Grant: 26-039R
Project Title: Within Striking Distance: Loggerhead and Green Turtle Dive Patterns and Vessel Strike Exposure
Project Manager: Hannah Vander Zanden
Organization: University of Florida - Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research (Research and Educational Institute)
Grant Amount: $34,268.00
Completion Date:
Summary: Vessel strike injuries have long been a leading cause of sea turtle mortality in Florida, particularly in the southeast portion of the state. Still, vessel strike risk in sea turtles remains poorly characterized, as fine-scale behavioral studies of individuals are required to identify conditions under which sea turtles have the highest propensity to occupy the water column within the maximum water depth occupied by a given boat (i.e., maximum draft). Though we know Palm Beach County has high vessel traffic and we are able to estimate the maximum draft of boats, we do not currently have an adequate understanding of sea turtle vertical habitat use near nesting beaches or throughout their annual cycle. We aim to fill this knowledge gap by describing dive patterns and near-surface water use by Florida's nesting loggerhead and green turtles throughout their annual migratory cycles to assess their susceptibility to vessel strike injury. We will deploy sixteen satellite tags with time-depth recorders on eight loggerheads and eight green turtles in Juno Beach, Florida, in partnership with researchers at Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC). We will determine which behavioral, environmental, and temporal factors influence shallow-water usage and dive patterns of loggerheads and green turtles, and how these patterns affect the risk of vessel strikes. Ultimately, these data can inform policy and management approaches to balancing recreational boating and sea turtle protection efforts.
Results: