Nest-to-surf mortality of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtle hatchlings on Florida’s east coast in 2016

• Other Authors: Erb, Victoria (author)
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Florida Atlantic University
• Subjects: Sea turtles > Mortality > Florida.; Loggerhead turtle > Mortality.; Predation (Biology); Sea turtles > Orientation.; Animal navigation.; Fire ants > Venom > Physiological effect.
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004934; http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004934

Worldwide, sea turtles are especially vulnerable immediately after emerging from nests. Many monitoring programs measure hatchling production from nest inventories. These inventories rarely account for mortality occurring post-emergence, leaving an incomplete estimate of hatchling production. This study addresses the nest-to-surf data gap for Florida’s east coast nesting assemblages of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Five locations were surveyed during the 2016 nesting season by using infrared time-lapse imagery, night vision optics, and track maps. Over all beaches, 7.6% of the observed hatchlings did not survive to reach the water. Mortality sources varied by location. Observed predators included: foxes, bobcats, yellow-crowned night herons, ghost crabs, and gulls. Hatchling disorientation and misorientation occurred more frequently in urban areas than natural areas. Factors including number of hatchlings emerging, nest-to-surf distance, and urbanization may help managers estimate nest-to-surf mortality. This study will improve life history models that serve as foundations of conservation management. === Includes bibliography. === Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. === FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection