Grant: 22-016R
Project Title: Seasonal Movements of Immature Kemp’s Ridley Turtles in a Warming Gulf of Mexico
Project Manager: Richard Herren
Organization: Sea Turtle Conservancy (Non-Profit Organization)
Grant Amount: $21,625.00
Completion Date:
Summary: The Big Bend appears to play a significant role as a developmental habitat for immature and mature Kemp’s ridleys. In 2018, Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC), in collaboration with the USGS Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Florida, began conducting sea turtle research in this region and has encountered dozens of sites containing Kemp’s ridleys. Until recently there was strong evidence that Kemp’s ridleys were recovering based on nesting numbers, but recent counts have been erratic and it is unclear if the nesting population has stabilized or is in decline. In the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, Kemp’s ridleys have previously shown site fidelity to near shore areas during the warmer months, but display southerly migrations in the winter as sea surface temperatures decrease to between 18 and 22? C. However, this research was conducted several decades ago and recent warming trends in the Gulf of Mexico may be altering these migratory patterns. Understanding the distribution and habitat requirements of endangered species is one of the keys to managing their recovery. Endangered immature Kemp’s ridley turtles recruit to shallow bays and estuaries in Florida’s Big Bend region, yet very little research has been conducted to look at the possible impacts of climate change on the movements and habitat use of these turtles. The purpose of this study is to identify potential seasonal shifts in movement and diet of immature Kemp’s ridley turtles in response to changes in sea surface temperatures over the past two decades.
Results: