Grant: 25-045R
Project Title: Nesting parameters and habitat use of green turtles in southeast Florida: year 1
Project Manager: Sarah Hirsch and Dr. Justin Perrault
Organization: Loggerhead Marinelife Center (Non-Profit Organization)
Grant Amount: $20,600.00
Completion Date:
Summary: Florida is a regionally important breeding ground for green turtles (Chelonia mydas). While nest counts reveal that Palm Beach County hosts the second highest density of green turtle nesting in Florida, little research has evaluated key life-history traits and habitat use of breeding green turtles in this area. This pilot project aims to deploy satellite transmitters on three nesting green turtles to evaluate the longevity of the tracking duration. Our goal is for the satellite tags to transmit throughout nesting season and during return migrations back to foraging areas. This was successfully accomplished on 50 loggerheads nesting on northern Palm Beach County beaches between 2020 and 2024. If the tracking durations are sufficient, the project will continue in subsequent years until 30 individuals are tagged. The data will be analyzed to evaluate the clutch frequency, inter-nesting interval, nest site fidelity, in-water habitat use, migration routes, and foraging ground locations for green turtles nesting in southeastern Florida.
Results: