total distance of about 600 km during its trip, nesting in the 2002 season. On 9th August 2002, after first off the coastline of South China and then following laying the final clutch of eggs, the turtle was temporarily the coastline of Hainan Island, rather than taking the detained for attachment of the transmitter. A Platform shortest distance (about 500 km) in open waters (fig.1). Transmitter Terminal (PTT) from Telonics Inc. (Model In the foraging ground, location data showed that ST-14, A-2400) was deployed using the attachment the turtle spent most of its time within a distinct home procedures adopted by Balazs et al. (1996) and range of about 8 km in diameter. It was interesting to Schroeder et al. (2000). The duty cycle of the PTT note that the turtle travelled to a northern site 45 km was 24 hours on and 12 hours off. The turtle was away from the resident foraging ground in November released on the same day at the nesting site. 2002 and stayed there for about one month before After release, the turtle immediately headed offshore returning (fig. 2). In August 2003, at the time of and started its migration travelling at a distance of some finalisation of this manuscript, the turtle travelled to the 80 km from the southern coastline of South China (fig. north again but this time only travelled to an area 25 km 1). It travelled at an average speed of 1.5 to 2 km.hr-1 from the resident foraging ground. The reason for these until it reached Qiongzhou Gulf (20.049°N 110.891°E) short-distance movements from its resident foraging of Hainan Island, China about 10 days later. During ground is unknown. It is possible that the turtle was in
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 2 Figure 1. Post-nesting migratory pathway of a green turtle from Hong Kong. The turtle arrived at its resident foraging ground at the shallow waters of Hainan Island, China [Note: The migratory pathway was plotted with mostly positional data from LC 1-3 signals but large spatial gaps were filled using data points of LC 0, A and B following visual filtering for obvious inaccurate points. Map produced with: SEATURTLE.ORG Maptool.].
Figure 2. Short-distance movements made by a green turtle at its resident foraging ground in Hainan Island. The turtle travelled 43 km from the resident foraging ground to the north for a short stay before returning back. She travelled 25 km to the north again 8 months later [Note: Only LC 1-3 positional data were used to create this map. Map produced with: SEATURTLE.ORG Maptool].
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 3 search of suitable alternate foraging areas. Acknowledgements: We wish to acknowledge that this study The dive data in the foraging areas indicated that was supported by the Agriculture, Fisheries and the mean dive time was 20.9 ± 14.1 minutes (405 12- Conservation Department (AFCD), Hong Kong Special hour periods) and the mean number of dives per 12- Administrative Region Government of the People’s Republic of China. We are grateful to Dr. Brendan Godley, Miss Denise hour period was 43 ± 19 minutes (405 12-hour periods) Parker and the two anonymous reviewers for their helpful at the foraging ground. review and comments on the manuscript. We also thank Mr. The PTT was still transmitting as of 21 August 2003 I.C. Choi and the Nature Wardens of the AFCD for their by which time the turtle had spent more than 12 months logistical support. at the coastal waters off Wanning City. A total of 1,821 transmissions were obtained during this period, of which BALAZS, G.H., R.K. MIYA, & S.C. BEAVERS. 1996. 1.0% were Location Class (LC) 3, 2.6% LC 2, 5.6% Procedures to attach a satellite transmitter to the carapace LC 1, 9.4% LC 0, 21.8% LC A, 56.1% LC B and 3.5% of an adult green turtle, Chelonia mydas. In: J.A. Keinath, in LC Z. D.E. Barnard, J.A. Musick, and B.A. Bell (comps.), The post-nesting migratory pathway and the location Proceedings of the Fifteenth Annual Symposium on Sea of foraging grounds for the Hong Kong nesting Turtle Biology and Conservation, February 20-25, 1995, Hilton Head, South Carolina, p. 21-26. U.S. Dep. Commer. population of green turtles were entirely unknown until NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-SEFSC-387. this study was undertaken. However, although only a single individual was tracked in this study, insights were CHAN, S. 2003. Green turtles in Hong Kong. Agriculture, obtained and this study proved that satellite tracking Fisheries and Conservation Department & Friends of was a useful and effective means to find out such the Country Parks. Cosmos Books Ltd., 104 pp. information. This is particularly true in this case when CHENG, I. 2000. Post-nesting migrations of green turtles traditional tagging practice carried out for 17 years in (Chelonia mydas) at Wan-An Island, Penghu the South China region has yielded no tag return data. Archipelago, Taiwan. Marine Biology 137:747-754. Other satellite tracking studies on the post-nesting migration carried out for the green turtles in the South GODLEY, B.J., S. RICHARDSON, A.C. BRODERICK, M.S. China region by Song et al. (2002) and Cheng (2000) COYNE, F. GLEN & G. HAYS. 2002. Long-term satellite telemetry of the movements and habitat utilisation by revealed that nesting females from each population had green turtles in the Mediterranean. Ecography 25: 352– more than one migratory pathway and multiple foraging 362. grounds. Song et al. (2002) found that nesting females from Mainland China either travelled off the South China SCHROEDER, B., G.H. BALAZS & M. ROGERS. 2000. ST-14 coastline or across open waters to foraging grounds at sea turtle satellite transmitter attachment instructions. Hainan Island, China and Okinawa Island, Japan. Prepared specifically for Pacific Region Hawksbill Turtles from Taiwan had a more diverse migratory Research – Satellite Tracking Project 2000 and Caribbean Hawksbill Research – Satellite Tracking Project 1998/ pattern as reported by Cheng (2000), with their foraging 1999/2000. National Marine Fisheries Service, USA. grounds included Hainan Island, Ryukyu Archipelago, Taiwan and Japan. Further studies of other individuals SONG, X, H. WANG, W. WANG, H. GU, S. CHAN & H. JIANG. nesting in Hong Kong will provide useful additional 2002. Satellite tracking of post-nesting movements of information. green turtles Chelonia mydas from the Gangkou Sea The convergence of green turtles after nesting from Turtle National Nature Reserve, China, 2001. Marine Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong to the resident Turtle Newsletter 97: 8-9. foraging ground in Hainan Island indicates that the waters just off the coastline of Hainan Island represented an important foraging area. It is worth considering long-term measures for safeguarding this area for regional turtle stocks.
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 4 First Report of an Association Between Planes cyaneus (Decapoda:Grapsidae) and Loggerhead Sea Turtles in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean
Alvar Carranza1, Andrés Domingo2, Ana Verdi3, Rodrigo Forselledo4& Andrés Estrades5 1Sección Oceanología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Uruguay.(Email: [email protected]) 2Depto. Recursos Pelágicos, DI.NA.R.A., Uruguay 3Sección Entomología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Uruguay 4Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Uruguay 5CID/ Proyecto Karumbé. J. Paullier 1198/101, Montevideo, Uruguay.(E mail: [email protected])
Most grapsid crabs are common members of 1981; Rathbun 1902). In Uruguay, the only reports of intertidal or subtidal habitats in marine and estuarine Planes come from specimens encountered on a piece waters. However, other grapsid species, in particular of rope that was found washed up on a beach (Spivak those belonging to the genus Planes, show different & Bas 1999) and from an unspecified substratum life history traits. This genus comprises three species (Juanicó 1976). which occur primarily in oceanic, pelagic habitats: Below is the first report on the association between Planes minutus (Linnaeus 1758), Planes cyaneus P. cyaneus and C. caretta in the south-western Atlantic (Dana 1851) and Planes marinus (Rathbun 1914). Ocean. Here we present data from several specimens These crabs are often found living on a wide variety of P. cyaneus (n = 25) collected from loggerhead turtles of floating substrata, such as drifting algae (n = 18) captured as by-catch by the Uruguayan long- (Sargassum), scyphozoans (Velella), gastropods line fleet during March-November 2002. Data collection (Janthina sp.) and the shells of Spirula cephalopods was made by scientific observers of the DI.NA.R.A. (Chase 1951; Davenport 1992; Geiselman 1983). (Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos) in the Planes are also found on small pieces of polyurethane frame of the PNOFA (Programa Nacional de foam, rope, logs and even from an old refrigerator Observadores de la Flota Atunera) conducted by the (Dellinger et al. 1997; Spivak & Bas 1999). Pelagic Resources Department. All the turtles were An association between loggerhead sea turtles captured in the area between 32º 16’ and 37º 01’ S (fig. (Caretta caretta) and the oceanic, grapsid crab, Planes 1). Once on board, turtles were inspected for crabs. minutus, has been well documented (see Frick et al. Crabs were removed from turtles, labeled and frozen; 2000 for a review). Comparatively, there is a paucity turtles without crabs were also tallied to determine of information concerning the occurrence of P. m i nutus’ percent occurrence. In the laboratory, crab specimens congener, P. cyaneus, as an epibiont of sea turtles. Like were fixed in a 5% buffered formalin/seawater solution the other members of the same genus (P. minutus and for preservation. Two measurements were taken from P. marinus), P. cyaneus is dependant upon flotsam for each crab using calipers to the nearest 0.1mm: carapace survival. Planes cyaneus have been collected from the maximum length (CL) and carapace maximum width Pacific Ocean (41ºN to 35ºS), Galapagos Islands, Indian (CW). The relationship between both variables was Ocean, South-western Atlantic (Uruguay and Brazil, described by means of linear regression. The sex of west coast of tropical Africa, Santa Helena Island), north each crab was determined and each individual was Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico (Chace 1951; assigned to one of the following categories: immature 1966; Guess 1981; Juanicó 1976; Manning & Holthuis male, immature female, mature male, mature female
Males NMeanMinMaxStd.Dev. CML 10 17.5813.2 24.35 3.41 CMW 10 17.0513.0 22.65 3.10 Females N Mean Min Max Std.Dev. CML 620.21 15.80 21.80 2.23 CMW 618.98 13.10 21.10 2.94
Table 1. Number of observations, mean, minimum, maximum and standard deviations of carapace maximum length (CML) and carapace maximum width (CMW) of P. cyaneus.
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 5 and ovigerous female. Mature males were those crabs a loggerhead’s inguinal notches. Fifteen of eighteen in which the first pair of gonopods was clearly visible. turtles (83%) were colonized by at least one individual Mature females were classified on the basis of pleon of P.cyaneus. In six cases only one crab was observed width (i.e. females were considered immature if the (5 males, 1 female). Crab pairs were found on eight of pleon did not reach the coxae of walking limbs). the turtles and only one turtle harbored three adult crabs Deviations from a hypothetical sex ratio of 1:1 were (2 males, 1 female). tested using Chi- square test. All crabs were found situated in the inguinal notches, The morphometrics of each turtle collected were the cavity above each hind limb, and the tail. Of the recorded. Curved carapace length was recorded from crabs found on turtles as pairs (16 of 25 crabs), the the nuchal notch to longest posterior tip (CCL) (Bolten sample was dominated by males (n=10), but the sex 1999). Turtles were tagged using inconel tags provided ratio for the overall sample (25 crabs) did not differ by the Cooperative Marine Turtle Tagging Program significantly from the expected proportion of 1:1 (c2, (CMTTP) from the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle P>0.05). Three female crabs were classified as Research in Gainesville, Florida, USA. Turtles were immature, one as mature and two as ovigerous. All released near the site of initial capture. collected males were considered mature. The largest Eighteen turtles ranging in size from 45.0 to 71.0 crab measured was a male of 24.35 mm (CL). cm (CCL; mean = 58.8 ± 7.0 cm) were captured. In all However, the mean CL was greater in females (20.21 cases loggerheads were considered as juveniles based ± 2.23 mm) than in males (17.58 ± 3.40 mm). The same on the mean size of nesting females at the closest major was observed for CW (Table 1). Among females, the rookery (103 cm CCL at Brazil; Marcovaldi & Laurent maximum length registered was 21.80 mm. 1996). None of the turtles examined were heavily Finally, 88 % of observed variance in CW was colonized by epibionts, although isolated individuals of explained by means of linear regression. The adjusted Balanus barnacles were occasionally observed. In one model y=1.16x+0.98 was statistically significant case two unidentified amphipods were collected from (P<0.05, n=16). Regression analysis included specimens
Figure 1. Operation area of the Uruguayan longline fleet during 2002. All turtles were collected between 32º 16’ and 37º 01’ S.
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 6 belonging to both sexes and all reproductive stages. DAVENPORT, J. 1992. Observations on the ecology, behavior, The present knowledge of the association between swimming mechanism and energetics of the neustonic C. caretta and grapsid crabs is largely restricted to grapsid crab, Planes minutus. Journal of the Marine observations made on P. minutus (Davenport 1994; Biological Association of the United Kingdom 72: 611-620. Dellinger 1997; Frick et al. 2000). The observations of DAVENPORT, J. 1994. A cleaning association between the P. cyaneus are all referred to its association with sea oceanic crab Planes minutus and the loggerhead sea turtle turtles in the north Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Chace Caretta caretta. Journal of the Marine Biological 1951; Guess 1981; Steinbeck & Ricketts 1941). To our Association of the United Kingdom 74: 735-737. knowledge, this is the first report on this interaction in DELLINGER, T., J. DAVENPORT & P.WIRTZ. 1997. the south-western Atlantic. Comparisons of social structure of Columbus crabs living P. cyaneus and P. minutus seem to have similar on loggerhead sea turtles and inanimate flotsam. Journal of traits when colonizing sea turtles. For instance, the the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom observed colonization percentage (83% of the captured 77: 185-194. turtles) is similar to that reported by Dellinger et al. (1997), who observed that 82% of Caretta caretta FRICK, M., K. WILLIAMS & D.VELJACIC. 2000. Additional were colonized by P. minutus near Madeira. Sex ratios evidence supporting a cleaning association between epibiotic crabs and sea turtles: How will the harvest of of crabs and number of crabs per turtle were also sargassum seaweed impact this relationship? Marine Turtle similar, with the exception of the three mature crabs Newsletter 90:11-13 coexisting on one turtle. The observed mean of CL and CW shows that P. cyaneus are bigger than P. minutus GEISELMAN, J.1983.The food web of the Sargassum when colonizing sea turtles, a similar difference noted community. Special Publication. Bermuda Biological Station between the two species when occupying substrates 22: 261-270. other than turtles by Chace (1951). GUESS, R.C. 1981. A Pacific Loggerhead captured of California’s northern Channel Islands. Herpetological Acknowledgements: We are grateful to M.G. Frick and other Review 12: 15. anonymous reviewers for providing comments that greatly improved the original manuscript. Special thanks to Peter JUANICÓ, M. 1976. Sobre la distribución geográfica de Eliazar (CMTTP, ACCSTR) for providing the inconel tags; to Planes minutus (L. 1758) y P.cynaeus Dana 1852 (Crustacea- the fishing companies, ship crews and scientific observers Decapoda). Dusenia Curitiba 9:145-150. who collected the material for this study. Karumbé Project is supported by the British Petroleum Conservation Programme MANNING, R.B. & L.B.HOLTHUIS.1981.West African and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. brachyuran crabs (Crustacea:Decapoda). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 306:1-379.
BOLTEN, A.B. 1999. Techniques for Measuring Sea Turtles. MARCOVALDI, M.Â. & LAURENT, A., 1996. A six season pp. 110-114. In: ECKERT, K.L., BJORNDAL, K.A, F.A. study of marine turtle nesting ay Praia do Forte, Bahia, ABREU-GROBOIS & M. DONELLY. (Editors). Research and Brazil, with Implications for conservation and management. Management Techniques for the Conservation of Sea Chelonian Conservation and Biology 2: 55-59. Turtles. IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group RATHBUN, M.J. 1902. Papers from the Hopkins Stanford Publication N° 4. Galapagos Expedition, 1898-1899, VIII: Brachyura and CHACE, F. 1951. The oceanic crabs of the genera Planes and Macrura. Proceeding of the Washington Academy of Pachygrapsus. Proceedings of the United States National Science 4: 275-292. Museum 101: 65-103. SPIVAK, E.D. & M.C.BAS .1999. First finding of the pelagic CHACE, F.1966.Decapod crustaceans from St. Helena Island, crab Planes Marinus (Decapoda: Grapsidae) in the South Atlantic. Proceedings of the United States National southwestern Atlantic. Journal of Crustacean Biology 19: Museum 118:623-660. 72-76.
CRANE, J. 1937. The Templeton Crocker expedition. III. STEINBECK, J. & E.F. RICKETTS. 1941. Sea of Cortez. Brachygnathous crabs from the Gulf of California and the Privately Published, New York, 598 pp. west coast of lower California. Zoologica New York 22: 47-78.
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 7 Hawksbill Turtles in Seagrass Beds
Carlos E. Diez1, Ximena Vélez-Zuazo2 & Robert P. van Dam2 1Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales. P.O. Box 906600, San Juan, PR 00906-6000 (E-mail: [email protected]) 2Chelonia Inc. P.O. Box 9020708, San Juan, PR 00902-0708 (E-mail: [email protected] & [email protected]) Coral reefs are often reported as prime habitat of Visual turtle surveys at the Manglar study site were the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata; Carr & conducted with four observers using a small boat and Stancyk 1975; León & Mota 1996). Several authors slowly navigating parallel to the shore. On some (Van Dam & Diez 1996 & 1998; Witzell 1983) have occasions we made attempts to catch sighted turtles. described sparse hard-bottom communities, cliff-wall This was mostly accomplished by following a sighted habitats with soft corals and invertebrates as important animal until it tired and then by diving onto it from the benthic developmental habitat for hawksbills. Other bow of the boat (following Ehrhart & Ogren 1999). studies (Andares & Uchida 1994; Limpus 1992; Van The survey transects start and end points, and turtle Dam & Diez 1997b; Vicente & Carballeira 1991) also capture locations were recorded using a GPS receiver. indicate the hawksbill’s preference for coral reef The relative sighting frequency (RSF) of sea turtles ecosystems. Such habitat characterizations have led to at the Manglar site was evaluated by dividing the number area estimates of potential habitat for hawksbill turtles of turtles captured or sighted by the time spent using the distribution of coral reefs (Buitrago & Guada surveying, with surveys typically lasting one hour for a 2002; Meylan et al. 1997; Prieto et al. 2001). Some total of three sessions. One session was conducted researchers, however, have also reported occasional during morning hours and two sessions in the afternoon, hawksbill sightings in other habitats, such as lagoons for two days. The estimated size of all turtles was with seagrass areas in the Bahamas (Bjorndal & Bolten recorded together with species. All turtles handled were 1988). measured, weighed and marked on both front flippers A similar pattern has often been observed with green with 681c style inconel tags. Individuals were also turtles (Chelonia mydas). For example, aggregations checked for the presence of internal passive integrated of this species, which are usually associated with transponder (PIT) tags. seagrass beds as their main feeding grounds, are also A total of 23 hawksbills and four green turtles were reported on coral reefs (Balazs 1979; Hirth 1992). As sighted during the boat surveys totaling three hours. with green turtles, it is probable that hawksbill turtles Nine of the 27 turtles were captured. The resulting frequently use habitats other than coral reefs for feeding mean RSF for Manglar is 7.7 hawksbills per hour. The and development. Here we report on the results of a size range of the hawksbills captured was 29 to 41 cm preliminary in-water survey for marine turtles conducted curved carapace length (nuchal notch to posteriormost on June 2003, along the southeast coast of the tip; CCLn-t; n=8), and sighted turtles were all estimated Dominican Republic, where we encountered a to be from 25 to 50 cm carapace length. Four green significant aggregation of juvenile hawksbill turtles in a turtles were seen and one captured (measuring 33.3 shallow seagrass habitat. cm CCLn-t). All green turtles observed were thought Manglar Study Site is located at Saona Island on to be approximately 30 cm CCL. the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic (fig. 1). Although our survey at Saona Island was far from This site is characterized by seagrass beds protected complete, we note that a significant number of juvenile by a reef breaker forming a lagoon, where water depth turtles are present, and specifically that hawksbill turtles ranges from 0.5 to 2 meters. The dominant seagrass inhabit this seagrass community. Whereas other reports species are turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) and of sporadic hawksbills residing in seagrass habitats exist, manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme). Several we believe the Manglar site is one of the first species of algae (i.e. Halimeda incrasssata, Penicillus documented seagrass communities demonstrating a dumetosus and Udotea flabellum), and small colonies large abundance of hawksbill turtles. The high RSF of of corals (i.e. Monastrea sp.and Diploria sp.) were hawksbills recorded compares with study sites of also found at scattered locations throughout the area important aggregations of this species. For example, a (Vega et al. 1997, pers.obs.). The chicken-liver sponge catch per unit effort of 3.4 and 4.7 hawksbills per hour (Chondrilla nucula) was also found encrusted among have been recorded at Mona-Monito Island and Jaragua, the turtle grass. Dominican Republic, respectively (Diez & Van Dam
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 8 2001; León & Diez 1999). We regard that this area is a Acknowledgements: To all the staff of Ecoparque, Inc. and developmental habitat, from the size range of turtles the Comandancia de la Marina de Guerra de Bayahibe, Rep. observed and captured in the area. Even though we did Dominicana for the logistical and human support provided not conduct stomach content analyses, we speculate in the field. We would like to especially thank Kelvin Guerrero that these hawksbills are feeding on sponges such as and our field assistants: Pedro Javier Santana, Félix Soto, Bienvenido, Chichi, El Negro Milady and El Toro. Also, we chicken liver sponge (C. nucula), which is a common want to thanks Matilde Mota from the Ministerio del Medio prey item for Caribbean juvenile hawksbills elsewhere Ambiente de la República Dominicana for arranging the (Andares & Uchida 1994; Leon & Bjorndal 2002; research permit and Karen Bjorndal for kindly reviewing this Meylan 1988; Van Dam & Diez 1997a). manuscript. Project support came from Japan Bekko In conclusion, juvenile hawksbill turtles living in Association, Ecoparque Inc., Chelonia, Inc., and habitats other than coral reefs may be more common Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de than suspected. Further examination of other benthic Puerto Rico. communities for the presence of hawksbill turtles may widen the scope of characteristic habitats recognized ANDARES, B.L. & I. UCHIDA. 1994. Study of hawksbill turtle for this species in the Caribbean. We caution that not (Eretmochelys imbricata) stomach contents in Cuban Waters. In: Study of the hawksbill turtle in Cuba (I). only the most characteristic habitat type should be Ministry of Fishing Industry, Cuba. pp. 27-40. examined in any determination of the conservation status of sea turtle species. BALAZS, G.H. 1979. Growth, food sources and migrations of immature Hawaiian Chelonia mydas. Marine Turtle Newsletter 10:1-3.
Figure 1. Map of surveyed area at Saona Island, Parque Nacional del Este, Dominican Republic.
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 9 BJORNDAL, K.A. & A.B. BOLTEN. 1988. Growth rates cubanas. 1er Dialogo de CITES sobre tortuga carey en el of immature green turtles, Chelonia mydas, on feeding Caribe. Ministerio de la Industria Pesquera, República de grounds in the southern Bahamas. Copeia 1988: 555-564 Cuba. 18 pp.
BUITRAGO, J. & H.J. GUADA. 2002. La tortuga carey VAN DAM, R.P. & C.E. DIEZ.1996. Diving behavior of (Eretmochelys imbricata) en Venezuela. Interciencia. 27: immature hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata) in a 392-399. Caribbean cliff wall habitat. Marine Biology 127:170-178.
CARR, A. & S. STANCYK. 1975. Observations on the VAN DAM, R. & C.E. DIEZ. 1997a. Predation by hawksbill ecology and survival outlook of the hawksbill turtle. turtles on sponges at Mona Island, Puerto Rico. In: Biological Conservation 8:161-172. Proceedings of the 8th International Coral Reef Symposium 2: 1421-1426. DIEZ, C.E. & R.P. VAN DAM. 2001. Mona and Monito Island Hawksbill Research Project: Report for 2000. VAN DAM, R.P. & C.E. DIEZ. 1997b. Diving behavior of Technical Report. US National Marine Fisheries Service. immature hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in a 17 pp. Caribbean reef habitat. Coral Reefs 16: 133-138.
EHRHART, L.M. & L.H. OGREN. 1999. Studies in Foraging VAN DAM, R.P. & C.E. DIEZ.1998. Monito Island- Prime Habitats: Capturing and Handling Turtles. In: Eckert, K.L. habitat for the hawksbill turtle. In: Epperly, S.P.(compiler) K.A. Bjorndal, F.A. Abreu-Grobois & M. Donnelly Proceedings of the 17th InternationalSymposium of Sea (Editors). Research and Management Techniques for Turtle Biology and Conservation. NOAA Technical Conservation of Sea Turtles. IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-415. Specialist Group Publication No. 4. pp. 61-64. VEGA, M, M. CHIAPPONE; G. A. DELGADO; R. WRIGHT; & HIRTH, H. 1992. A natural assemblage of immature green K. M. SULLIVAN. 1997. Evaluación Ecológica Integral del (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys Parque Nacional del Este, República Dominicana. Tomo 2: imbricata) turtles on the fringing reef of Wuvulu Island, Recursos Marinos. The Nature Conservancy 93 pp. Papua New Guinea. Micronesica 25: 145-153. VICENTE, V.P. & N.M. CARBALLEIRA. 1991. Studies on the LEON, Y.M. & K.A.Bjorndal. 2002. Selective feeding in the feeding ecology of the hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys hawksbill turtle, an important predator in coral reef imbricata, in Puerto Rico. In: Salmon, M. and Wyneken, ecosystems. Marine Ecology Progress Series 245: 249- J. (Compliers). Proceedings of the 11th Annual Workshop 258. on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-302. Miami, Fl. pp. 117-120. LEÓN Y.M & C.E. DIEZ. 1999. Population structure of hawksbill turtles on a foraging ground in the Dominican WITZELL, W.N. 1983. Synopsis of biological data on Republic. Chelonian Conservation Biology 3: 230-236. hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata (Linnaeus, 1766). FAO Fisheries synopsis 137. 78 pp. LEÓN, Y. & M.J. MOTA. 1996. Unpublished Thesis. Aspectos de la Ecología y Estructura Poblacional de la tortuga marina carey (Eretmochelys imbricata) en el área del Parque Nacional Jaragua. Dept. de Biología, UASD. Santo Domingo. 98 pp.
LIMPUS, C.J. 1992. The hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, in Queensland: Population structure within a southern Great Barrier Reef feeding ground. Wildlife Research 19: 489-506.
MEYLAN, A.B. 1988. Spongivory of hawksbill turtles: a diet of glass. Science 239: 393-395.
MEYLAN, A.B., A. BASS, D.T. CROUSE, M.DONNELLY, K.L.ECKERT & R. MARQUEZ. 1997. Biology and Status of the Hawksbill in the Caribbean. IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group. Washington, DC USA. 53 pp.
PRIETO, A.; F. MONCADA, G. WEBB, C. MANOLIS, R. GÓMEZ. 2001. Aspectos biológicos y ecológicos relacionados con la población de tortuga carey en aguas
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 10 Loggerhead Nesting Effort and Conservation Initiatives at the Monitored Beaches of Greece during 2002
Dimitris Margaritoulis & Alan F. Rees ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, Solomou 57, GR-10432 Athens, Greece (E-mail: [email protected])
Approximately 99% of the documented nesting emergences, of which 2380 (24.9%) resulted in nests. effort of the loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, in the The number of nests per area, during 2002, was within Mediterranean occurs in Greece (60.6%), Turkey the range of values recorded during previous seasons (27.1%) and Cyprus (11.4%) (Margaritoulis et al. in (Table 2) and nesting density varied correspondingly press). Libya may host large numbers of nests (Laurent (from 7.5 nests/km in the Bay of Messara to 213.6 nests/ et al. 1997) but this has not yet been quantified by a km in Laganas Bay) thus each nesting area maintained monitoring programme. its ranking according to Margaritoulis (2000). Following nesting data from several seasons, nesting Nesting success varied from area to area; the areas in Greece have been classified as “major” or lowest nesting success was recorded in Lakonikos Bay “moderate” (Margaritoulis 2000). “Major” nesting areas (21.1%) and the highest in southern Kyparissia Bay are those hosting on average more than 100 nests/season (33.2%) (Table 1). Inter-area variation in nesting and over 6 nests/km/season. Five areas in Greece fulfill success is generally caused by diversity of nesting the requirements for “major” areas: Laganas Bay habitat. Highest success is generally recorded on (Zakynthos island), Kyparissia Bay (western extensive beaches with ample sand and lower success Peloponnesus), Rethymno (Crete), Lakonikos Bay for more narrow or pebbly beaches. Anthropogenic (southern Peloponnesus) and the Bay of Chania (Crete disturbances can further reduce the nesting success on island) (Margaritoulis 2000). The above locations are all beach types. monitored each season by ARCHELON as part of a Loggerhead nesting in Greece is highly seasonal. systematic and standardised long-term monitoring The nesting season usually extends from end of May project. However, of the 44-km Kyparissia Bay, only to late August (Margaritoulis & Rees 2001). For 2002, the southernmost 9.5 km are monitored as they host the duration of the nesting season (from first to last 83.9% of the total nesting effort along the entire Bay nest) ranged from 70 days in Rethymno to 94 days in (Margaritoulis & Rees 2001). Further, whenever southern Kyparissia Bay (Table 3). resources permit, some “moderate” areas are also Conservational aspects monitored. During the 2002 nesting season, besides the All five “major” nesting areas in Greece plus the Bay above five “major” areas, two “moderate” areas were of Messara are included in the proposed network of also monitored: Bay of Messara (Crete) and Koroni protected areas entitled NATURA 2000, as part of the (southern Peloponnesus) (Fig. 1). Habitats Directive of the European Union. Further, the During 2002, a total of 9991 emergences, of which nesting beaches in Laganas Bay and surrounding 2496 (25.0%) resulted in nests, were recorded in the marine and terrestrial areas were declared a National above seven nesting areas, totaling in length 73.2 km Marine Park in 1999 (Dimopoulos 2001). The nesting (tab. 1). The five “major” areas hosted in total 9575 areas of southern Kyparissia Bay, Rethymno,
Nesting Beach length Number of Overall nesting Nesting area Number of nests density (km) emergences success (%) (nests/km) Laganas Bay (Zakynthos) 5.5 5123 1175 22.9 213.6 Southern Kyparissia Bay 9.5 1784 593 33.2 62.4 Rethymno 10.8 1347 325 24.1 30.1 Lakonikos Bay 23.5 888 187 21.1 8.0 Bay of Chania 13.1 433 100 23.1 7.6 Bay of Messara 8.1 227 61 26.9 7.5 Koroni 2.7 189 55 29.1 20.4
Total 73.2 9991 2496 25.0 34.1 Table 1. Main nesting data for seven areas monitored during 2002 in Greece. Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 11 Figure 1. Sketch map of Greece, showing the approximate position of the seven nesting areas, monitored during 2002. Map produced with: SEATURTLE.ORG Maptool Lakonikos Bay and Bay of Chania feature specific 2001). Management Plans, which are implemented by In all seven areas there is a strong public awareness ARCHELON in cooperation with local authorities and component operated through seasonal information stakeholders (Irvine et al. 2000, Margaritoulis & Rees stations, slide presentations mainly given at tourist
Minimum Maximum Number of Nesting area number of number of monitoring Data source nests/season nests/season seasons Laganas Bay (Zakynthos) 857 2018 14 Margaritoulis 2000 Southern Kyparissia Bay 331 779 8 Margaritoulis & Rees 2001, Rees et al . 2002 Rethymno 316 516 8 Margaritoulis 2000 Lakonikos Bay 107 220 6 Margaritoulis 2000 Bay of Chania 77 192 6 Margaritoulis 2000 Bay of Messara 15 80 8 Margaritoulis et al. in press Koroni 35 66 8 Margaritoulis & Rees in press Table 2. Maximum and minimum annual numbers of nests recorded per monitored area in Greece during previous seasons.
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 12 Nesting area Date of first Date of last nest Duration of nest nesting (days) Laganas Bay (Zakynthos) 23 May 22 August 92 Southern Kyparissia Bay 25 May 26 August 94 Rethymno 1 June 9 August 70 Lakonikos Bay 3 June 14 August 73 Bay of Chania 30 May 18 August 81 Bay of Messara 4 June 21 August 79 Koroni 31 May* 16 August 78 * Estimated at first survey (4 June) Table 3. Start/end dates and duration of nesting season per monitored area in Greece during 2002
installations, on-site instructions provided to visitors Nineteenth Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle and participation in various local cultural events. It is Conservation and Biology. NOAA Technical estimated that over 165,000 visitors were provided Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-443. National Marine turtle information during 2002 in the seven nesting Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, areas. Further, in the course of projects co-funded by Miami, USA. pp. 49-52. the European Commission, two permanent LAURENT, L., M.N. BRADAI, D.A. HADOUD & H.M. Environmental Centres have recently been created in EL GOMATI. 1997. Assessment of sea turtle nesting strategic locations in Lakonikos Bay and in southern activity in Libya. Marine Turtle Newsletter 76: 2-6. Kyparissia Bay (Margaritoulis & Rees 2001; Rees et MARGARITOULIS, D. 2000. An estimation of the overall al. 2002). These Centres, established in collaboration nesting activity of the loggerhead turtle in Greece. In: with local communities, feature residential facilities for F.A. Abreu-Grobois, R. Briseño-Dueñas, R. Márquez- researchers and exhibitions for visitors; they also offer Millán & L. Sarti-Martinez (compilers). Proceedings of guided tours to nearby ecosystems (e.g. coastal forest, the Eighteenth International Sea Turtle Symposium. dunes). The Centres operate throughout the year and NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-436. National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries are mostly visited by Greek schoolchildren. Science Center, Miami, USA. pp. 48-50. Acknowledgements: Permits were provided by the Ministry MARGARITOULIS, D., & A.F. REES. In Press. Loggerhead of Agriculture and the Ministry of Environment. We thank nesting in Koroni, southern Peloponnesus, Greece: ARCHELON’s personnel for organizing and supporting the Nesting data 1995-2002. Proceedings of the Twenty Third project. Many thanks go to project coordinators Andreas International Sea Turtle Symposium. 17 - 21 March 2003, Koutsodendris (Peloponnesus), Aliki Panagopoulou (Crete) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. and Harris Strantzalos (Zakynthos). The project would not MARGARITOULIS, D., & A.F. REES. 2001. The have succeeded without the dedicated work of several Loggerhead Turtle, Caretta caretta, population nesting hundred volunteers from many countries. Special thanks to in Kyparissia Bay, Peloponnesus, Greece: Results of field leaders and assistants Andrew Bishop, Phil Bradshaw, beach surveys over seventeen seasons and determination Filipa Braganca, Owen Brown, Christina Davy, Marina Dias, of the core nesting habitat. Zoology in the Middle East Lana Emo, Maria Georgomitrou, Alexander Kazantzis, Sandra 24: 75-90. Mueller, Susana Pereira, Lawrence Roberts, Freya St John, Michael Sturt, Lu Young and Judith Zbinden. Finally, we MARGARITOULIS, D., R. ARGANO, I. BARAN, F. would like to thank three anonymous reviewers who provided BENTIVEGNA, M. N. BRADAI, J. A. CAMINAS, P. comments on a previous version of this manuscript. CASALE, G. DE METRIO, A. DEMETROPOULOS, G. GEROSA, B. J. GODLEY, D. A. HADDOUD, J. HOUGHTON, L. LAURENT & B. LAZAR. In press. DIMOPOULOS, D. 2001. The National Marine Park of Loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean: Present Zakynthos: A refuge for the Loggerhead Turtle in the knowledge and conservation perspectives. In A.B. Bolten Mediterranean. Marine Turtle Newsletter 93: 5-9. & B.E. Witherington (editors). Loggerhead Sea Turtles. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C., USA. IRVINE, C., D. MARGARITOULIS & T. ARAPIS. 2000. The role of a non-governmental organization in sea turtle REES, A.F., E. TZOVANI & D. MARGARITOULIS. 2002. conservation and management planning in Greece. In: H. Conservation activities for the protection of the Kalb & T. Wibbels (compilers). Proceedings of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) in Kyparissia Bay, during 2001. Testudo 5: 45-54.
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 13 Loggerhead Sea Turtle Tagged in Brazil Caught by a Trawler in Waters of the Common Argentinian-Uruguayan Fishing Area
Martín Laporta1 & Gustave Lopez2 1C.I.D., Proyecto Karumbé, Tortugas Marinas del Uruguay J. Paullier 1198/101, Montevideo, Uruguay, (E-mail: [email protected]) 2Projeto TAMAR-IBAMA. Caixa Postal 2219 Salvador, Bahia, CEP 40223-970 Brazil (E-mail: [email protected]) On March 22, 2002 the trawler Besugo II Currently, TAMAR and Karumbé are developing an incidentally caught an adult female loggerhead sea turtle “Action Plan for the Reduction of Incidental Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) in waters of the common Argentinian- Capture in Fisheries”. The cooperation between both Uruguayan Fishing Area (36º10’S and 56º05’W), near projects is extremely important to achieve success in Rouen Bank, southwest of Montevideo. The turtle was the conservation of sea turtles in Brazil, Uruguay and dead when the net was hauled and it had only one tag elsewhere. with the number BR12309 (Monel 681 tag, National Acknowledgements: Karumbé Project is supported by the Band Co., Newport, KY, USA). The turtle was tagged British Petroleum Conservation Programme, and National Fish on October 21, 1995 at one of Projeto TAMAR’s and Wildlife Foundation. TAMAR is supported by Petrobras, o o stations in Arembepe, Bahia (12 45’S 38 10’W), and affiliated with IBAMA and co-administrated by the Pró- had not been observed in the seven intervening years. TAMAR Foundation. We thank the fisherman Andres Vidal At the time of tagging, the turtle measured 107.5 cm for collecting the turtle and contacting Karumbé Project, and CCLn-t. and 95.5 cm CCW. Measurements taken by Neca Marcovaldi and Philip Miller for their comments. the Karumbé Project seven years later were identical. Both projects use the measurement methods outlined ALMEIDA, A.P, C. BAPTISTOTTE & J.A. SCHINEIDER. by Bolten (1999). 2000. Loggerhead turtle tagged in Brazil found in Uruguay. This is the first loggerhead turtle tagged in Bahia Marine Turtle Newsletter 87:10. and then recaptured by an Uruguayan fishing vessel. BOLTEN, A. B. 1999. Techniques for measuring sea turtles. Almeida et al. (2000) registered a case in which a In: Eckert, K.L., Bjorndal, K.A., Abreu-Grobois, F.A. & loggerhead sea turtle tagged in the Brazilian state of Donnelly, M. (Editors). Research and Management Espírito Santo, was found stranded in Uruguay. Together Techniques for the Conservation of Sea Turtles. IUCN/ these data suggest that some Brazilian loggerhead sea SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group Publications Nº 4 pp. turtles may migrate to Uruguayan waters to feed. 110-114.
MEETING REPORTS
Report on the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Sea Turtle Conservation Network of the Californias
Zoe Rappoport & Wallace J. Nichols WiLDCOAST International Conservation Team, Post Office Box 324, Davenport, California, 95017 USA (E-mail: [email protected])
The 5th Annual meeting of the Grupo Tortuguero de Attendance has grown from 45 people in 1999 to las Californias (Sea Turtle Conservation Network of more than 240 this year, with sea turtle interests the Californias) was held in Loreto, B.C.S., Mexico represented from the United States, Mexico, Nicaragua, from January 24-26, 2003. The network is comprised Japan, Guatemala, Peru, and New Zealand. Participants of a growing sea turtle conservation constituency attended multi-media presentations on turtle health, including fishermen, their families, nonprofit nesting, sea turtle reserves, and protection. Network organizations, government agencies, scientists, students, members from the entire Baja California peninsula and interested community members. The theme of this shared community reports on the progress of their year’s meeting was “Saving Sea Turtles, One Person monitoring and protection efforts. Smaller groups at a Time”. attended workshops on communicating conservation
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 14 messages to the media, ecotourism, monitoring The meeting met its goal of providing a regional techniques, and analyzing turtle health. forum for sharing information, working through difficult This year’s highlights included an original sea turtle situations, making friends and partners, learning new protection song performed by the Mulege student club techniques, and comparing experiences – all part of and a viewing of new marine protection video footage. the community-based effort to recover endangered sea Also in attendance was Francisco “Gordo” Fischer (see turtles along the coast of the Californias. front cover), a former sea turtle poacher responsible The Sixth Annual Meeting of the Grupo Tortuguero for killing as many as 2,000 turtles a year to supply the de las Californias will be held in Los Cabos, BCS, black market demand. After serving jail time for Mexico on 23-25th of January 2004 (location to be poaching, Francisco has joined the Grupo Tortuguero’s arranged). Please contact: Zoe Rappoport: international campaign to halt the slaughter of turtles,
African Reunion at the Second International Congress on Chelonian Conservation, Saly, Senegal (June 18-22, 2003)
Manjula Tiwari1, Jacques Fretey2 & Angela Formia3 1Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA (E-mail: [email protected]) 2 UICN-France, Laboratoire d’Evolution, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, 36 rue Geoffroy St. Hilaire, Paris 75005, France (E-mail: [email protected]) 3 School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3TL, UK (E-mail: [email protected])
This reunion on sea turtle research and conservation Location of the regional office for the Memorandum in Africa was a small gathering of 14 people of Abidjan (Memorandum of Understanding Concerning representing eight countries, of which four were African Conservation Measures for Marine Turtles of the countries. Important highlights from the meeting are: Atlantic Coast of Africa) was discussed. Initially, the Changes within the CMS (Convention for Migratory Ivory Coast had been envisioned as the site of the Species, Bonn, Germany) affecting the African sea turtle regional office. However, due to political instability in programme were announced. Douglas Hykle, Deputy the country since 1999, the regional office has been Executive Secretary of the CMS who was spearheading housed within the European program ECOFAC in the West African sea turtle programme has moved to Libreville, Gabon. Currently, discussions are underway Bangkok, Thailand. The program has been transferred with the University of Dakar, Senegal, to permanently to Marco Barbieri at the CMS. install the regional office in an old malacology laboratory The use of PIT tags was suggested, and the belonging to IFAN (Institut Fondamental d’Afrique possibility of acquiring flipper tags and applicators from Noir) on the island of Gorée (opposite Dakar). Senegal France and the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle was chosen because of its leadership in conservation Research in Florida was discussed. It was also and environmental issues, its role within NEPAD (New emphasized that projects be very careful not to duplicate Partnership for Africa’s Development), and its general flipper tag numbers. political stability.
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 15 Two Resolutions that were being written at the that has been involved financially and logistically with Congress by Jacques Fretey, Jack Frazier, Angela the African sea turtle program, to sign the Memorandum Formia and Manjula Tiwari were briefly mentioned at of Abidjan. The second resolution is addressed to the this meeting, and presented to all Congress participants FAO, encouraging it to support the development and on the last day, which was dedicated to marine turtles. implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding The first resolution encourages the European Union, for the Atlantic coast of Africa, by co-operating with and the governments of the United Kingdom, Spain, the Secretariat of the CMS, within the context of the and Portugal that have territories in the region FAO Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) and (Ascension Island, St. Helena, Canary Islands, and the the FAO International Plan of Action on Illegal, Azores and Madeira) and the government of France Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA-IUU).
IUCN-SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group, Annual General Meeting 21st March 2003
Perran Ross Interim Administrator, MTSG, Florida Museum of Natural History, Box 117800, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA (E-mail: [email protected])
The meeting was convened at the conclusion of the use. The issue of ‘use’ needs to be addressed within 23rd Annual Sea Turtle Symposium, held in Kuala the SSC-IUCN context, and appropriate activities, Lumpur, Malaysia, and was attended by some 30 technical advice and advocacy defined. MTSG members and a similar number of observers. The participants agreed on the need for mission re- The agenda included discussions regarding recent definition through a structured ‘retreat’ or workshop interactions between the MTSG and SSC-IUCN and which was completely transparent and involved CITES on the hawksbill turtle issue which resulted in consultation of the whole membership to address the the resignation of the MTSG chairman and a breakdown mission. This process would also enhance the of confidence between MTSG and SSC, and addressed development of appropriate structure, communication the mission and goals of MTSG, examined the changes and leadership. As it is not feasible or effective to have needed in structure to achieve that mission, the whole membership meet, the group suggested a communication within the MTSG, and the issue of new process of inviting comments, circulation and review leadership. of drafts, and inputs through representatives of the full diversity of opinion in MTSG. The MTSG Mission Statement Developed and published in 1995 in five languages, MTSG Structure many members are still unfamiliar with the document, It was agreed that while membership in the MTSG and several felt it was of broad coverage and not confers significant prestige on members, a balance is adequately responsive to current situations. The needed between number of members, diversity of views participants felt there was a need for a review of the and effective operation. The current membership does mission statement to ensure it properly identifies and not completely reflect either diversity of views or directs the current and future niche and activities. The geographic distribution of experts and needs updating, role of the MTSG within and among other organizations and the diversity of views and regions represented in (e.g. Sea Turtle Society, SEATURTLE.ORG, Marine the executive should be expanded. The importance of Turtle Newsletter, WIDECAST and numerous other allowing and recognizing diverse views and minority regional and national networks), through which there is opinions and giving these effective voice was potential for strongly synergistic and complementary emphasized, in particular scientific, political and socio- joint activities, also needs clarification. The mission cultural influences in effective conservation. Finally, the statement should be compatible with the existing mission group indicated that effective group function would be and policy of SSC-IUCN, and must clarify the role of enhanced by a full time program officer. the MTSG in connection with conservation and resource
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 16 Communication within the MTSG restoring the confidence of the group. The concept of It was noted that communication was a two way sharing leadership roles, which would reduce the process and that members needed to initiate contact administrative burden on the chairs and allow with regional coordinators and the leadership directly representation of divergent views at the highest level to raise issues or express alternative views. Openness, and responsibilities, was widely supported, provided principled discussion and respectful tolerance of dissent there was transparent mechanisms to ensure full would dissuade a polarity of views in the long-run. The communication and conflict resolution between co- participants indicated that communication from the chairs. leadership and executive to the general membership In conclusion, the meeting clearly supported the needed enhancing. Tools to achieve improved concept of examination of the MTSG mission through communication are already in place through web pages a workshop-retreat process. Diverse representation in (http://www.seaturtle.org/, http://www.iucn-mtsg.org/ the executive, and wide consultation with the ) and a dedicated list server ([email protected] membership are recommended. Improving mtsg.org) and an offer of regular space in the Marine communication throughout MTSG must be implemented Turtle Newsletter. The new leadership should develop and the identification of candidates recommended to and use these as a matter of urgency. SSC for appointment to the chair is an integral part of these processes. Leadership of MTSG Many members expressed deep dismay and concern Note added in proof: After extensive consultation, Rod at recent events surrounding MTSG leadership changes. Mast and Nick Pilcher were invited by the SSC chair The interim administrator, new leadership, executive and to take over as co-chairs of the MTSG and are now SSC leadership need to recognize that constructive reviewing and implementing these recommendations discussion and action on these matters are crucial to (see Pilcher & Mast MTN 102: 18-19).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Marine Turtle Nesting Site Evaluation Survey, Turkey 2003
Hanneke Nijland & Ayse Oruç WWF Turkey - Marine and Coast Section, Büyük Posthane Caddesi no: 43-45 kat: 5-6 Bahçekapi Istanbul, Turkey (E-mail: [email protected], [email protected])
Seventeen beaches along the Turkish Mediterranean same time marine turtle conservation efforts and coast, designated as ‘Marine Turtle Nesting Beaches’ initiatives at local, national and international level are to by the Ministry of Environment, host regionally be promoted. The situation report produced will be sent important numbers of Caretta caretta and Chelonia to all relevant authorities to be used as a site- mydas. Since the comprehensive surveys of 1988 and safeguarding guide for better management of marine 1994, although universities have monitored some turtle nesting sites. It will be available in print in Turkish particular nesting sites regularly, the complete status from December 2003 and in English as PDF-file on the assessment has not been undertaken. To provide this WWF Turkey website:
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 17 IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group News
Nicolas J. Pilcher1 & Roderic B. Mast2 1Marine Research Foundation, 1-3A-7 The Peak, Lorong Puncak 1, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Malaysia, Tel/Fax ++ 60 88 243000, (Email: [email protected]) 2CI Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, 1919 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 USA, Tel ++ 202 912-1216, (Email: [email protected])
It has been a few months now since our appointment the world’s far-flung turtle conservationists, it only makes as Co-Chairs of the IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist sense to use this tool to assure that news of the MTSG’s Group (MTSG), and while things may appear to be quiet, activities reaches you all. The MTSG has recently reality is far from that. Taking on the responsibility for provided financial support to the seaturtle.org website a large and diverse group such as the MTSG in the as well, which continues to provide people, governments wake of the successful and productive leadership of and organizations around the world with current and Alberto Abreu has proven to be daunting, and we now newsworthy information and scientific data on marine wonder how one person alone ever managed to hold turtles, and also serves as the host of the soon-to-be down the fort! To Alberto, past Chairs Karen Bjorndal re-vamped MTSG website. These are just a few of a and Neca Marcovaldi, and Interim Chair, Perran Ross, number of initiatives to assure effective communications we herewith offer a heartfelt thank-you, and tip our among MTSG members; you’ll be hearing more about hats to you for having done so well. Though we may the website, upcoming meetings and other advances in have said it before in other fora, it is worth repeating the near future. here again that we are grateful for this opportunity to Most importantly, do not be shy about serve, and we commit to do our best for the membership, communicating with us. Communications is not a one- the IUCN/SSC and, of course, for the turtles. way street, remember, and we need to hear from the The two of us held our first face-to-face meeting as membership, so do keep in touch regularly please, with Co-Chairs in Costa Rica in July, where Rod has been issues of concern to the MTSG. This has already begun working on preparations for the upcoming 24th Annual with regard to items such as the IAC deliberations, the Sea Turtle Symposium. We reviewed together the list South Africa program, Red Lists, turtle conservation of concerns that had arisen from within the Group and issues in Puerto Rico, the hawksbill trade, and a few the SSC Leadership to that point, and discussed other themes. strategies for addressing the most important of them. On the heels of “improved communication”, the most Topics that we had been tasked to address included: 1) oft-repeated piece of advice to us from past MTSG improved communication; 2) MTSG staffing, structure Chairs and other SSC Group Chairs was, “hire a and membership, and; 3) MTSG vision and strategy, to competent Program Officer as soon as possible,” so name a few. we wasted no time. Though it is tough to fill the shoes This marks the first time in recent history that the of Marydele Donelly, whom we thank profusely for her MTSG has been headed by Co-Chairs rather than a years of service to the MTSG, we have appointed Brian single Chairperson, and this arrangement presents Hutchinson as acting Program Officer as of August challenges in terms of information flow, particularly in 1st. Brian studied Zoology at Connecticut College in light of the fact that Rod is in Washington and Nick in New London, CT, specializing in tropical amphibian Borneo. Thus to assure that nothing falls through the e- studies and general tropical biology. He has worked cracks, we have created a joint e-mail account at: with the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and in Ecuador
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 18 like to announce the recent appointment of new the Chelonian Research Foundation for financial members Grahame Webb, Charlie Manolis, Mark management of MTSG funds, and we wish to extend a Hamman, Maria Jose Barragan and Mario Boza. We word of thanks to MTSG member Anders Rhodin for take this opportunity to welcome them to the fold, and his willingness to assist us in this endeavor. Rod had a we look forward to their input. Moreover, we are productive meeting with Alberto Abreu in Mexico City, revising the New Member Guidelines and Terms of along with that country’s new Head of Wildlife (and Reference for MTSG members, which will be circulated MTSG member), Georgita Ruiz, to discuss past and in the near future. future performance of the MTSG. Alberto’s guidance At the last general meeting of the MTSG hosted by and support has proven invaluable to us (thank you Perran Ross in Kuala Lumpur (MTN 102:16-17), it was again), and we congratulate Georgita on her new agreed that paying some attention to strategic planning position as well. It is fitting that a mega-sea turtle at this point in the MTSG’s evolution would be a diversity country like Mexico, have at the helm of its worthwhile effort, and we both agree heartily with this. Wildlife Agency someone as dedicated to the SSC Head David Bracket has encouraged this as well, conservation of sea turtles as Georgita. and Rod has volunteered to use the experience of CI in With regard to the state of the Red List evaluations these matters to host a meeting in DC to review the currently being undertaken by the MTSG, we are MTSG’s Vision, Mission, Values and Strategic Plan. pleased to report that the Green Turtle assessment Our hope is to convene a gathering in early December being prepared by Jeff Seminoff is completed and will of this year, among a core group of MTSG members to soon be available for review by the membership. Hats- re-create (or re-validate) the 1995 Global Strategy for off to Jeff for this labor of love that has taken countless the Conservation of Marine Turtles. The results of this hours of his valuable time – we are most grateful. effort would be presented formally at the next Annual Lastly, the next full MTSG meeting will take place General Meeting of the MTSG in San Jose Costa Rica in San Jose, Costa Rica, on the 29th of February, 2004, next February. following the 2004 International Sea Turtle Symposium We have made a number of other noteworthy strides at the Hotel Herradura, San Jose, Costa Rica (MTN since our appointment in May that we would like to 102:20-23). Please add it to your calendars, and we mention here. MTSG has formed a partnership with look forward to seeing many of you there.
Marine Turtle Sightings Program launched in Western Canada
Carla Sbrocchi Coordinator, Sea Turtle Conservation Group, Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, PO Box 3232 Vancouver BC Canada V6B 3X8 (Email: [email protected])
A sea turtle sightings program has been launched as other stakeholders and educational organizations, and part of a greater family of Sea Turtle Conservation producing educational displays and materials. Residents programs at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science of coastal communities are encouraged to participate Centre in Vancouver, Canada. The sightings program in a variety of programs including a national Shoreline aims to increase awareness on marine turtles, especially Cleanup event, in response to the prevalence of aquatic leatherbacks, on the coast of British Columbia and the debris and the threat it poses to sea turtles and other tangible stewardship-based conservation activities wildlife. communities can involve themselves in. Past and present For further information on the Sightings program or reports of sea turtle sightings are encouraged in order other activities of the Sea Turtle Conservation Group, to achieve a broader idea of the animal’s visitation please contact Carla Sbrocchi
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 19 SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT
24th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation (San Jose, Costa Rica, February 22-29, 2004)
Roderic B. Mast1 & Brian Hutchinson2 1President, International Sea Turtle Society, 2Acting Program Officer, IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group, c/o Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, Conservation International, 1919 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 USA, (Email: [email protected] and [email protected])
Update on Preparations MTN 101: 42-44). With the help of Dr. Nat Frazer, and Planning for the 24th Symposium is in full swing, based partially on his article Concerning those Things gracias to the help of many people, most notably Clara Which We Ought to Have Done: Reflections on the Padilla, our Costa Rica-based Symposium Coordinator. Future of Sea Turtle Research (MTN 100: 5-8), seven Also, special thanks to James Norman for his volunteer sessions have been designed for the 24th Symposium, weeks over the summer months (plus to Jim Richardson as described below. Chairpersons will be selected for for sending James to us). In addition to the usual each session, and each session will be comprised of negotiations of blocking hotel rooms, booking a presentations drawn from both submitted abstracts and Conference Center, and arranging logistics for feeding invited speakers. The agenda proposed herein will be and transporting the expected 600-1000 participants, finalized once all abstracts are received and all invited some noteworthy strides have been made in the past papers and poster sessions are confirmed (remember few months. To begin, we have secured a Decreto de that the deadline for submissions is November 15, Interes Publico, or Public Interest Decree, signed by 2003). both Costa Rica’s Minister of Environment and the country’s President, Abel Pacheco, declaring that the Sea Turtles in Costa Rica – Mini Symposium 24th Symposium is in the Country’s national interest; Half-day: First half of Day 1 (Feb. 23), this decree will do a great deal to open doors within the Session Chair: Mario Boza and Roldán Valverde Costa Rican government to facilitate such things as Costa Rica has a rich history in sea turtle reductions in sales tax (and hence room rates), as well conservation and research, and has always served as a as assuring smooth procedures for foreign visitors leader in the field. Presentations for the mini-symposium requiring visas. We have partnered with a local travel on sea turtles in Costa Rica will highlight these firm, Neotropical Expeditions, to provide a number of accomplishments and demonstrate why Costa Rica reasonably priced pre and post-Symposium travel remains at the forefront. Presentations in this session opportunities for participants, and we have arranged may encompass all topic areas related to sea turtle for a full time travel advisor to be present at the research, conservation and history that pertain to Costa Symposium to assist with tickets and excursions for Rica. those interested in seeing more of Costa Rica. Furthermore, we have selected an international travel Sea Turtles and Socio-Economics partner, Manaca.com, to assist participants with their Full day: Second half of Day 1/first half of Day 2 (Feb global travel needs; Manaca will provide the Symposium 23-24), with the convenience of web-based travel planning via Session Chair: To be arranged. a link from
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 20 local and global economic activities and the associated Global and Regional Sea Turtle Conservation & conservation challenges. In previous years, Research presentations falling under this category have been Half-day: Second half of Day 3 (Feb. 25), placed in sessions with titles such as ‘Human-Sea Turtle Session Chair: To be arranged Interactions’ (2001), and have included projects related This session will include presentations that deal with to ecotourism and other economic alternatives, large-scale sea turtle conservation and research efforts, consumptive use of sea turtles, indigenous cultural international or intercontinental partnerships, broad practices/beliefs, sustainable use of sea turtles, and regional agreements, multi-national regimes, and regional economic valuation of sea turtles. and global policy initiatives. Presentations could Sample titles from presentations at previous symposia encompass environmental education, broad that would fit into this session include: Researching communications efforts, and regional/global strategies the utilization of marine turtle eggs; Sea turtles and for sea turtle research or conservation, policy initiatives, the indigenous culture of Palau; The sea turtle in treaties, and trade regimes and agreements. the magical-religious beliefs of the indigenous In the past, presentations that fit under this session Wayúu; Conservation and sustainable use: Some would have been placed in sessions like ‘Education principles and problems; Turtles and tourists in a and Community-Based Conservation’ or global economy: The future of ecotourism as a ‘Conservation Management and Policy’. Sample conservation tool, and; Assessing the socio- titles of presentations from previous symposia that economic value of marine turtle use in the UK would fit into this session include: Turtle Overseas Territories in the Caribbean: conservation and fishery management in the U.S. Methodological challenges. Western Pacific; Sea turtle protection across frontiers: Exchange of expertise between the Sea Turtle Assessment and Monitoring Netherlands, Benin, and Costa Rica, and; A regional Full day: Second half of Day 2/first half of Day 3 (Feb. conservation program for the Guianas. 24-25), Session Chair: To be arranged Sea Turtle Modeling and Prediction Half-day: First half of Day 4 (Feb. 26), This session will include results of long-term Session Chair: To be arranged monitoring reports, (assessments of management and conservation programs), findings of laboratory studies This session is intended to include presentations that in genetics, toxicology, disease and physiological discuss implementation, testing, development, or revision mechanisms, human impact assessments, behavior/life- of population, behavior or ecosystem models that aim cycle studies, population biology, and other studies that to predict fluctuations in sea turtle populations as well assess or monitor the lives or conservation status as the impacts of anthropogenic alteration to their of sea turtles. In previous years, presentations in this natural ecosystems. This may include work on models category have been placed in a variety of sessions with that predict the course and impact of pollutants, the titles such as, ‘Physiology and Behavior’, ‘Ecology’, spread of disease, natural variation in population sizes, ‘Genetics’, and ‘Conservation, Management and and responses of turtle populations to environmental Policy’. changes or conservation efforts. This session is intended Sample titles of presentations from previous for those presentations that deal specifically with symposia that would fit into this session include: developing or improving research geared specifically Metabolic rates, dive duration and buoyancy for use in modeling. In previous years, presentations regulation: Why sea turtles beat any other diver in falling under this category have been placed in sessions breatholding; Trace elements accumulation and with titles such as ‘Ecology’. Because this is such a tissue distribution in loggerhead turtles (Caretta recently developing area of research, we expect new caretta) from the western Mediterranean Sea; 17 and unique contributions to this session from a variety years of monitoring and management of leatherback of sectors of sea turtle research. sea turtle nesting population in the northeastern Sample titles of presentations from previous coast of Puerto Rico (1986-2002); Underwater noise symposia include: Estimating productivity and the risk and anthropogenic disturbance in critical sea turtle of hatchling loss to near shore predators at a high- habitats. density loggerhead nesting beach on southeast
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 21 Florida; Sand temperatures and sea turtle nests: Tri- Novel Insights in Sea Turtle Research & dimensional computational fluid dynamics modeling Conservation of heat flux; New developments in the population Half-day: First half of Day 5 (Feb. 27), dynamics of pacific leatherbacks: What can Session Chair: Nat Frazer population models tell us; Assessment of the Tortuguero, Costa Rica green turtle populations The novel insights session will be the final session using deterministic matrix models, and; Predicting of the 24th Annual Symposium. Its purpose is to inspire the magnitude of cold-stunning events in Cape Cod the audience to consider the future of sea turtle research Bay, Massachusetts using classification and and conservation in a progressive way by presenting regression tree modeling. novel ideas or practices related to sea turtle biology or conservation. This session will likely involve only a limited Technology and Sea Turtles number of presentations on ideas and/or innovative Half-day: Second half of Day 4 (Feb. 26), approaches for future research projects, focusing on Session Chair: To be arranged key issues or areas of sea turtle biology and conservation that either 1) have not yet been successfully addressed; The technology session is intended to present or 2) would benefit from novel techniques or advancements and developments in equipment, methodologies. This may consist of new discoveries in technology, and methodology associated with all aspects areas of biology such as physiology, genetics, of sea turtle conservation and research (excluding those development, or behavior, as well as successful dealing with prediction and modeling). This includes developments in conservation techniques, policies, or improvements, advancements, and trials in research agreements. During this session there will be ample equipment such as tagging and transmitting devices, as time set aside for discussion. We hope that ending on well as studies of TEDs, long-line hooks, and other such a note will leave us all with a positive outlook and fishing gear. Additionally, developments in software a progressive attitude towards sea turtle conservation. applications related to sea turtle conservation, along with improvements, revisions, and developments in the Presenters will be asked to submit abstracts within methodologies associated with both laboratory and field one of the above sessions if possible, and will be research techniques. In the past, presentations that fit contacted prior to the Symposium by their Session Chair under this category have been grouped with the sector to assure that standard criteria are met for presentation for which the technology or methodology was designed, length, quality and consistency within each Session. and have often been presented as posters. This category will also involve both a trade show and workshops that 1st Annual Global Sea Turtle Datafest will take place at the 24th Symposium. A separate session on technology is being created this year due to The ISTS, IUCN/MTSG and Conservation both the increasing role of technology in conservation International are organizing the 1st Annual Global Sea efforts and the recognition that certain technologies are turtle Datafest in Conjunction with the 24th Annual Sea applicable in multiple sectors. Turtle Symposium, and we hope to make this activity Sample titles of presentations from previous an annual event thereafter. It is well known that symposia include: Satellite tracking marine turtles: effective conservation of sea turtles can only be An assessment of data analysis options; The ARGOS achieved through broad regional and global efforts that global satellite tracking and data collection system endeavor to conserve turtles throughout all of their life for sea turtles; Dead without a TED: Turtles stages and during all the spatial wanderings of their drowning in U.S. “certified shrimp nets”; Satellite long lives. tracking of green turtles, Chelonia mydas, at Sea turtles have been the target of substantial Tortuguero, Costa Rica; Methods aimed to reduce scientific investigation over the past fifty years, research marine turtle interactions with longline fishing gear; that has yielded a plethora of valuable data for Results of an experiment to evaluate effects of hook conservation planning. Yet the vast majority of this type on sea turtle bycatch in the swordfish longline research has been highly localized. Data are not lacking industry, and; Genomics meets ecology: The use of at the level of specific beaches, countries or in rare molecular tools for the study of ecology, evolution, cases basins (like the Caribbean), but there is a behavior and conservation. desperate paucity of useful global-scale presentations
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 22 of accurately geo-referenced data. Regrettably, it is Reminders to Participants in the 24th Annual precisely these types of data that are most needed in Symposium undertaking GIS-based analyses for the development Registration: You must register to attend the of broad regional conservation strategies, and for Symposium. The preferred registration method is to visit building alliances across national borders and among the Symposium’s web site (http://www.seaturtle.org/ multiple partner communities that represent both the symposium/). There you will find everything you need turtles and the threats to their survival. to know in a user-friendly interface. The Data-Fest will piggy-back on the 24th STS using Lodging: Participants at the Symposium will stay at the forum and its human scientific resource as the data- the Herradura Hotel in San Jose, where a block of gathering nexus for advancing the evolution of a high discounted rooms has been reserved for the Symposium. quality, consensus driven, geo-referenced database on Reserve your room by e-mail to various aspects of global sea turtle biology.
New National Marine Fisheries Service Webpage
The National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Fisheries Science Center is proud to announce its new sea turtle webpage
Myrto Argyropoulou, Lloyd Muccio, and Sheryan Epperly, Southeast Fisheries Science Center , 75 Virginia Beach Drive Miami, Florida 33149, USA (E-mail: [email protected]).
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 23 Satellite Tracking on the World Wide Web
SEATURTLE.ORG recently introduced a new satellite tracking resource, in collaboration with the Marine Turtle Research Group and a consortium of conservation organizations and donors, that provides sea turtle researchers with an easy-to-use tool for collecting, managing and sharing their satellite telemetry data in near real-time. The public interface, available on SEATURTLE.ORG at
Where Will Shelby, Myles, and Samia Go? Students, supporters in the community, and others worldwide are following the migrations of these post-nesting green and loggerhead sea turtles from the Cayman Islands. The turtles’ positions are updated daily on SEATURTLE.ORG
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 24 BOOK REVIEWS
Title:Oceans of Noise: A WDCS Science Report about the masking of biological sounds by human-made noise. There has been very interesting progress along Year: 2003 these lines, which suggests that passive listening is Editors: Mark Simmonds, Sarah Dolman and Lindy employed by bottlenose dolphins occurring in estuaries, Weilgart to locate their prey. These shallow waters also happen Publisher: Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society to be the nosiest in terms of anthropogenic sounds (e.g., Pages: 165 pp (PDF is 1.2mb) boat traffic). Price: free A few omissions were noted for the before- To order:URL: http://www.wdcs.org/ mentioned chapter, though it is important to understand that a comprehensive review of anthropogenic noise Anthropogenic noise is an insidious form of pollution sources in the ocean is a massive undertaking. For in the world’s oceans. It is also an issue of continuously example, it would have been interesting to see an growing concern for scientists, non-governmental inclusion of information on sounds produced during organizations, and the general public, heightened most fishery operations. In the case of trawling vessels, recently by the highly publicized mass strandings of animals may respond to cues, such as sounds produced beaked whales in the Bahamas. While the report’s title by boat operations (e.g., winches operating) and nets suggests that it will address noise issues for all marine as they move through the water. The report attempts species, it actually primarily focuses on cetaceans to be broad in geographic terms, however, it is obviously (whales, dolphins, and porpoises). This should not biased primarily to information from the eastern North dissuade the individual who is concerned with undersea Atlantic Ocean (where the Whale and Dolphin noise issues, especially since sea turtles are likely Conservation Society [WDCS] incidentally is based). affected by human-made noise. This report certainly For example, seismic surveys occur to a high degree in will serve as a useful reference. the northern Gulf of Mexico and studies are underway Oceans of Noise begins with a brief primer on the to assess the impacts to cetaceans in that part of the physics of underwater sound. Granted, the topic of world, however, no referral to this area or studies is marine acoustics is complicated, and unfortunately, this provided. For this to be a thorough review of primer will not be the easiest to follow or understand anthropogenic noise sources, the section on vessel traffic by the average reader. The reader who is interested in should have touched upon whale-watching and research the mechanics of sound propagation would be better survey efforts by scientists involving ships, as well as served by referring to other materials for this type of small boats. These topics are somewhat addressed in tutorial. This report highlights the many sources of noise the appendices, as a list of responses of cetaceans to pollution in the marine environment today, including (but boat traffic and guidelines for whale-watching (in the not limited to) commercial ship traffic, oil and gas Mediterranean), but could have been more directly exploration and production, ocean experiments involving addressed in the front of the report. This would have acoustics, military sources, acoustic harassment devices, been a nod to the concerns of scientists, particularly in dredging, and marine wind farms. This report section the U.S., who have long complained about the restrictions commences by sketchily mentioning biologically imposed on them for studying dolphins, but the lack of important sounds, but then neglects to develop the such compliance by or enforcement of the shipping presentation by not discussing the importance of these industry, which is probably the biggest of the ocean’s sounds (except in the case of wind and wave-generated noise makers. It is here that we see that the primary noise and listing some basic characteristics of natural targets of the WDCS are noise sources such as the oil noise sources). It is obvious at this point, that the report’s and gas industry and the military, and to a lesser degree, focus is directed towards human-made noise sources. the fishing and shipping industries. Equally noteworthy This is a spot in the report where the concept of is that there is no discussion of the effects of noise passively listening by dolphins for sounds produced by from aircraft as a contributor to ocean noise (this is fish could have been introduced; this would also have only listed under oil and gas production-related noise served as part of a good foundation for the next sources in a table), and responses by cetaceans to these chapter’s discussion on why we should be concerned sound sources.
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 25 The report progresses to discuss noise as a problem of cetaceans by vessels (hint: a comprehensive listing for cetaceans. It was disappointing to see the cursory of such responses by sea turtles to both vessels and discussions in this section, since this would seem to be aircraft would be an invaluable contribution to sea turtle the section in the report that warrants the most biologists and regulatory agencies alike). As noted information, and it essentially forms the foundation for earlier, the marine mammal biologist well-versed in the need of management of anthropogenic noise reactions to boats by cetaceans will immediately realize sources. Understandably, this would have been a huge that this is a summary of such information for some undertaking. A number of key articles and reports were geographic locations, but is by no means a complete missed in this section, particularly relating to the issue listing. of stress, which is a major concern in terms of multiple In conclusion, this is an admirable attempt to review sound sources over the course of time, since sublethal a volatile topic. This report will hopefully prompt readers impacts of noise have the potential to cumulatively result to understand that, as noted by Mark Simmonds, the in lethal impacts to animals. WDCS Director of Science, “Despite the many A review of relevant international marine pollution unknowns that remain, it is apparent that noise pollution laws is provided in addition to recommendations for an in the seas should be regarded as a fundamental threat urgent action plan to provide essential information to marine wildlife in general….”. “It is important that regarding these acoustic sources and how to possibly this is recognized at both national and international levels mitigate impacts. Defining what types of sounds could and that every effort be made to address it.” potentially harass marine mammals and endangered species, and cause “takes”1, is the single most pressing 1 The term “take” is statutorily defined to mean “to harass, hunt, capture, or kill, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture or kill”. need in acoustics (and assessing impacts to marine species), particularly in term of defining “harassment” Dagmar Fertl, Geo-Marine, Inc., 550 East 15th Street, (e.g., disruption of behavioral patterns) to animals. The Plano, TX 75074, USA. (E-mail: dfertl@geo- report appendix provides what is reputed to be a marine.com). comprehensive list of recorded examples of disturbance
Title: The Atlas of Endangered Species appealing to browse through, may be a useful teaching resource/reference school teachers and environmental Year: 2002 educators of other sorts but it is not a true reference Author: Richard Mackay book. It covers so much in its few pages that nothing is Publisher: Earthscan Publications, London, UK covered in any detail. Topics covered include overviews ISBN: 1-85383-874-8 of: I extinction and evolution; II sensitive ecosytems; Pages: 128pp (softback) III fragile regions; IV endangered plants and animals Price: £11.99 GBP (with a couple of pages on each of primates, cats, To order:
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 26 Title: Marine Mammal Biology: An Evolutionary protectorates and thus they have been studied for longer Approach and with more resources. These and other factors have combined to result in a much greater knowledge base Editors: A. Rus Hoelzel about the biology of this mammalian group than of the Year: 2002 sea turtles and this is evidence by this impressive, yet Publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd., Oxford, UK affordable, volume. ISBN: 0-632-053-25 Fourteen independently authored chapters take an Pages: 432pp (softback) “evolutionary approach” to reviewing: Diversity and Price: £29.95 GBP Zoogeography; Evolution; Anatomy and Physiology; To order:
Title: The Biology of Sea Turtles: Volume II it is. To this I might add: a rather limited index; the erroneous citation of references detected with minimal Year: 2003 checking; and a distinct lack of standardisation of quality Editors: Peter Lutz, John A. Musick and Jeanette and format of graphics. Hopefully, the editors and the Wyneken publisher will take these criticisms onboard for the third Publisher: CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA volume. ISBN: 0-8493-1123-3 However, to be honest, most of these negative points Pages: 455pp (hardback) are relatively minor and do not significantly detract from Price: $99.95 USD the fact that BST II is undoubtedly a key reference To order:
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 27 and economic aspects of sea turtle conservation. volume, I would like to suggest a few topics that might However, in my opinion, these chapters are both thought- be worthy of consideration in future volumes: An provoking and welcomed and have much to offer overview of rehabilitation techniques and a critique and biologists involved with marine turtle conservation, the ethics of both rehabilitation and release; More critical allowing a wider more holistic perspective of what can single subject overviews of the many “threats” so often be gained by straying into non-biological disciplines such listed by marine turtle biologists, including a pragmatic as archaeology and some of the social sciences. analysis of their actual impact by species/ocean basin Perhaps promotion of an interdisciplinary approach and the effectiveness of currently employed mitigation could be furthered by having more authors who are methods; An overview of what is known of global actually from the non-biological disciplines in question? directed harvest and a critical analysis of the likely With regard to anatomy and physiology, rather efficacy of current regulatory mechanisms employed complete reviews are presented on External morphology, to promote sustainability; We definitely need more up musculoskeletal system and neuro-anatomy; Sensory to date detailed overviews into the methodology and biology; Reproductive cycles; Responses to biological insights gained from molecular techniques and environmental stress; and Gonadal ontogeny. telemetry. More classically ecological topics subject to review Readers of the MTN constitute an important portion to varying degrees of detail are: Sex determination, Adult of the intended readership for these books. Perhaps migrations and habitat use; Developmental life stages; you might also like to proffer your suggestions and Population ecology; and the Role of sea turtles in additional practical criticism. Please forward your ecosystems. comments and suggestions to [email protected] and A final category of chapters are more practically we will collate and forward to editors/publishers on orientated discussing: Practical approaches to studying behalf of all. health and disease; Sea turtle husbandry; and Fisheries related mortality and TED’s. Reviewer: Brendan J. Godley, Co-editor Marine Given the increasingly diverse focus of this second Turtle Newsletter
NEWS AND LEGAL BRIEFS
This section is compiled by Kelly Samek. You can submit news items at any time online at
AFRICA THE AMERICAS
Biodiversity Day Focuses on Turtles Florida Turtle Deaths a Concern During Nesting Although the global theme of World Biodiversity Day was The sea turtle nesting season began amid concern over the “Biodiversity and Poverty Alleviation: Challenges for high rate of sick and dead turtles found on the beaches this Sustainable Development,” Seychelles took its own topic year. About 460 turtles have washed up in Florida since and focused instead on one animal, the turtle. Attended by January—double the normal rate. The reason for the increase representatives of the Ministry of Environment, a talk entitled has not been determined. Most of the turtles have been “Sea Turtle Conservation Issues in Seychelles” was held at emaciated young loggerhead and green turtles covered with the National Institute of Education and reached a wide- barnacles. Source: UPI, 1 May. ranging and important audience, both for addressing contemporary conservation issues and for forming future Florida’s Sea Turtle Grants Program to be policy. In her presentation, Dr. Jeanne Mortimer spoke on Managed by CCC the life history of the turtle, the causes of endangerment to Florida lawmakers just approved bills that transfer them, how and why to protect them. Source: Seychelles administrative responsibility for the Florida Sea Turtle Grants Nation, 27 May. Program, funded by a portion of revenues from Florida’s sea turtle specialty license plate, from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) to the private Caribbean Conservation Corporation. Source: CCC press release, 1 July.
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 28 State Department List Unchanged for Safeguarding Olive Ridley along Tamil Nadu coast Shrimp Exports to US While all attention on the need for preservation of rare Olive The State Department has left unchanged its list of countries Ridley turtle is hogged by Orissa, which is a major nesting that can export wild shrimp to the US market because their ground for sea turtles, the sporadic nesting beaches of these harvest practices pose no danger to endangered sea turtles. turtles in Chennai have gone unnoticed. The region has In a May 2 media note, the department said it had certified 39 shown a drastic decline in the nesting population due to countries plus Hong Kong for shrimp exports. Among the urbanisation, predation of eggs and hatchlings by dogs, potential exporters not certified are Bangladesh, Haiti, crows and poaching by man. It is in this context that TREE Honduras, India and Venezuela although any shrimp raised (Trust for Environment Education) initiated its sea turtle by aquaculture from those countries would still be eligible conservation programme on the Chennai coast. Its mission for export to the US. Source: US Dept. of State press release, is to foster symbiotic and harmonious existence between 2 May. nature and man with the target being the fishing communities along the east coast on the Bay of Bengal to Marakanam in State Department List Unchanged for Shrimp Exports to US Chengalpet district of Tamil Nadu, covering about 30 villages. The State Department has left unchanged its list of countries Source: The Hindu, 15 May. that can export wild shrimp to the US market because their harvest practices pose no danger to endangered sea turtles. UAE, Bahrain Sign Pact on Wildlife In a May 2 media note, the department said it had certified 39 The UAE and Bahrain signed an agreement on June 17th to countries plus Hong Kong for shrimp exports. Among the strengthen cooperation in the field of environment and wildlife potential exporters not certified are Bangladesh, Haiti, protection. The Abu Dhabi Environmental Research and Honduras, India and Venezuela although any shrimp raised Wildlife Development Agency (Erwda) and the Bahraini by aquaculture from those countries would still be eligible General Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, for export to the US. Source: US Dept. of State press release, Environment and Wildlife, cooperated to build capacities, 2 May. conduct research and hold meetings to protect environment and maintain biodiversity. The two parties agreed to protect Six Butchered Turtles Found on Panhandle Beaches endangered species such as dugong, sea turtle, houbara The butchered carcasses of six loggerhead turtles have bustard and Arabian oryx. According to the MoU the two washed ashore on Florida Panhandle beaches, state wildlife organisations are committed to protect wild plants and officials say. Four of the carcasses have washed up on support sustainable management of fisheries and fish stock Panama City Beach, the other two washed up in Gulf County assessment. Source: Gulf News, 18 June. to the east and Walton County to the west. All had wounds indicating a knife was used to remove the meat. Source: Onna-Village Seawall Threatens Sea Turtle Survival Associated Press, 21 May. Every year, many turtles return to the Okinawan islands to lay their eggs. But, due to modernization and carelessness, Why Are Many Turtles Dying? sea turtles have been on the decline. For thousands of years, Since January, nearly 80 sea turtles - 28 in June - have washed one beach in Onna village has been used as a breeding ashore in South Carolina either dead or dying. Many of them ground for loggerhead sea turtles. But, two years ago, a have been “Barnacle Bills,” sickened turtles with rotting massive sea wall was built along the beach. This has had a flippers, parasite-riddled bodies and encrusted shells, said negative effect on the loggerheads. The turtles head up and Sally Murphy, a sea turtle biologist with the S.C. Department down the wall looking for a place to lay their eggs and since of Natural Resources. Wildlife biologists and turtle experts much of the beach has been taken away from them, they lay aren’t sure what’s causing dead turtles to wash up on S.C. their eggs in the most convenient place. But, because the beaches, but they have some ideas, such as hypothermia wall has taken away so much of the beach, when high tide and pollution. Whatever the cause, the effects have been comes, the water rises up over the eggs killing every one of the same. Source: Myrtle Beach Sun News, 1 July. the baby turtles before they even have a chance to hatch. Source: Japan Update, 10 July. ASIA China Launches Campaign to Davao City is Home to Endangered Turtles Protect Aquatic Wild Animals A nesting ground of the endangered hawksbill and green China will launch a large campaign to crack down on illegal turtle was reported in Punta Dumalag and is now the subject hunting, killing, purchasing, selling, importing and exporting of a resolution proposing the proclamation of the area as a aquatic wild animals, Chinese fishery authorities said. The “Marine Turtle Conservation Area.” This is the first reported campaign will focus on illegal hunting and the trading of rare turtle nesting site in a highly urbanized city in the Philippines. and endangered aquatic wild animals including the Chinese Source: MindaNews, 15 July. sturgeon, giant salamander and sea turtle, said officials from
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 29 the Fishery Bureau. China will ban any activities that utilize OCEANIA aquatic wild animals under state protection, and any activities that may pose harm to the animals, except for scientific Human Activities Put Pressure on Great Barrier Reef research approved by the government. Source: People’s Daily, The world’s longest reef is losing its nesting sea 25 June. turtles at a rapid rate, according to the first comprehensive assessment of the Great Barrier Reef since 1998. Australian Indonesian Police Arrest Poachers of Environment Minister Dr. David Kemp released the “2003 Endangered Green Turtles State of the Reef Report” last week at a reef conference in Police on the Indonesian island of Bali say they have arrested Townsville, Queensland. Kemp told delegates, “The numbers five poachers and rescued 120 endangered green turtles. The of nesting loggerhead turtles have declined between 50 and five, from Madura island off eastern Java, have confessed 80 percent.” Kemp said the Australian government is working that they wanted to sell the turtles to a local dealer. They face with the Queensland Fisheries Service to develop a new a maximum sentence of five years in jail and a fine of 100 sustainable line fisheries management plan for the reef and million rupiah or more than $US12,000 dollars if convicted. to introduce mandatory use of turtle excluder devices and The turtles have been released into the sea. A Bali police bycatch reduction devices to stop turtles from dying in trawl spokeswoman says overseas groups have asked Indonesian nets. Source: Environment News Service, 10 July. police to crack down on the poaching of endangered species. Source: ABC Radio Australia News, 27 June.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
This section is compiled by the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research (ACCSTR), University of Florida. The ACCSTR maintains the Sea Turtle On-line Bibliography: (http://accstr.ufl.edu/biblio.html).
It is requested that a copy of all publications (including technical reports and non-refereed journal articles) be sent to both:
1) The ACCSTR for inclusion in both the on-line bibliography and the MTN. Address: Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research, University of Florida, PO Box 118525, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. 2) The editors of the Marine Turtle Newsletter to facilitate the transmission of information to colleagues submitting articles who may not have access to on-line literature reviewing services.
ALKINDI, A.Y.A. & I.Y. MAHMOUD. 2002. A new method of BJORNDAL, K.A., A.B. BOLTEN & M.Y. CHALOUPKA. sampling arterial blood from large sea turtles. 2003. Survival probability estimates for immature green Herpetological Review 33: 281-82. (Sultan Qaboos Univ, turtles Chelonia mydas in the Bahamas. Marine Ecology College of Science, Dept Biology, P.O. Box 36, Muscat, Progress Series 252: 273-81. (Archie Carr Center for Sea Oman. (E-mail: [email protected]) Turtle Research and Dept. of Zoology, Box 118525, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. E-mail: AVENS, L., J.H. WANG, S. JOHNSEN, P. DUKES & K.J. [email protected]) LOHMANN. 2003. Responses of hatchling sea turtles to rotational displacements. Journal of Experimental Marine BJORNDAL, K.A., A.B. BOLTEN, T. DELLINGER, C. Biology and Ecology 288: 111-24. (NOAA, NMFS, 101 DELGADO & H.R. MARTINS. 2003. Compensatory Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA. E- growth in oceanic loggerhead sea turtles: response to a mail:[email protected]) stochastic environment. Ecology 84: 1237-49. (Address as above) BHUPATHY, S. & R. KARUNAKARAN. 2003. Conservation of olive ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea (Reptilia/ BOLKER, B., T. OKUYAMA, K.A. BJORNDAL & A.B. Chelonia) along the Nagapattinam coast, southeast coast BOLTEN. 2003. Sea turtle stock estimation using genetic of India. Indian Journal of Marine Sciences 32: 168-71. markers: accounting for sampling error of rare genotypes. (Salim Ali Ctr Ornithol & Nat Hist, SACON, Anaikatti P.O., Ecological Applications 13: 763-75. (Dept. of Zoology, Coimbatore 641108, Tamil Nadu, India. E-mail: P.O. Box 118525, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL [email protected]) 32611, USA. E-mail: [email protected])
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 30 CARRUTHERS, T.J.B., W.C. DENNISON, B.J. LONGSTAFF, Biology and Ecology 291: 149-60. (School of Biological M. WAYCOTT, E.G. ABAL, L.J. MCKENZIE & W.J.L. Sciences, Singleton Park, University of Wales Swansea, LONG. 2002. Seagrass habitats of northeast Australia: SA2 8PP, UK. E-mail: [email protected]) Models of key processes and controls. Bulletin of Marine Science 71: 1153-69. (Univ Maryland, Ctr Environm Sci, KUBOTA, R., T. KUNITO & S. TANABE. 2003. Is P.O. Box 775, 2020 Horn Point Road, Cambridge, MD 21613 arsenobetaine the major arsenic compound in the liver of USA. E-mail: [email protected]) birds, marine mammals & sea turtles? Journal de Physique IV, 107: 707-710 Part 1. (Ehime Univ, Ctr Marine Environm CHALOUPKA, M. 2003. Phase 2 - Development of a Studies, Tarumi 3-5-7, Matsuyama, Ehime 7908566, Japan). population model for the southern Great Barrier Reef green turtle stock. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority LOPEZ MENDILAHARSU, M., S.C. GARDNER & J.A. Research Publications 81: 62 pp. Available at: http:// SEMINOFF. 2003. Chelonia mydas agassizii (East Pacific www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/info_services/ Green Seaturtle). Diet. Herpetological Review 34: 139-40. publications/research_publications/rp81/rp81.pdf (Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas del Noreste, S.C., La Paz, BCS 23090, Mexico. E-mail: [email protected]) ENGEMAN, R.M., R.E. MARTIN, B. CONSTANTIN, R. NOEL & J. WOOLARD. 2003. Monitoring predators to optimize LU, Y.A., Y. WANG, A.A. AGUIRRE, Z.S. ZHAO, C.Y. LIU, their management for marine turtle nest protection. V. R. NERURKAR & R. YANAGIHARA. 2003. RT-PCR Biological Conservation 113: 171-78. 9Natl Wildlife Res detection of the expression of the polymerase gene of a Ctr, 4101 Laporte Ave., Ft Collins, CO 80521 USA. E-mail: novel reptilian herpesvirus in tumor tissues of green [email protected]) turtles with fibropapilloma. Archives of Virology 148: 1155- 63. (Univ Hawaii Manoa, Pacific Biomed Res Ctr, GODLEY, B.J., E.H.S.M. LIMA, S. AKESSON, A.C. Retrovirol Res Lab, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA. E-mail: BRODERICK, F. GLEN, M.H. GODFREY, P. LUSCHI & [email protected]) G.C. HAYS. 2003. Movement patterns of green turtles in Brazilian coastal waters described by satellite tracking MANIRE, C.A., H.L. RHINEHART, G.J. PENNICK, D.A. and flipper tagging. Marine Ecology Progress Series 253: SUTTON, R.P. HUNTER & M.G. RINALDI. 2003. Steady- 279-88. (Current address: Marine Turtle Research Group, state plasma concentrations of itraconazole after oral University of Exeter, School of Biological Sciences, administration in Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, Lepidochelys Hatherly Laboratories, Exeter EX4 4PS, UK. E-mail: kempi. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 34: 171-78. [email protected]) (Sea Turtle Rehabil Hosp, Mote Marine Lab & Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA). HERBST, L.H., L. SICONOLFI-BAEZ, J.H. TORELLI, P.A. KLEIN, M.J. KERBEN & I.M. SCHUMACHER. 2003. MEAKINS, R.H. & S.Y. AL-MOHANNA. 2003. Some Induction of vitellogenesis by estradiol-17 beta and problems and the importance of reptile biodiversity in development of enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays Kuwait. Journal of Arid Environments 54: 209-17. (Kuwait to quantify plasma vitellogenin levels in green turtles Univ, Fac Sci, Marine Sci Unit, P. O. Box 5969, Safat, (Chelonia mydas). Comparative Biochemistry and Kuwait). Physiology B-Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 135: 551- 63. (Albert Einstein Coll Med, Inst Anim Studies, Dept MROSOVSKY, N. 2003. Book Review: The Biology of Sea Pathol, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, NY 10461, USA. E- Turtles, Volume II, by Lutz, PL, Musick, JA, Wyneken, J. mail: [email protected]) Nature 423: 225. (Dept. of Zoology, 25 Harbord St., University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G5, HOUGHTON, J.D.R., M.J. CALLOW & G.C. HAYS. 2003. Canada. E-mail: [email protected]) Habitat utilization by juvenile hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata, Linnaeus, 1766) around a NAGELKERKEN, I., L.P.J.J. PORS & P. HOETJES. 2003. shallow water coral reef. Journal of Natural History 37: Swimming behaviour and dispersal patterns of 1269-80. (School of Biological Sciences, Singleton Park, headstarted loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta. Aquatic University of Wales Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK. E-mail: Ecology 37: 183-90. (Univ Nijmegen, Dept Anim Ecol & [email protected]) Ecophysiol, Toernooiveld 1, NL-6525 ED Nijmegen, Netherlands. E-mail: [email protected]) IRELAND, J.S., A.C. BRODERICK, F. GLEN, B.J. GODLEY, G.C. HAYS, P.L.M. LEE & D.O.F. SKIBINSKI. 2003. Multiple PELLETIER, D., D. ROOS & S. CICCIONE. 2003. Oceanic paternity assessed using microsatellite markers, in green survival and movements of wild and captive-reared turtles Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758) of Ascension immature green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Indian Island, South Atlantic. Journal of Experimental Marine Ocean. Aquatic Living Resources 16: 35-41. (IFREMER,
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page 31 Lab MAERHA, Inst Francais Rech Exploitat Mer, BP Biolog Dept, Chem & Biochem Sect, Strada Provo 21105, F-44311 Nantes 3, France. E-mail: [email protected]) Casamassima Km 3, I-70010 Bari, Italy. E-mail: [email protected]) SEA TURTLE ASSOCIATION OF JAPAN. 2003. A circular notice on sea turtles in 2002. Umigame Newsletter of Japan TIWARI, M., R.R. CARTHY, A. SILVEIRA & K.A. 57: 2-45. In Japanese. (E-mail: [email protected]) BJORNDAL. 2003. Caretta caretta (Loggerhead Sea Turtle). Nest architecture. Herpetological Review 34: 138- SHINSUKE, T., A. YASUMI & K. TAKASHI. 2003. Separation 39. (Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Dept. and characterization of metallothionein in the liver of sea of Zoology, Box 118525, University of Florida, Gainesville, turtles by high performance liquid chromatography/ FL 32611, USA. E-mail: [email protected]) inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Journal de Physique IV, 107: 1227-1230 Part 2. (Ehime Univ, CMES, WILSON, R.P. & N. LIEBSCH. 2003. Up-beat motion in Tarumi 3-5-7, Matsuyama, Ehime 7908566, Japan). swinging limbs: new insights into assessing movement in free-living aquatic vertebrates. Marine Biology 142: SIMS, D.W. 2003. Animal behaviour - Homing is a breeze for 537-47. (Inst Meereskunde, Dusternbrooker Weg 20, D- sea turtles. Nature 423: 128. (Marine Biol Assoc United 24105 Kiel, Germany. E-mail: [email protected]) Kingdom Lab, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, Devon, England. E-mail: [email protected]) WITZELL, W.N. 2002. Immature Atlantic loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta): Suggested changes to the life history STORELLI, M.M. & G.O. MARCOTRIGIANO. 2003. Heavy model. Herpetological Review 33: 266-69. (NOAA-NMFS, metal residues in tissues of marine turtles. Marine Pollution 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149, USA. E-mail: Bulletin 46: 397-400. (Univ Bari, Fac Med Vet, Pharmacol [email protected])
THESES AND DISSERTATIONS
CAMPBELL, C.L. 2003. Population assessment and FERREIRA, M.B. 2002. Feeding ecology of the green turtle, management needs of a green turtle, Chelonia mydas, Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758), at Ra’s Al Hadd, population in the western Caribbean. Ph.D. Dissertation. Arabian Sea, Sultanate of Oman. B.Sc. Dissertation. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida: 124 pp. (E-mail: FCMA, University of Algarve, Portugal: 73 pp. (Projeto [email protected]) Tamar - Praia Forte, Brazil. E-mail: [email protected])
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Publication of this issue was made possible by donations from the following individuals: Doreen Amos, Jeff Bloodwell, Andrew Campbell, Dana Drake, Debbie Fritz-Quincy, Hobe Sound Nature Center, Diana Gardener, Hilary Mackay, Jenny Mallinson, Edward Moll, Guy Olivier, Robert Prescott, Treva Ricou, Dr. Claudia Meschler & Steven Salmoni, Frank J. Schwartz, Colin Scott, SAVE A TURTLE, SeaWorld,Inc., Esther Wolfram.
The following organizations support the MTN: Caribbean Conservation Corporation, Cayman Turtle Farm, Ltd., Center for Marine Conservation, Chelonian Research Foundation, Conservation International, Sea World, Inc., US Fish & Wildlife Service, US National Marine Fisheries Service-Office of Protected Resources, Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council.
The MTN-Online is produced and managed by Michael Coyne.
The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and are not necessarily shared by the Editors, the Editorial Board, the University of Exeter, or any individuals or organizations providing financial support.
Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 102, 2003 - Page32 INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS
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