DOCSLIB.ORG

Sea Turtle SAFE Program Plan 2019

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Sea Turtle SAFE Program Plan 2019 Kemp’s ridley, Gladys Porter Zoo Leatherback, Scott A. Eckert, WIDECAST Sea Turtle SAFE Program Plan 2019 Sea Turtle SAFE Program Plan, August 2019 Table of Contents Background Introduction …………………………………………………………………. 2 Program Goal ……………………………………………………………….. 3 Program Operational Structure ….…………………………………. 4 Priority Conservation Targets ..………………………………………. 5 Status of Taxa within AZA Community ….……………………….. 9 AZA Conservation and Public Engagement Activities ….….. 10 Species Status Conservation Status ……………………………………………………….. 16 Recovery Plan or other Conservation Plan in Effect …….….. 16 Threats ……………………………….………………………………………….. 18 Work Plan Conservation Objectives …………………………………………………. 19 Public/Stakeholder Engagement Objectives ….………………… 20 Communications/Public Awareness Objectives …….………… 21 Funding Objectives …………………………………………………………. 22 Literature Cited ………………………………………………………………. 23 Program Summary Table …….………………………………………….. 24 Gladys Porter Zoo 1 Sea Turtle SAFE Program Plan, August 2019 Introduction Sea turtles are marine reptiles that have inhabited the Earth’s seas for more than 110 million years and have out-lived countless animal species, including a well-known group called the dinosaurs. Today, they are represented by seven living species in two taxonomic Families (Table 1): • The Cheloniidae – representing the six species of hard-shelled sea turtles, including the Loggerhead, Green, Hawksbill, Kemp’s ridley, Olive ridley and Flatback. • The Dermochelyidae – represented by a single species, the Leatherback sea turtle. Despite their incredible evolutionary success – they are found worldwide in tropical and temperate ocean waters – sea turtles are facing significant current threats to their survival, primarily from the impacts of human activities. As a result, all sea turtle species are potential conservation targets for this SAFE program. Common Name Scientific Name ESA Status IUCN Red List Status (global) Cheloniidae Loggerhead Caretta caretta Threatened (USA) Vulnerable Green Chelonia mydas Threatened (USA) Endangered Hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata Endangered Critically Endangered Kemp’s ridley Lepidochelys kempii Endangered Critically Endangered Olive ridley Lepidochelys olivacea Threatened Vulnerable Flatback Natator depressus Data deficient Data Deficient Dermochelyidae Leatherback Dermochelys coriacea Endangered (USA) Vulnerable Table 1: Sea turtle species and their conservation status. In addition, all species are considered CITES Appendix I. (ESA – Endangered Species Act, IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature, CITES – Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA): Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) Program brings together groups of AZA members with field-based partners to enhance conservation success for threatened species. The SAFE mission is to combine the power of zoo and aquarium visitors with the collective expertise of AZA members and partners to prevent animal extinction (AZA 2019). SAFE conservation initiatives may be focused on a single imperiled species, or on a taxonomic group. The Sea Turtle SAFE Program is an example of the latter. Gladys Porter Zoo Gladys Porter Zoo 2 Sea Turtle SAFE Program Plan, August 2019 This SAFE Program will focus attention on some of the most critical field conservation needs for sea turtles, while maintaining support for the significant ongoing conservation efforts of AZA member institutions and growing opportunities for public engagement in support of sea turtle conservation throughout the AZA community. Program Goal The overall goal of the Sea Turtle SAFE Program is to make significant and measurable contributions to the conservation of sea turtles by utilizing the collective resources (expertise, human capital, material, and financial support) of the AZA community to secure sustainable populations of all sea turtle species. This three-year program plan will focus efforts on two of the most critically endangered sea turtles, Kemp’s ridley and Eastern Pacific leatherback (EPL). The program’s initial goals are: measurable increases in protection of EPL nesting beaches; support for monitoring and research associated with stranding and rehabilitation networks for Kemp’s ridley; increased support for grant programs targeting EPL and Kemp’s ridley conservation; development of new tools to enhance public communication and awareness of sea turtle conservation needs within AZA and the general public; and stakeholder engagement to facilitate sea turtle conservation in range countries of target species. Program partners plan to invite many AZA member institutions to join the Sea Turtle SAFE Program, especially those holding sea turtles in their managed collections and/or involved with field projects. The SAFE Program will work with field-based partners in implementing existing recovery plans through collaborative and strategic conservation and public engagement actions. The SAFE Program recognizes and welcomes the ongoing work of AZA members that may not directly address the priority conservation targets, however recommends that all program partners strive to provide some level of new support for sea turtle conservation directed towards the high priority conservation targets in the program plan. Steering committee, advisors and AZA staff, December 2018 meeting, Silver Spring, MD. 3 Sea Turtle SAFE Program Plan, August 2019 Program Operational Structure Affiliation Representative(s) Title Contact Information Program Leader Virginia Aquarium & Mark Swingle Chief of Research & Conservation 757-385-0326, Marine Science Center [email protected] Program Partners - Steering Committee John Fallon Director of Sustainability & Coastal 504-398-3261, Audubon Nature Preservation [email protected] Institute Gabriela Vazquez Marine Mammal/Sea Turtle Rescue 504-398-3124, & Rehabilitation Coordinator [email protected] Gladys Porter Zoo Patrick Burchfield Zoo Director, Kemp’s Ridley 956-546-7187, Recovery Team Member [email protected] Aquarium of the Pacific Sandy Trautwein Vice President of Husbandry 562-951-1715 [email protected] North Carolina Amber Hitt Manager, STAR Center 252-475-2347, Aquarium on Roanoke [email protected] Island Carol Price Conservation Research Coordinator 252-222-6367 North Carolina Aquariums [email protected] Dave Peranteau Director of Animal Care & 480-291-8199, OdySea Aquarium Conservation [email protected] Alyssa Daily Animal Care Specialist 602-708-4463, [email protected] South Carolina Kelly Thorvalson Conservation Programs Manager 843-259-8640, Aquarium [email protected] Texas State Aquarium Jesse Gilbert Senior Vice President and Chief (361) 881-1215, Operating Officer [email protected] Roy Drinnen Assistant Curator of Fishes (409) 683-4103, The Aquarium at [email protected] Moody Gardens Greg Whittaker Animal Husbandry Manager (409) 683-4101 [email protected] The Maritime Aquarium David Hudson Research Scientist (203) 852-0700 ext 2304, at Norwalk [email protected] Virginia Aquarium & Matt Klepeisz Public Relations Manager (757) 385-0252 Marine Science Center [email protected] Program Advisors Oceanic Society, IUCN, Rod Mast President Oceanic Society, Co-Chair (202) 316-9718, State of the World’s IUCN SSC Marine Turtle Specialist [email protected] Sea Turtles (SWOT) Group, Editor SWOT U.S. Fish & Wildlife Earl Possardt International Marine Turtle (703) 358-2277, Service Program Coordinator, Co-Chair [email protected] Kemp’s Ridley Recovery Team NOAA National Marine Barbara Schroeder National Sea Turtle Coordinator (301) 713-0376, Fisheries Service [email protected] Ecolibrium, Inc., Duke Bryan Wallace Director, Senior Scientist (202) 295-7535, University Marine Lab EPL Conservation Network [email protected] University of Alabama Thane Wibbels Professor, Department of Biology (205) 903-8395, at Birmingham [email protected] Table 2: Operational structure and contact information for Sea Turtle SAFE Program Team (current December 2019). 4 Sea Turtle SAFE Program Plan, August 2019 The Sea Turtle SAFE Program planning team (Table 2) includes steering committee members from the initial program partner institutions and advisors with sea turtle expertise. The planning team recognizes that the initial makeup of the steering committee is lacking in experienced educators and also those with extensive stakeholder engagement expertise. As the program plan is implemented, it is the intention of the team to address these needs through recruitment and engagement with AZA committees such as Conservation Education, Public Relations, Diversity, and Field Conservation. The steering committee members have worked closely with advisors including the Co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group, several members/advisors of the Kemp’s Ridley Bi-National Recovery Team, a leader of the Eastern Pacific Leatherback Conservation Network, and the National Sea Turtle Coordinator for the National Marine Fisheries Service. The program plan could not have been developed without the efforts of the entire team. Priority Conservation Targets Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) The Kemp’s ridley sea turtle is listed as critically endangered. Its population measured by nesting data has recovered significantly from a low point recorded in the 1980s. At that time, following the discovery of its primary nesting beaches in Tamaulipas, Mexico, it was estimated there
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Beach Dynamics and Impact of Armouring on Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys Olivacea) Nesting at Gahirmatha Rookery of Odisha Coast, India
    Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences Vol. 45(2), February 2016, pp. 233-238 Beach dynamics and impact of armouring on olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) nesting at Gahirmatha rookery of Odisha coast, India Satyaranjan Behera1, 2, Basudev Tripathy3*, K. Sivakumar2, B.C. Choudhury2 1Odisha Biodiversity Board, Regional Plant Resource Centre Campus, Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar-15 2Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, PO Box 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun – 248 001, India. 3Zoological Survey of India, Prani Vigyan Bhawan, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700 053 (India) *[E. mail:[email protected]] Received 28 March 2014; revised 18 September 2014 Gahirmatha arribada beach are most dynamic and eroding at a faster rate over the years from 2008-09 to 2010-11, especially during the turtles breeding seasons. Impact of armouring cement tetrapod on olive ridley sea turtle nesting beach at Gahirmatha rookery of Odisha coast has also been reported in this study. This study documented the area of nesting beach has reduced from 0.07 km2to 0.06 km2. Due to a constraint of nesting space, turtles were forced to nest in the gap of cement tetrapods adjacent to the arribada beach and get entangled there, resulting into either injury or death. A total of 209 and 24 turtles were reported to be injured and dead due to placement of cement tetrapods in their nesting beach during 2008-09 and 2010-11 respectively. Olive ridley turtles in Odisha are now exposed to many problems other than fishing related casualty and precautionary measures need to be taken by the wildlife and forest authorities to safeguard the Olive ridleys and their nesting habitat at Gahirmatha.
    [Show full text]
  • AN INTRODUCTION to Texas Turtles
    TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE AN INTRODUCTION TO Texas Turtles Mark Klym An Introduction to Texas Turtles Turtle, tortoise or terrapin? Many people get confused by these terms, often using them interchangeably. Texas has a single species of tortoise, the Texas tortoise (Gopherus berlanderi) and a single species of terrapin, the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin). All of the remaining 28 species of the order Testudines found in Texas are called “turtles,” although some like the box turtles (Terrapene spp.) are highly terrestrial others are found only in marine (saltwater) settings. In some countries such as Great Britain or Australia, these terms are very specific and relate to the habit or habitat of the animal; in North America they are denoted using these definitions. Turtle: an aquatic or semi-aquatic animal with webbed feet. Tortoise: a terrestrial animal with clubbed feet, domed shell and generally inhabiting warmer regions. Whatever we call them, these animals are a unique tie to a period of earth’s history all but lost in the living world. Turtles are some of the oldest reptilian species on the earth, virtually unchanged in 200 million years or more! These slow-moving, tooth­ less, egg-laying creatures date back to the dinosaurs and still retain traits they used An Introduction to Texas Turtles | 1 to survive then. Although many turtles spend most of their lives in water, they are air-breathing animals and must come to the surface to breathe. If they spend all this time in water, why do we see them on logs, rocks and the shoreline so often? Unlike birds and mammals, turtles are ectothermic, or cold- blooded, meaning they rely on the temperature around them to regulate their body temperature.
    [Show full text]
  • Background on Sea Turtles
    Background on Sea Turtles Five of the seven species of sea turtles call Virginia waters home between the months of April and November. All five species are listed on the U.S. List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants and classified as either “Threatened” or “Endangered”. It is estimated that anywhere between five and ten thousand sea turtles enter the Chesapeake Bay during the spring and summer months. Of these the most common visitor is the loggerhead followed by the Kemp’s ridley, leatherback and green. The least common of the five species is the hawksbill. The Loggerhead is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle often reaching weights of 1000 lbs. However, the ones typically sighted in Virginia’s waters range in size from 50 to 300 lbs. The diet of the loggerhead is extensive including jellies, sponges, bivalves, gastropods, squid and shrimp. While visiting the Bay waters the loggerhead dines almost exclusively on horseshoe crabs. Virginia is the northern most nesting grounds for the loggerhead. Because the temperature of the nest dictates the sex of the turtle it is often thought that the few nests found in Virginia are producing predominately male offspring. Once the male turtles enter the water they will never return to land in their lifetime. Loggerheads are listed as a “Threatened” species. The Kemp’s ridley sea turtle is the second most frequent visitor in Virginia waters. It is the smallest of the species off Virginia’s coast reaching a maximum weight of just over 100 lbs. The specimens sited in Virginia are often less than 30 lbs.
    [Show full text]
  • Issue Number 118 October 2007 ISSN 0839-7708 in THIS
    Issue Number 118 October 2007 Green turtle hatchling from Turkey with extra carapacial scutes (see pp. 6-8). Photo by O. Türkozan IN THIS ISSUE: Editorial: Conservation Conflicts, Conflicts of Interest, and Conflict Resolution: What Hopes for Marine Turtle Conservation?..........................................................................................L.M. Campbell Articles: From Hendrickson (1958) to Monroe & Limpus (1979) and Beyond: An Evaluation of the Turtle Barnacle Tubicinella cheloniae.........................................................A. Ross & M.G. Frick Nest relocation as a conservation strategy: looking from a different perspective...................O. Türkozan & C. Yılmaz Linking Micronesia and Southeast Asia: Palau Sea Turtle Satellite Tracking and Flipper Tag Returns......S. Klain et al. Morphometrics of the Green Turtle at the Atol das Rocas Marine Biological Reserve, Brazil...........A. Grossman et al. Notes: Epibionts of Olive Ridley Turtles Nesting at Playa Ceuta, Sinaloa, México...............................L. Angulo-Lozano et al. Self-Grooming by Loggerhead Turtles in Georgia, USA..........................................................M.G. Frick & G. McFall IUCN-MTSG Quarterly Report Announcements News & Legal Briefs Recent Publications Marine Turtle Newsletter No. 118, 2007 - Page 1 ISSN 0839-7708 Editors: Managing Editor: Lisa M. Campbell Matthew H. Godfrey Michael S. Coyne Nicholas School of the Environment NC Sea Turtle Project A321 LSRC, Box 90328 and Earth Sciences, Duke University NC Wildlife Resources Commission Nicholas School of the Environment 135 Duke Marine Lab Road 1507 Ann St. and Earth Sciences, Duke University Beaufort, NC 28516 USA Beaufort, NC 28516 USA Durham, NC 27708-0328 USA E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Fax: +1 252-504-7648 Fax: +1 919 684-8741 Founding Editor: Nicholas Mrosovsky University of Toronto, Canada Editorial Board: Brendan J.
    [Show full text]
  • Reproductive Physiology of Nesting Leatherback Turtles (Dermochelys Coriacea) at Las Baulas National Park, Costa Rica
    Chelolliall COllserwuioll (lnd Biology, 1996,2(2):230- 236 © 1996 by Chelonian Research Foundation Reproductive Physiology of Nesting Leatherback Turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) at Las Baulas National Park, Costa Rica i 2 3 4 DAVID C. ROSTAL , FRANK V. PALADIN0 , RHONDA M. PATTERSON , AND JAMES R. SPOTILA I Department of Biology, Georgia Southern Uni versity, Statesboro, Georgia 30460 USA [Fax: 912-681-0845; E-mail: [email protected]}; 2Department of Biology, Indiana-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805 USA ; 3Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 USA ; 4Department o{Bioscience and Biotechnology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA ABSTRACT. - The reproductive physiology of nesting leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) was studied at Playa Grande, Costa Rica, from 1992 to 1994 during November, December, and January. Ultrasonography indicated that 82 % of nesting females had mature preovulatory ovaries in November, 40 % in December, and 23 % in January. Mean follicular diameter was 3.33 ±0.02 cm and did not vary significantly through the nesting season. Plasma testosterone and estradiol levels measured by radioimmunoassay correlated strongly with reproductive condition. No correlation, however, was observed between reproductive condition and plasma progesterone levels. Testoster­ one declined from 2245 ± 280 pglml at the beginning of the nesting cycle to 318 ± 89 pglml at the end of the nesting cycle. Estradiol declined in a similar manner. Plasma calcium levels were constant throughout the nesting cycle. Vitellogenesis appeared complete prior to the arrival of the female at the nesting beach. Dermochelys coriacea is a seasonal nester displaying unique variations (e.g., 9 to 10 day internesting interval, yolkless eggs) on the basic chelonian pattern.
    [Show full text]
  • OLIVE RIDLEY SEA TURTLE (Lepidochelys Olivacea)
    OLIVE RIDLEY SEA TURTLE (Lepidochelys olivacea) General Characteristics The name of the olive ridley originates from the olive color of the adult’s carapace. Its head is triangular in shape, measuring up to 13 cm (5.1 in.) wide, with two pairs of prefrontal scales. Their carapace is circular and flat with a uniquely high and variable number (six to nine pairs) of costal scutes, and ranges from olive green to dark grey in color. The plastron is cream colored and has a small and distinct pore close to the rear margin of each of the four inframarginal scutes. Its body is deeper than the Kemp’s Ridley (L. kempii), which is found primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and along the eastern coast of the USA. Size The olive ridley is one of the smallest sea turtles; the length of the carapaces is approximately 65 cm (2 ft.) and reaches up to 50 kg. (110 lbs.). Both the front and rear flippers have one, or sometimes two, claws. Habitat Olive ridleys are found throughout the tropical waters of the Pacific, Indian and southern Atlantic Oceans. In the eastern Pacific they range from Mexico to Colombia and are sometimes found off the southwestern coast of the United States. Non-nesting individuals are often found in Isla de Margarita (Venezuela) and Trinidad & Tobago; however, they rarely go deeper into the Caribbean. They typically forage offshore in surface waters, primarily in bays and estuaries. They may dive to depths of 150 meters (500 ft.) to feed on bottom- dwelling crustaceans. Diet Their large and powerful jaws are adapted to their diet of mostly fish, mussels and crustaceans, particularly shrimp.
    [Show full text]
  • Olive Ridley Turtle)
    UWI The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago Ecology Lepidochelys olivacea (Olive Ridley Turtle) Family: Cheloniidae (Sea Turtles) Order: Testudines (Turtles and Tortoises) Class: Reptilia (Reptiles) Fig. 1. Olive ridley turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea. [http://www.nathab.com/central-america/mexico-sea-turtle-tour/, downloaded 9 March 2016] TRAITS. Lepidochelys olivacea or the olive ridley turtle is named due to the greenish coloration of its skin and carapace, and is one of the smallest sea turtles (Fig. 1). Mature turtles typically weigh around 30-50 kg and grow to be around 60-75cm in length (Eckert, 1999). The carapace or protective shell of Lepidochelys olivacea has a short but wide structure that has high vertebral projections in juvenile turtles, and is smooth with an elevated tectiform (roof-like) shape in adult turtles. The carapace is also known to have an inconstant amount of lateral scutes, ranging between six to ten pairs. In addition to this, eight pores are found on the scutes of the ventral surface of the shell (Marcovaldi, 1999). The head of Lepidochelys olivacea is relatively larger than most turtles, with an average width of 13cm, and has two pairs of prefrontal scales. Male olive ridleys can be distinguished from females by their long tails, relatively soft and concave plastron, as well as sturdy talons found on their anterior limbs (Wibbels et al., 1991). DISTRIBUTION. Olive ridleys are found only in warm waters such as the southern Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean (Fig. 2). There are a few records of Lepidochelys olivacea being found in areas of the western Atlantic Ocean such as off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Venezuela and Suriname (Schulz, 1975).
    [Show full text]
  • Congenital Malformations in Sea Turtles: Puzzling Interplay Between Genes and Environment
    animals Review Congenital Malformations in Sea Turtles: Puzzling Interplay between Genes and Environment Rodolfo Martín-del-Campo 1, María Fernanda Calderón-Campuzano 2, Isaías Rojas-Lleonart 3, Raquel Briseño-Dueñas 2,4 and Alejandra García-Gasca 5,* 1 Department of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; [email protected] 2 Marine Turtle Programme, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología-UNAM-FONATUR, Mazatlán, Sinaloa 82040, Mexico; [email protected] (M.F.C.-C.); [email protected] (R.B.-D.) 3 Universidad Central “Martha Abreu” de las Villas (IRL), CUM Remedios, Villa Clara 52700, Cuba; [email protected] 4 Banco de Información sobre Tortugas Marinas (BITMAR), Unidad Académica Mazatlán, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología-UNAM, Mazatlán, Sinaloa 82040, Mexico 5 Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, Mazatlán, Sinaloa 82112, Mexico * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +52-669-989-8700 Simple Summary: Congenital malformations can lead to embryonic mortality in many species, and sea turtles are no exception. Genetic and/or environmental alterations occur during early develop- ment in the embryo, and may produce aberrant phenotypes, many of which are incompatible with life. Causes of malformations are multifactorial; genetic factors may include mutations, chromosomal aberrations, and inbreeding effects, whereas non-genetic factors may include nutrition, hyperthermia, low moisture, radiation, and contamination. It is possible to monitor and control some of these Citation: Martín-del-Campo, R.; Calderón-Campuzano, M.F.; factors (such as temperature and humidity) in nesting beaches, and toxic compounds in feeding Rojas-Lleonart, I.; Briseño-Dueñas, R.; areas, which can be transferred to the embryo through their lipophilic properties.
    [Show full text]
  • References for Life History
    Literature Cited Adler, K. 1979. A brief history of herpetology in North America before 1900. Soc. Study Amphib. Rept., Herpetol. Cir. 8:1-40. 1989. Herpetologists of the past. In K. Adler (ed.). Contributions to the History of Herpetology, pp. 5-141. Soc. Study Amphib. Rept., Contrib. Herpetol. no. 5. Agassiz, L. 1857. Contributions to the Natural History of the United States of America. 2 Vols. Little, Brown and Co., Boston. 452 pp. Albers, P. H., L. Sileo, and B. M. Mulhern. 1986. Effects of environmental contaminants on snapping turtles of a tidal wetland. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol, 15:39-49. Aldridge, R. D. 1992. Oviductal anatomy and seasonal sperm storage in the southeastern crowned snake (Tantilla coronata). Copeia 1992:1103-1106. Aldridge, R. D., J. J. Greenshaw, and M. V. Plummer. 1990. The male reproductive cycle of the rough green snake (Opheodrys aestivus). Amphibia-Reptilia 11:165-172. Aldridge, R. D., and R. D. Semlitsch. 1992a. Female reproductive biology of the southeastern crowned snake (Tantilla coronata). Amphibia-Reptilia 13:209-218. 1992b. Male reproductive biology of the southeastern crowned snake (Tantilla coronata). Amphibia-Reptilia 13:219-225. Alexander, M. M. 1943. Food habits of the snapping turtle in Connecticut. J. Wildl. Manag. 7:278-282. Allard, H. A. 1945. A color variant of the eastern worm snake. Copeia 1945:42. 1948. The eastern box turtle and its behavior. J. Tenn. Acad. Sci. 23:307-321. Allen, W. H. 1988. Biocultural restoration of a tropical forest. Bioscience 38:156-161. Anonymous. 1961. Albinism in southeastern snakes. Virginia Herpetol. Soc. Bull.
    [Show full text]
  • KEMP's RIDLEY SEA TURTLE (Lepidochelys Kempii)
    KEMP’S RIDLEY SEA TURTLE (Lepidochelys kempii) General Characteristics The Kemp’s ridley was named after Richard Kemp, who helped discover and carry out numerous studies on this species. Their head is moderately sized (up to 13 cm wide) with two pairs of prefrontal scales and triangular in shape. The carapace is relatively short and wide, almost circular (wider in adults than that of L. olivacea); with large, non-overlapping scutes and 5 costal scutes. Adults have a light olive-green carapace with a yellowish plastron, with distinct, small pores near the rear margins of each of the four inframarginal scutes. Size Kemp’s ridleys are one of the smallest sea turtles. Adults measure around 2 ft. (65 cm) in average carapace length and weigh between 70 and 100 lbs. (35-50 kg). They usually have two claws on each flipper. Habitat This species prefers shallow areas with sandy or muddy bottoms. Adults are largely confined to the costal areas of the Gulf of Mexico and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, although individuals have been found as far north as Maine, U.S.A and Nova Scotia, Canada. Diet The Kemp’s ridley has powerful jaws that help them crush and grind their diet of crabs, clams, mussels, and shrimp. They also eat fish, sea urchins, squid and jellyfish. Nesting The age at which they reach sexual maturity is unknown. However, it is believed to be between 10 and 15 years, although some estimate it as high as 35 years. Unlike other sea turtles, Kemp's ridleys nest annually, usually two clutches per season, about 25 days apart.
    [Show full text]
  • Proceedings of the Twenty-Eighth Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation
    NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-602 PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM ON SEA TURTLE BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION 22 to 26 January 2008 Loreto, Baja California Sur, México Compiled by: Kama Dean & Melania C. López Castro U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Fisheries Science Center 75 Virginia Beach Drive Miami, Florida 33149 March 2010 NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-602 PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM ON SEA TURTLE BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION 22 to 26 January 2008 Loreto, Baja California Sur, México Compiled by: Kama Dean & Melania C. López Castro U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Gary Locke, Secretary NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE Eric C. Schwaab, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries March 2010 This Technical Memorandum series is used for documentation and timely communication of preliminary results, interim reports, or similar special-purpose information. Although the memoranda are not subject to complete formal review, editorial control or detailed editing, they are expected to reflect sound professional work. NOTICE The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) does not approve, recommend or endorse any proprietary product or material mentioned in this publication. No references shall be made to NMFS, or to this publication furnished by NMFS, in any advertising or sales promotion which would imply that NMFS approves, recommends or endorses any proprietary product or proprietary material herein which has as its purpose any intent to cause directly or indirectly the advertised product to be use or purchased because of NMFS publication.
    [Show full text]
  • Go Big in 2014 with IAAPA Attractions Expo. REGISTER by SEPTEMBER 23 and SAVE 40%
    CONNECT June 2014 FEATURES 8 CARING TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE SCOTT HIGLEY 12 IT ALL BEGINS WITH ONE SeaWorld's Rescue and Rehabilitation Work SCOTT GAss 16 OCTOPUS RESEARCH AT STEINHART AQUARIUM, CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES BART SHEPHERD AND RICHARD ROss 20 SURF'S UP! The Latest from Rising Tide Conservation JUDY ST. LEGER 30 CGF UPDATE 36 LARGE CRESTED TOAD CONSERVATION PROGRAM AT AFRICAM SAFARI JOSÉ ALFREDO HERNÁNDEZ DÍAZ IN EVERY ISSUE 3 A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO 7 CONSERVATION & RESEARCH 24 MEMBER NEWS 32 A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD 33 BIRTHS & HATCHINGS 41 ANIMAL WELFARE 43 EXHIBITS 44 CONSERVATION SPOTLIGHT 46 announcements 48 MEMBER UPDATES ON THE COVER 51 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Over the last five decades, SeaWorld has rescued over 23,000 animals – some injured, some ill, some orphaned – all in need of a helping hand. That averages out as a little more 52 CALENDAR than a rescued animal taken in every single day. That included contributing effort and expertise in the rehabilitation of thousands of oiled penguins in South Africa in 2000. AFRICAN PENGUIN © THINKSTOCK AQUATIC LIFE SUPPORT FOR AQUARIUMS AND ZOOS Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems can provide everything you need to support the aquatic life in your zoo or large-scale aquarium, including: DESIGN Receive expert advice on exhibit concept development, design and layout. SUPPLY We offer pumps, filters, sterilization equipment and PENTAIR AQUATIC more, and can provide custom skid filtration systems ECO-SYSTEMS and control systems. SPARUS™ PUMP WITH CONSTANT FLOW TECHNOLOGY™ The smartest pump INSTALLATION ever invented! Our installation team includes master plumbers and With the world’s first project managers who fully understand the special aquaculture pump to deliver needs of aquatic system construction where animal a CONSTANT user-defined flow rate, you'll see energy welfare is critical.
    [Show full text]