Grant: 22-031R
Project Title: The effects of nest temperatures on the skin microbiome of leatherback hatchlings
Project Manager: Jeanette Wyneken
Organization: Florida Atlantic University (Research and Educational Institute)
Grant Amount: $16,303.58
Completion Date:
Summary: High nest productivity is critical for sea turtle population recovery. Yet, hatching success of leatherback clutches is highly variable with average clutch success often <50%. The current leatherback conservation status is due to many factors that perturb production. Here we focus on establishing baseline metrics of hatchling leatherback skin health because skin is the body’s first line of defense. Warming climate likely affects skin health by changing the incubation environment and microbial ecosystem within nests. Long-term data that we collected shows that, unlike the other sea turtles nesting on the same beaches, the leatherback hatchlings, even from productive nests, appear to have a down-stream risks. This species’ hatchlings are prone to developing skin infections in the nest and within a few weeks of emerging from their nests that can be life threatening. The propensity seems to be higher in clutches that incubate at warmer temperatures. Why? The answers require (i) characterizing the impact of clutch temperatures that changes from early spring (cooler) to warm summer on the hatchling skin microbiome. Microbiota are key components of survival in all living creatures, and the skin microbiota act in defense against harmful elements (e.g., pathogens, toxins). Yet, we know nothing about normal skin microbiota in leatherback turtles and have no idea how elevating temperatures shift the microbial assemblages. This study will be focused in Palm Beach County, a hotspot for leatherback nesting where we have ongoing clutch temperature monitoring. Using next generation sequencing, this study will provide essential data, allowing us to identify effects of clutch temperatures on skin microbiota. We also will partner this thermal and microbiome analysis with standard blood-based measures of health: packed cell volume (PCV); total solids (TS); white blood cells (WBC); protein electrophoresis (EPH). Across the season nest temperatures increase. We expect shifts in skin microbiota, PCV, TS, WBC, and EPH. Study results will be critical new perspectives for forthcoming nesting beach conservation as understanding how healthy beaches lead to healthy hatchling production will support Florida leatherback population recovery in a warming world.
Results: